Benoy is delighted to see the launch of the Abdullah Al-Othaim Investment Company’s newest project Konoz “Box of Treasures” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Benoy is the lead architect for the scheme, which includes 50,000 square meters of state-of-the-art commercial office spaces and a 20,000 square meter entertainment city aimed at supporting Riyadh’s thriving tourism and entertainment industry. In addition to its commercial spaces, the “Konoz” project features 15,000 square meters of green areas, parking for 5,500 vehicles, a 120,000 square meter commercial center, a world-class a luxury hotel with 250 rooms, 120 serviced residential apartments, and an additional 135,000 square meter residential apartment complex which includes 700 apartments.
The project’s name, inspired by the diverse array of gemstones, embodies the visual and architectural representation of gemstones in its various zones.
Benoy’s design concept centred around creating an attractive walkable district and neighbourhood, where people would be able to enjoy a variety of culture and leisure activities. The project also saw Benoy partner with its sister wayfinding, landscape architecture and commercial consulting businesses as part of the scheme development.
Pragma Consulting provided valuable input on the commercial strategy and planning to help inform the customer experience and retail plan. This involved a comprehensive primary research study undertaken with residents of Riyadh, to obtain strategic insights on fast-evolving consumer behaviours, along with a detailed evaluation of global retail and development trends, to provide data-driven insights to optimise the design vision
Holmes Wood worked on placemaking strategy for Konoz. Working closely with the rest of the Handley House team, they established and applied a set of principles that sought to shape the identity of the new development. Their strategic approach saw them identify opportunities and locations for architecture, landscape, lighting, events programming, art and digital that together would create both a quality visitor experience and commercial value for the Abdullah Al Othaim Development Authority.
Uncommon Land designed all the landscape spaces including ground level and roofscapes.
Located on Riyadh’s Golden Strip, the key thoroughfare that connects the older parts of the city with the new, the scheme will position Riyadh as a 24-hour destination to live, work, and shop. It will also align with the newly developed Riyadh Metro System as a part of wider transport-oriented development.
