Wadi Hanifa Wetlands: reclaiming an oasis.

One of the five Aga Khan Awards for Architecture, a prize awarded every three years to projects that stand out for their environmental sustainability and ability to improve quality of life in the community they stand in, went 2010 to a conversion project for the heart of the Saudi reign: Wadi Hanifah, a landmark in the desert for thousands of years, which has suffered severe environmental degradation in recent years.

The plan by Moriyama + Teshima of Toronto in partnership with the engineers of Buro Happold UK converted the wadi, or oasis, into a natural water treatment system, decreasing the presence of coli bacteria by 97% and saving huge amounts on sea water treatment. The project includes a flood control mechanism and a network of parks for leisure time.

Using strictly low tech solutions which can therefore be reproduced anywhere, the oasis which had been reduced to an open-air sewer and dump has, thanks to careful design of spaces in relation to human needs, been restored to its role as a liveable place for the whole family.

The river bed was cleaned up and rocks were added to deviate the course of the water, promoting development of purifying microorganisms and improving oxygenation. The banks of the river were redesigned to prevent flooding and planted with palm trees and shrubs.

A project on a vast scale with a great impact not only on the environment but on society, marking a turning point in human relations with nature: the oasis is restored to its key role as a natural place for human beings with respect for natural resources.


Design: Moriyama & Teshima Planners Limited, Toronto, Canada, http://www.mtplanners.com/ / Buro Happold UK in joint venture
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Client: Arriyadh Development Authority
Year: 2001 (design), 2004-2007 (implementation)
Photographs: Aga Khan Award For Architecture/Arriyadh Developmemt Authority - Aga Khan Award For Architecture/Wael Samhouri
Awards: Aga Khan Award For Architecture, The International Awards for Liveable Communities - Natural Projects (Gold Award), Waterfront Center Top Honour Award
Related links: http://www.akdn.org/architecture/project.asp?id=2258

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