Olaya Metro Station
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2013
Competition 1st Prize
in progress

GFA:                  68.850 m2
Gross volume: 387.000 m3
Client: High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh

Gerber Architekten won international Competition
Olaya Metro-Station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Inclusive urban space: A dune park in the city – architecture and landscape

Under the direction of Professor Eckhard Gerber (project architect Thomas Lücking, landscape architecture (Tim Corvin Kraus) Gerber Architekten international won the fi rst prize for the Metro-Station Olaya Street in the Saudi Arabian capital in Riyadh prevailing over several international competitors.
The Olaya Metro-Station is situated on one of the most important traffi c junctions between Olaya Street
Riyadh, King Fahad Road and King Abdullah Freeway. The 200 m long and 100 m wide plot adds another landmark to this dynamic urban axis, continuing the sequence of Faisalyah Tower and Kingdom Tower.
For the future viability of Riyadh sustainable development notably urban public transport and coordinated links with the city-region transport networks is of great importance. The construction of a subway network is expected to be completed in the next four years.
For the three main Metro-Stations three parallel competition proceedings which are highly commended by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh were conducted with the participation of renowned international architects. Snøhetta won the competiton for the Metro station downtown and
Zaha Hadid Architects for the station in the King Abdullah Financial District.
Already in March 2013 the contract negotiations for general planning has been completed. The planning work for all three stations started in April. Construction costs for the Olaya Metro-Station amout to $ 20m.

In addition to the technical and functional character of the transfer-station a unique design is proposed by elevated public gardens which extend over the entire area of the station and cascade down to Olaya Street.
The undulating shape of the roof inspired by the beauty of the sand dunes in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, is planted and accessible - the Olaya dune park will become a new address in the center of the capital. This concept blends the typological elements of lush green gardens with the undulations of desert dunes. The natural interplay of architecture and landscape creates an oasis of communication for the people of the capital in the public space.
Olaya Metro Station offers to the city of Riyadh the amenities of a major transportation hub together with public gardens. A symbiosis is formed between the two: the dune park benefi ting from accessibility by public transportation, while the Metro Station gains a signifi cant destination in the form of the gardens.
The dune park offer a generous greenscape and playful hardscape all naturally shaded by palm trees, including water features, designated picnic areas, amphitheatres, Wi-Fi coverage and a terraced terrain for strolling or sitting.
For the fi rst time an urban city space will be reached by public transport. With the landscape architecture, which is also developed by Gerber Architekten, the overall concept of the Olaya Metro-Station alternates between traditional and modern elements and add value for a contemporary urban public life.

Competition Team:
Architecture: Gerber Architekten international GmbH
Professor Eckhard Gerber, overall direction
Thomas Lücking, Managing Director GA international
Team: Florian Alles, Björn Andersson, Melike Ceyisakar, Jasmin Dieterle, Jan Raschke,
Niall Starling, Gerit Veckenstedt,
Landscape Architecture: Gerber Architekten
Professor Eckhard Gerber, overall direction
Tim Kraus, Director Landscape Architecture
Team: Magda Cieslicka u.a.

Structural Engeneering: Bollinger & Grohmann
Prof. Dr. Klaus Bollinger, Prof. Manfred Grohmann, Dr. Mark Fahlbusch, Moritz Heimrath
Building Services Engineering: BW-Engineers (Baden-Württemberg Ingenieure)
Koordination: Ertel, Dr. Thomas Ertel
TEchnical Building equipment: Thurm & Dinges, Veit Thurm
Energy planner : DS-ABT, Dr. Peter Mösle
Traffi c planner: Karajan, Dr. Jürgen Karajan
Fire Engineering: designfi re consultants, Craig Howard
Cost planning: Sweett Group, Spencer Wylie

Modelmaking: Hasenauer-Hesser, Ötisheim, Monath & Menzel, Berlin
Visualisation: bloomimages, Hamburg


In addition to the technical and functional character of the transfer-station a unique design is proposed by elevated public gardens which extend over the entire area of the station and cascade down to Olaya Street.
The undulating shape of the roof inspired by the beauty of the sand dunes in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, is planted and accessible - the Olaya dune park will become a new address in the center of the capital. This concept blends the typological elements of lush green gardens with the undulations of desert dunes. The natural interplay of architecture and landscape creates an oasis of communication for the people of the capital in the public space. Olaya Metro Station offers to the city of Riyadh the amenities of a major transportation hub together with public gardens. A symbiosis is formed between the two: the dune park benefi ting from accessibility by public transportation, while the Metro Station gains a significant destination in the form of the gardens.