Case Study: 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 transforms a 25 000 m² site in Riyadh 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.

Challenges 

• Pioneering New Typology: Introducing subterranean and semi-subterranean athletic facilities within an urban park setting—unprecedented in Riyadh.
• Programmatic Integration: Accommodating diverse sports zones without compromising the park’s openness or circulation.
• Contextual Sensitivity: Reflecting Deraeia’s historic architectural language in landscape forms and materials.

Solutions 

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

Outcomes 

• Riyadh’s First Underground Athletic Park: A landmark destination that elevates urban sport and recreation.
• Dynamic Open-Air Environment: Visitors enjoy intense physical challenges within a spacious, green framework that feels both wild and organized.
• 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.