As-salāmu ʿalaykum - Reimagining Burj Al Khazzan as a Sustainable Landmark for Riyadh
As-salāmu ʿalaykum - thought I’d share this idea about the Burj Al Khazzan and how it could find a new role in Riyadh’s green future.
In Al-Watan Park, Al-Futah, the old Burj Al Khazzan still stands - a 61‑metre water tower from the 1970s by Swedish architect Sune Lindstrom. It used to serve a clear practical need: storing water for a swiftly growing capital. Today, with Vision 2030 and Green Riyadh shaping the city, there’s a proposal to give the tower a second life as something cultural, ecological and symbolic.
The concept, by a Franco-Japanese firm called Stella Amae, imagines the Burj as a “Tree of Life” - a living landmark inspired by the date‑palm trunk and the triangular Najdi patterns we see in regional architecture. The idea is to wrap a bioclimatic, breathable façade around the tower that reacts to air, light, sound and humidity, creating a little sensory ecosystem. Think of a skin that breathes, gathers city sounds, spreads soft light and even offers bird nesting boxes - not a frozen monument but a living urban organism.
They picture practical uses too: a welcoming public area at the base mixing cultural and small commercial activities, a rooftop for events with views over the park, and subtle lighting used only on celebrations or special occasions - a central gathering point for a neighbourhood that lacks one.
Sustainability and care for heritage are emphasized. The plan uses modern ultra‑high performance fiber concrete for durability, but the new façade would be lightweight and removable so the original tower can be fully restored if needed. That reversibility shows respect for the past while trying something experimental.
The project is still conceptual and international teams are involved for sound and lighting, but local partners haven’t been brought on yet. The target delivery aligns with 2030, which feels fitting with the city’s wider transformation.
If realized, turning an old water tower into a Tree of Life could be a meaningful symbol - honouring Riyadh’s history of water and community while pointing to a greener, more people‑centred urban future. May Allah bless efforts that preserve heritage and serve the public good.
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