PLP Architecture Unveils Rikaz Towers at Cityscape Global
PLP Architecture has revealed early designs for Rikaz Towers, a new coastal landmark for Al Khobar on Saudi Arabia’s eastern seaboard. The announcement was made during Cityscape Global, the region’s premier real estate event. Designed for client Rikaz, the project introduces a mixed-use development of homes, hospitality, workspaces, and leisure at the edge of the Arabian Gulf.
Positioned near the city’s popular Corniche, the 63,780m² development is structured around two distinctive towers – one for private apartments, the other for hotel and serviced residences – linked by a series of activated podiums and a unifying canopy. The ground plane integrates wellness, dining, retail and workplace amenities, all arranged around shaded plazas and arcades to support a vibrant public life throughout the day and evening.
The design responds to its coastal setting both climatically and visually. Set at an angle to the shoreline to maximise views and solar control, the towers feature curving façades and sculpted GRC spandrels that draw on the rhythms of the sea. Double-height terraces and stepped setbacks articulate the massing and lend the scheme a distinctive profile along the waterfront.
Rikaz Towers brings a new typology of vertical living to this coastal context. Its mix of uses and generous public realm make it an important new destination for Al Khobar, shaping a contemporary civic identity for the eastern gateway of the city.
The project builds on PLP’s experience designing high-quality living and hospitality environments around the world. The studio’s hospitality portfolio includes work for major global brands such as the Pan Pacific Hotel and Mandarin Oriental in London, and the Four Seasons in Abu Dhabi. This is complemented by recent residential towers including Park Nova in Singapore, a biophilic high-rise redefining luxury living in the tropics; Lodha Sea Face, a landmark seafront tower in Mumbai; and Opus, the tallest residential building in Prime Central London.
