Olaya Metro Station

The plot designated for Olaya Metro Station is located directly above the intersection of 2 underground metro lines, Line 1 (Blue) and Line 2 (Green). It is also situated in the centre between the two main urban arteries of King Fahad Road and Olaya Street and one block south of King Abdullah Freeway. The neighbouring plots of roughly the same dimensions are separating the Metro Station plot from Olaya Street to the West and from King Fahad Road to the East. Whereas the neighbouring plot to the east towards King Fahad Road is not at our disposition, the western plot was designated by the Client to serve as a public plaza. The fact that the plot for Olaya Metro Station is set back by one city block from all three major urban arteries, asks for a special architectural response in order to attract the necessary attention and easy orientation of the people. Thus a unique landmark shall be created here in order to make the Olaya Metro Station easily recognizable and highly attractive. The metro system will be absolutely new to the city of Riyadh and consequently the public needs first to grow accustomed to it for it to become a real success, the quicker the better. We believe that a key to this success will be the creation of highly attractive, unique and highly functional main stations buildings. We are strongly entertaining the Client’s wish to create a new public plaza in relation with the new Olaya Metro Station as we are convinced that an attractive public space which is easily accessible will provide a significant enhancement of the quality of life. A public plaza at this location will not only provide for the adjacent neighbourhoods but will also serve for the entire city of Riyadh as it will be easily accessible not only by the 3 adjacent freeways, namely King Abullah Road, King Fahad Road and Olaya Street, but also directly by 2 Metro lines. Additionally the public plaza will be made easily accessible by the future bus system which will provide a main terminal here as well as by a future major taxi hub and optionally by a major underground parking facility. We conclude that there are two main objectives that shall be responded to by the new Olaya Metro Station design. Firstly there is a great need to provide attractive urban public space for the residents of Riyadh to enhance their quality of living. Secondly the necessity to create a highly attractive, visible and recognizable Olaya Station building in order to have the residents of Riyadh quickly embrace the new benefits of the Riyadh Metro System.