Assael Directors attend Cityscape Global 2024
Director and co-founder Russell Pedley, and Middle East Director Hoda Sangoor, recently travelled to the Cityscape Global Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the RIBA Chartered Practices Network.
Over the course of the four-day conference, they experienced a dynamic and immersive schedule. Here’s a brief recap of their trip…
Day 1, Monday 11th November
Russell and Hoda made their way to a breakfast briefing, which introduced working practices within the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel AL Baha room. During this breakfast, they received a welcome speech by RIBA representatives Valerie Vaughan-Dick and Karen Beamish.
Later that day, Russell and Hoda attended the Cityscape Opening Ceremony at the conference hall and had a chance to visit the impressive RIBA stand. The conference set-up in general was extremely impressive in scale and they both found it to be an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals and represent Assael on an international stage.
To round out a brilliant first day, Russell and Hoda attended the networking reception hosted by RIBA, the UK department for Business and Trade and British Aviation Authority at the Ahlam Gallery Centre.
Day 2, Tuesday 12th November
Russell and Hoda began their day with a pickup for an architectural tour of Riyadh. The tour was hosted by Azhar Ellahi, founder of Azhar Architecture, a member of both RIBA and KSA. This experience offered an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the city’s architectural typology, providing a vivid and tangible sense of the KSA landscape.
In the afternoon, Russell was part of a panel discussion on the Asset Horizons stage. Moderated by Dr. Damien Nouvel, the discussion focused on ‘Build to Rent – Pioneering the Next Housing Wave’ and featured Anne-Marie Brown, founder of Love to Rent, as a co-panellist. The session provided a valuable opportunity to explore the Build to Rent sector and how communities can embrace placemaking by tapping into unused potential.
The panel also examined innovative design strategies that prioritise net operating income to maximise value over the capital values of market-sale housing. Russell emphasised the importance of designing spaces that are informed by operational needs rather than the reverse, underscoring the role of practical functionality in achieving long-term success.
Day 3, Wednesday 13th November
Russell and Hoda dedicated the day to meeting with industry professionals, gaining insights from their previous work, and exploring ways to enhance the process of designing developments in KSA.
Day 4, Thursday 14th November
On the final day of the trip, Russell and Hoda took the opportunity to explore Cityscape Global further, focusing on projects in New Murabba, Southmed, Egypt, and Diriyah Gate.
To close the trip, Russell and Hoda attended an informal dinner hosted by the RIBA Gulf Chapter Committee at Goodies Restaurant. The evening offered a relaxed atmosphere to network with other committee members and celebrate the committee’s 15th anniversary.
Overall, the trip was a great success and Russell reflected on the rapid growth and reform evident across the country. He remarked on the warmth and friendliness of the people and the high regard for British architects within the region.
Looking ahead, he foresees many exciting opportunities emerging over the next few years and plans to bring additional Assael representatives to future Cityscape Global conferences.