UrbaNature Design Studio

I'm honored to officially join the Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia (SPSA) جمعية محترفي الاستدامة السعودية as an active member.

This membership strengthens my commitment to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sustainability, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

A warm thanks to SPSA, for this opportunity to become involved in an advancing community committed to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Set to be planted with more than a million trees, this vast urban district aims to become a "beacon of rebirth" for Iraq's capital, Baghdad. Designed by Gensler for the developer Emkanat, the Baghdad Sustainable Forests masterplan covers an area of 10 million square metres on the former Al-Rasheed military campsite.

The project will include new parks, retail space and towers, one of which is expected to stand 260-metres tall.

Gensler believes the project's extensive tree planting could capture 22,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. In a statement, the practice said its design was "rooted in the land’s history and ecological potential," and that the development could "position the city for its next chapter — attracting investment, fostering inclusive growth, rebuilding community ties, and celebrating Baghdad’s rich heritage as a center of creativity and exchange."

📷 Gensler

Further details of Riyadh’s Expo 2030 site masterplan have been revealed by architecture firm LAVA. The six square kilometre Expo site sits between Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport and the city centre and will be capable of welcoming up to 40M visitors in the six months between October 2030 and March 2031.

Mindful of the legacy of past Expo sites, LAVA intends Riyadh’s Expo region to evolve into a new permanent district of the city after the event.

The plan consists of five petal-shaped development zones radiating out from a central plaza and has been principally developed around the existing watercourses or Wadis that cross the site.

LAVA explained that its masterplan “abandons the rectilinear grids that have dominated Western car-based societies for the past century, replacing them with an organic network shaped by the contours of Wadi Al Sulai. From a central plaza, a system of cool routes — formed by the wadis — extends outward, defining the radial structure that organises the village layout.”

📷 LAVA / Expo 2030 Riyadh

What makes a neighborhood truly walkable?

It’s not just about sidewalks—it’s about what’s around you.
Neighborhoods with mixed-use, multifamily buildings bring daily needs—shops, schools, services—within walking distance.

The result? Less driving, more vibrant streets, healthier communities.

How walkable is your neighborhood?