Thakher City
A new dimension in hospitality
Overview
The Thakher City project involved the design of a unique hotel-residential structure. Situated atop a mountain, the project was designed to meet the needs of Hajj – the annual pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Muslims – with a maximum focus on pedestrian movement. This result was obtained thanks to a network of artificial canyons, some up to 50 meters deep, and banks of high-speed lifts designed to provide pilgrims with modern and comfortable lodgings and facilitate access to holy sites.
Client
SOM – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Services
Masterplanning. Engineering. Transportation and Urban Planning. Traffic Engineering. Project Management.
Location
Saudi Arabia
Project Team
Architectural Design: SOM – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Technical Data
Area: 300,000 m2
Capacity: 250,000 persons
Estimated Value of Works: 3 billion €
“This highly integrated project is the key to the successful creation of a new settlement for 250,000 people. It resolves critical geotechnical and structural issues related to the site and guarantees a sustainable and safe flow of pedestrians, even during the moments of maximum concentration during daily moments of worship”.