With a few clicks of a keyboard, a city begins to take shape amidst the Kuwait desert—a utopia of walkable streets, shade structures, and energy-efficient housing centered around a bustling business district that shines like a jewel in the night.
The city is South Sabah Al Ahmad. It will be home to 280,000 people across 24 square miles. While construction is underway, the vision for South Sabah Al Ahmad is fully realized thanks to an advanced design tool that enabled architects to intelligently plan an urban development that emphasizes sustainability.
The masterplan, part of Kuwait's Vision 2035, focuses on efficient transportation, with shaded routes for walking and cycling so residents can easily access amenities within their neighborhoods, reducing the reliance on cars.
To achieve this, urban designers Bruno Moser and Mateo Neira of Foster + Partners used ArcGIS CityEngine, an advanced 3D modeling tool, to conduct a connectivity analysis, which informed the placement of different land uses. High-connectivity areas were designated for the central business district, while educational, healthcare, and community facilities were strategically located to maximize accessibility and efficiency.
A bird’s-eye view of the city reveals a geometric pattern of streets—main streets providing regional connections, secondary streets linking neighborhoods, and local streets connecting to each building. The result is a city of short distances and less paved infrastructure, allowing more open spaces where people can connect and play.
Open spaces play a critical role in the masterplan, designed to improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, and encourage social interactions. The goal is to ensure that every resident is within a 400-meter walking distance of a green space, creating a network of parks and public spaces that promote well-being and community engagement.
The iterative design process, involving collaboration among various design professionals, ensures that the city is resilient to the challenges posed by the local climate, such as high temperatures, sandstorms, and potential flash floods. Buildings are designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating shading structures and climate-responsive features to enhance livability.
Ultimately, Foster + Partners’ approach to urban design goes beyond aesthetics and functionality. It is about creating cities that are adaptable, resilient, and, most importantly, centered on the needs of the people who will live in them.
The South Sabah Al-Ahmad Masterplan represents a new paradigm in urban development that prioritizes sustainability, connectivity, and human well-being. Watch the video below to learn more about how Foster + Partners leveraged the latest in GIS software to build a sustainable city in the desert.
The News 01/08/2025
Hinoki wood (Japanese cypress – Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a precious type of wood native to Japan, known for its light color, fine grain, and pleasant natural aroma. Thanks to its antibacterial, moisture-resistant, and heat-resistant properties, Hinoki has long been used in traditional architecture, such as temples, onsen bathtubs, and especially saunas. With its calming fragrance and exceptional durability, Hinoki is increasingly favored in modern bathroom design, offering a luxurious and serene experience for users.
The News 22/07/2025
In the context of rapid urbanization, localized flooding and water pollution are becoming increasingly severe, particularly due to stormwater runoff on impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. Permeable pavers have emerged as an advanced, environmentally friendly construction material designed to reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants at the source. Not only do these pavers allow for rapid water drainage, but they also act as a primary filter that traps dust, heavy metals, and vehicle-related contaminants, thus improving urban environmental quality. This material is a part of the new wave of sustainable construction trends, widely adopted in developed countries but still relatively new in Vietnam.
The News 11/07/2025
In the era of digital technology and the explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), architecture is no longer merely the art of construction—it has evolved into an intelligent ecosystem, where buildings can sense, analyze, and respond to their environment. One of the most advanced solutions driving breakthroughs in modern construction is the sensor-embedded brick with integrated circuits. This is no longer a passive traditional building material, but rather a “sensing brick,” equipped with internal sensors and processing microchips capable of measuring temperature, humidity, vibration, and impact forces, and wirelessly transmitting data in real-time. The application of this technology in construction not only enhances the ability to monitor structural safety but also unlocks the potential for smart, sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings. This topic aims to clarify the role of integrating sensors and microchips into building bricks, the manufacturing process, and notable practical applications.
The News 03/07/2025
The rapid growth of the construction industry has significantly contributed to global resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the search for environmentally friendly alternative materials has become a critical necessity. One promising direction is the use of mycelium bio bricks, a type of bio composite material that can self grow and bind organic substrates.
The News 30/06/2025
3D concrete tiles are a modern type of building and decorative material, made from concrete or geopolymer, with a raised three-dimensional surface featuring geometric, natural, or artistic patterns. Thanks to their strong visual effects, 3D concrete tiles not only provide high aesthetic value but also help improve sound insulation, thermal resistance, and waterproofing. With advantages in durability, ease of construction, and environmental friendliness, especially when combined with recycled materials such as ground brick waste, 3D concrete tiles are becoming an ideal material solution for both interior and exterior modern spaces.
The News 25/06/2025
Amid rapid urbanization and rising aesthetic demands in modern construction, smart and sustainable materials are gradually replacing traditional solutions. Among them, luminescent concrete has emerged as an innovative trend that combines lighting functionality with the mechanical durability of conventional concrete. Not only does it offer a distinctive visual appeal, but it also enhances safety, conserves energy, and improves spatial efficiency in low-light environments. With vast potential for applications in transportation infrastructure, landscape architecture, and smart urban design, this material is paving the way for new directions in the construction industry during the era of green technology.