Gold Souq Kaupunkialue by Ahmed Habib is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Pronssipalkinto A' Design Award in Kaupunkisuunnittelu Competition Category.

PronssiKaupunkisuunnittelu· 2026

Gold Souq Kaupunkialue

by Ahmed Habib

Client: Ahmed Habib

Pronssipalkinto A' Design Award Winner in Kaupunkisuunnittelu Category

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The Design

About Gold Souq Kaupunkialue

Gold Souq on 356 000 neliömetrin monikäyttöinen kaupunkialue Jeddahissa, joka määrittelee kultamarkkinat uudelleen integroituna kaupunkijärjestelmänä. Jatkuvana kudoksena suunniteltu kokonaisuus tuo yhteen käsityön, kaupan, kulttuurin ja vieraanvaraisuuden selkeän tilallisen hierarkian puitteissa. Keskeinen kävelyakseli toimii kehityshankkeen ankkurina ulottuen sisäpihoille, jotka pohjautuvat hijazilaisiin kaupunkisuunnittelun periaatteisiin muodostaen helposti hahmotettavan ja kävelyyn soveltuvan kokemuksen, jota muovaavat varjostus, tiheys ja läheisyys. Ympäristösuorituskyky on sisäänrakennettu kaupunkimuotoon, jossa rakennusmassat ja avoimet tilat tukevat mukavuutta, jatkuvuutta ja yhtenäistä kaupunki-identiteettiä.

The Recognition

About the Pronssipalkinto A' Design Award

Gold Souq Kaupunkialue on Pronssipalkinnon A' Design Award -voittaja, erittäin arvostettu tunnustus, joka myönnetään erinomaisille designeille, joita luonnehtivat luovuus, nerokkuus ja oveluus. Pronssivoittajat ovat runsaan taitavia ja silmiinpistävän luovia taiteellisia tuotoksia, jotka todistavat suunnittelijoidensa laajaa kokemusta, mielikuvitusta ja kekseliäisyyttä. Gold Souq Kaupunkialue:n odotetaan olevan korkeassa arvossa pidetty, ihailtu ja rakastettu esine, joka on huomattavan ammattimainen ja innovatiivinen. Tämä Pronssipalkinnon A' Design Award -voittajadesign sisällyttää itseensä parhaita käytäntöjä taiteessa, tieteessä, designissa ja teknologiassa ja on erinomainen huomiollaan yksityiskohtiin. Gold Souq Kaupunkialue tyydyttää upeasti tarpeita, koskettaa haluja, viehättää tunteita ja vetoaa uteliaisuuteen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This design redefines the gold market as a complete urban ecosystem where production, trade, and public life coexist. Unlike conventional commercial developments, it integrates retail, workshops, education, and culture within a pedestrian network of shaded streets and courtyards inspired by Hijazi urbanism. A central flow structure organizes movement and visibility, while climate-responsive design ensures comfort. Its strength lies in merging heritage principles with a contemporary, high-performance urban model.
Dimensions & Packaging: Plot Area 356,000 sqm
Foot Print 72,500 sqm
built up area 418,000 sqm
Tags: Hijazi architecture, gold market, mixed-use development, urban ecosystem, pedestrian spine, climate responsive design, souq reinterpretation, cultural urbanism, parametric planning, public realm, Jeddah, Saudia
Production Technology: The design was developed through a parametric and iterative methodology linking circulation, program distribution, and climatic performance. A central flow spine informed massing and spatial hierarchy, supported by simulations for shading and ventilation. Traditional Hijazi elements were reinterpreted using stone cladding, precast concrete, steel structures, timber and wood screens, and high-performance glazing, ensuring durability, thermal efficiency, buildability, and a strong expression of local identity.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was translating the organic complexity of historic Hijazi souks into a contemporary, buildable urban system. Internally, it required balancing cultural authenticity with modern program demands and user expectations. Externally, constraints included climate conditions, large-scale coordination, and regulatory frameworks. The design resolved these through a structured flow-based approach, integrating environmental strategies and flexible planning to maintain identity while ensuring feasibility and performance.
Research: Type of Research: applied urban and climatic research. Research Objectives: to redefine the traditional gold market as a resilient mixed-use ecosystem. Methodology: comparative analysis of historic souks and contemporary retail districts combined with environmental simulations. Data Collection and Tools: solar studies, pedestrian flow mapping, and heat analysis models. Participants: planners, economists, and local stakeholders. Results: improved environmental comfort and commercial synergy. Insights and Impact: a scalable model linking heritage, economic performance, and climate-responsive urban design.
Inspiration: The project is inspired by the organic growth of historic Hijazi cities, where movement, climate, and commerce shape urban form over time. Traditional souqs were not planned as isolated buildings but emerged as interconnected networks of streets, courtyards, and shaded passages driven by trade and social interaction. This logic informed the design, where a continuous flow organizes space and activity. The aim was to reinterpret these principles within a contemporary framework, creating a resilient environment that reflects local identity while supporting modern patterns of production and exchange.
Project Duration: Design started in May 2025 and finished in December 2025, in Cairo, Egypt. The Project is to be executed n Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Operation Flow: The project operates through a continuous pedestrian flow that structures movement, visibility, and interaction. A central spine connects courtyards, retail, workshops, and cultural spaces, creating sequential experiences from arrival to immersion. Vehicular access is limited to the perimeter, ensuring a safe, walkable environment. Layered circulation enhances accessibility and engagement, while the integration of production and trade within public space creates a dynamic, efficient, and socially active urban system.
Image Credits: Ahmed Habib