The Vertical Medina is a mixed-use residential, office, and retail development that flips the traditional Arab medina city form — with its interlocking alleyways and courtyards — on edge to create a rich vertical network of shops, offices, and residences. The structure, clad in locally sourced limestone, is composed of 55 luxury apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms, with no two alike. The lower floors consist of Class A office space and retail shops.
In traditional Arab cities, the courtyard was the center of life at home, providing privacy, ventilation, and visual interest. In the urban context of this high-rise district of Riyadh, the vertical terraces serve the same purpose and provide outstanding views of the city. The deep recesses of each terrace provide natural shading to the exposures and utilize passive sustainability strategies to cool the residences.
Design
