Project Summary

Project: Pheel Action Sports Village
Client: Meiche GmbH, Salzburg, Austria
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Area: 25 000 m²
Scope: Planning, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design

Project Overview

Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture sets a new standard for urban sports parks and subterranean landscape master planning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pheel Action Sports Village transforms a 25 000 m² site into the city’s first park dedicated to underground athletic activities. From street basketball and hung-rope challenges to wall-climbing, obstacle courses, skateboarding, and more, the park delivers a continuous sequence of high-energy experiences woven into an open-air landscape. Inspired by the vernacular architecture of Deraeia, Schaduf’s masterplan embeds these athletic elements seamlessly within natural terrain.

When executing the Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture, our primary objective was to introduce subterranean athletic facilities while honoring local cultural heritage and maintaining open circulation. You can explore our portfolio of commercial and public landscape architecture projects to see how we approach complex recreational developments across the Middle East.

Challenges

Three key challenges defined the brief for the Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture and guided our technical strategy:

1. Pioneering New Typology

Introducing subterranean and semi-subterranean athletic facilities within an urban park setting—unprecedented in Riyadh.

2. Programmatic Integration

Accommodating diverse sports zones without compromising the park’s openness or circulation.

3. Contextual Sensitivity

Reflecting Deraeia’s historic architectural language in landscape forms and materials.

Solutions: Pheel Action Sports Village Landscape Architecture Responses

Key solutions developed for the Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture and urban design framework include:

1. Innovative Masterplan

We arranged athletic modules along subtle land contours—excavating minimal earth to nestle courts and courses into the ground plane, preserving sightlines and daylight.

2. Seamless Activity Transitions

A “sporting promenade” links each zone—street basketball, rope courses, climbing walls, skate areas—ensuring intuitive wayfinding and uninterrupted flow.

3. Architectural Embellishment

Retained and reinterpreted Deraeia motifs in seating walls, shade structures, and hardscape patterns, using locally sourced materials to root the park in its cultural setting. Learn more about our specialized landscape architecture services for large-scale sports and recreational facilities.

Key Technical Highlights & Subterranean Systems

The technical execution of the Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture balances high-impact athletic engineering with microclimate mitigation across all 25,000 m².

• Thermal Comfort & Sun Shading: Integrated deep earth cutouts, shade sails, and strategically placed canopy trees to shield athletes from intense Riyadh summer temperatures.

• Grade Integration & Retaining Walls: Utilized reinforced locally sourced stone retaining structures to safely construct semi-subterranean skate bowls and climbing zones.

• Resilient Hardscapes: Selected high-durability, slip-resistant materials engineered to withstand severe desert weather and heavy athletic foot traffic.

Outcomes

1. Riyadh’s First Underground Athletic Park

A landmark destination that elevates urban sport and recreation within the Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture framework.

2. Dynamic Open-Air Environment

Visitors enjoy intense physical challenges within a spacious, green framework that feels both wild and organized.

3. Cultural Resonance

Deraeia-inspired detailing fosters a strong sense of place and community pride.

Conclusion

Pheel Action Sports Village exemplifies Schaduf’s ability to pioneer new landscape typologies—melding high-performance athletic programming with contextual sensitivity. Our master planning, landscape architecture, and urban design solutions have created a dynamic, enduring park that encourages active lifestyles while honoring Riyadh’s cultural heritage.

As a milestone in Pheel Action Sports Village landscape architecture, the project proves how climate-responsive design and cultural vernacular can transform urban sports environments into world-class athletic destinations.