In an interview with Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Thomas Lücking, Managing Director of Gerber Architekten International GmbH, provides a personal update directly from Riyadh and offers fascinating insights into one of the most ambitious urban development projects in the world: King Salman Park in Riyadh.

The park is being created as a green oasis in the heart of the desert and represents a new form of urban quality of life. King Salman Park integrates architecture, landscape, and climate resilience into a sustainable overall concept that harmonizes nature, culture, and community. In the interview, Thomas Lücking explains how Gerber Architekten’s international planning team has incorporated Riyadh’s unique climatic and cultural conditions into the design. A central focus of his live update from Riyadh is the park’s sustainable water management. He also discusses the approximately 700 different plant species planned for King Salman Park and how they were selected to suit the climate.

At the same time, Thomas Lücking places King Salman Park within Gerber Architekten’s long-term presence in Saudi Arabia. Since completing the King Fahad National Library, we have been active in the country for 25 years, closely following Saudi Arabia’s development. King Salman Park clearly reflects the current spirit of renewal in the country, both in terms of the pace of construction and planning projects and the social and cultural transformation underway.

Thus, King Salman Park is not only a symbol of forward-looking urban development but also an expression of the importance of international collaboration in architecture. The mega-project is being developed by a joint venture led by Gerber Architekten, in cooperation with engineering partners Buro Happold and Setec.

To the interview: Oasis in the Desert – Germans Build the World’s Largest Park in Riyadh