IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section B
Abstract
Stakeholder participation has taken a central role in the planning and designing of cities. Participatory approaches are essential for achieving inclusivity, contextual relevance, and sustainable outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the participatory design approach adopted by Riyadh Municipality to design key strategic urban and architectural projects in the city. This approach has become an integral part of the design process aiming at defining project objectives, enhancing strategic alignment, reducing discrepancies, and exploring new directions. This study examines three recent projects where participatory design workshops were conducted. The study examines the process by which the stakeholders were defined, the engagement method, and the impact of the process on the overall design outcomes. The study concludes by presenting a framework and principles that can help lay the foundation for implementing the participatory design on the national level. The study also argues that participatory design workshops would help harness the collective creativity and expertise of stakeholders, create more inclusive processes, and result in appropriate designs that are fit for purpose. The study maintains that to attain more livable cities, it is critical to create an inclusive approach to the process of the production of urban spaces.
Dr Mohamed Fageir is an Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. He also trained and worked as an architect in both the UK and Sudan. Dr Fageir is passionate about architecture and city-building, and he is keen on demonstrating how good quality designs can change peoples’ lives. Dr Fageir now works at Riyadh Municipality as an expert in planning and urban design. His research interests include urban regeneration, sustainable urbanism, and architectural humanities.
Dr Faisal Al-Osaimy is the Assistant Deputy for the Infrastructure Projects Agency at Riyadh Municipality. His role involves the design and execution of large infrastructural projects in the city of Riyadh. Dr Al-Osaimy was educated in KSA, the USA and the UK. He is also an architect by profession and an academic who teaches at King Saud University. Dr Al-Osaimy’s research interest includes architectural history and theory and urban design.
Dr Sultan Al-Fraidi is an Assistant Professor of architecture at the University of Hail, KSA. Dr Al-Fraidi is also a practising architect with a special interest in sustainability and architectural theory. Dr Al-Fraidi has completed numerous building projects that have been well-acknowledged for their innovation and design quality. Currently, Dr Al-Fraidi is a consultant at the Riyadh Municipality – Projects Agency where he supervises the design and execution of several large cultural and urban projects.
Dr Ahmed Elsayed is an associate professor of urbn planning at the Faculty of Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Dr Elsayed has vast experience as an urban planning consultant in Cairo, Mekkah and Riyadh where he worked on several large-scale developmental planning projects. Dr Elsayed is currently working as a planning expert at Riyadh Municipality. His research interest includes urban revitalization, city branding and urban heritage landscape.
Dr Rami is currently an assistant professor and head of the Housing Studies department at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Khartoum in Sudan. He has over 14 years of experience in teaching and research in architecture and sustainable building technologies. Dr Rami obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Nottingham in the UK.
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Friday 11th July, 2025