A concept by Anthony Belluschi Architects was selected as the winning entry in an international design competition for Granada Town Center, a 1.5M sf, two-story regional retail center in Riyadh. Anthony Belluschi / OWP/P Architects developed the design of the shopping complex, which underwent a phased construction to accommodate anticipated future expansions. The center represents a foray into North American-style retail centers, offering retail, restaurants, an entertainment center, courtyards, and landscaped outdoor terraces. Major tenants include a hypermarket and European specialty stores, carefully linked along the Center’s perimeter to provide convenient access and drop-off points.
Most notable among the design features of the shopping complex is the main entrance canopy, fabricated out of Teflon-coated fiberglass. Fanning out from this central entryway are the two wings of the center, which combined with the lightweight building materials evoke the image of a bird in flight. Programmatically, the Granada Town Center features boutiques rather than department stores. Because of current policies in Saudi Arabia, it features separate venues for men and women.
