LWK + Partners, a leading Hong Kong-based architecture and design practice, has unveiled Saudi Arabia’s pioneering national technology and cybersecurity district – Pulse Wadi – being set up on a 600,000-sq-m area in Riyadh.

Designed by LWK + Partners’ global studios in collaboration with governmental and semi-governmental entities, Pulse Wadi is being developed at an investment of SAR12.1 billion ($3.2 billion).

Strategically positioned on the outskirts of Riyadh, the project represents a bold vision for the future, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and setting a new benchmark in sustainable urban development. It leverages its proximity to national infrastructure networks and offers a distinctive, future-ready environment.

LWK + Partners is the lead design consultant, masterplanner, urban designer, design architect and landscape architect for the project.

Anchored by a state-of-the-art government complex, the district, which boasts a gross floor area (GFA) of 1.14 million sqm, will house two iconic headquarters, several cultural institutions, and a dynamic cyber-research community – positioning it as Saudi Arabia’s very own Silicon Valley.

Inspired by the beauty of Wadi Hanifa, the masterplan introduces a striking green spine that runs through the development, creating an ecological framework where at least 60 per cent of the area is dedicated to green spaces and xeriscape.

Kourosh Salehi, Global Design Principal at LWK + Partners, said: “This development is a unique opportunity to redefine the urban fabric by integrating technology and culture, ensuring a legacy for future generations.”

The transportation strategy emphasises green mobility while sophisticated shading strategies enhance streets and plazas encouraging pedestrian interaction and community engagement.

LWK + Partners pointed out that at the heart of the district lies the central wadi plaza – an inclusive events space designed as a cultural and democratic symbol for the people of Riyadh, honouring the rich Najdi heritage, while unifying all access points and the various tiers of commercial, recreational, retail and F&B functions.

The main complex, with its iconic stepped roof inspired by Salmani design principles, blends tradition with innovation, offering deep overhangs for natural shading and advanced ventilation systems, it added.