The Saudi Arabian government has unveiled design for a large-scale cube-shaped skyscraper for downtown Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. 

Dubbed The Mukaab, the 400-metre-high skyscraper is set to be built as a centrepiece and landmark project of the New Murabba district plan in Riyadh.

Situated at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the North West of Riyadh, the new district plans are planned to span a 19-square-kilometer development to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents. 

The new plans are aimed to be "the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh", while The Mukaab is described as the "new face of Riyadh" and the world's first immersive and experiential destination," within the masterplan.

The Mukaab is envisioned as 400-metere-high, 400-metre-wide and 400-meter-long skyscraper, which makes the building "one of the largest built structures in the world."

The cubic-shaped, supertall skyscraper is intended to serve as "an exceptional iconic landmark with the latest innovative technologies" within the New Murabba masterplan.

Built around the concept of sustainability, with green areas and walking and cycling paths, the New Murabba masterplan is aimed to enhance the quality of life by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and community activities. 

The new downtown masterplan will also feature an iconic museum, a technology and design university, a multipurpose immersive theater, while incorprating more than 80 entertainment and culture venues. These venues include High Street, Innovation Lab, Experience Center, University, Plaza, Broadway District, Theater, Opera, Museum, Cinema, Gallery and Concert Hall.

The masterplan will offer more than 25 million square meters of floor area, featuring more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 980,000 square meters of retail space, as well as 1.4 million square meters of office space, 620,000 square meters of leisure assets, and 1.8 million square meters of space dedicated to community facilities.

Combining a unique living, working and entertainment experience, the venues will be accessible within a 15-minute walking radius, according to a press statement by the New Murabba Development Company. 

The new Murabba development will also have its own internal transport system and will be approximately 20-minutes drive from the airport.

The cubic-shaped Mukaab skyscraper will include first-of-its-kind facilities and thanks to its cubic form "it will ensure the ultimate utilization of space to accommodate the technologies necessary to develop the icon," accordingt to the statement.

The skyscraper is wraped by overlapping triangular patterns that are inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style. The Mukaab will encompass a tower atop a spiral base, and a structure featuring 2 million square meters of floor space.

It will offer a premium hospitality destination with a multitude of retail, cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities.

Inside, visitors will be surrounded by an immersive digital and virtual technology with the latest holographics, which will make the skyscraper "the world’s first immersive destination."

The plans were announced by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), aiming to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh and contributing to the city’s future development in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The project is expected to contribute to Riyadh’s future development and add SAR180 billion to non-oil GDP and create 334,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The project is planned to be completed in 2030.

The Saudi Arabian government develops several mega projects, one of them is Neom, which has sparked discussion for human rights violations associated with the project. 

All images & video courtesy of New Murabba.

> via New Murabba

concept Riyadh skyscraper