TASH ARCHITECTS

Re-Imagining Retail Spaces

Rethinking the Future of Brick-and-Mortar

As e-commerce grows at a rapid pace, physical stores face shrinking profits and an identity crisis. Traditional retail formats—large, enclosed outlets with little room for interaction—are no longer enough. To remain relevant, retail spaces must offer time-resilient experiences that draw people even when they have no immediate shopping need.

Retail as a Social Experience

Historically, market squares thrived because they were places to meet, converse, and relax—not just to buy goods. Our design embraces this tradition, making community engagement and human connection central to the retail experience. Shoppers should want to visit for leisure, networking, and relaxation as much as for commerce.

Design Vision

The proposal creates a network of “rich experience squares”—pedestrian streets at ground level linked to vibrant terrace plazas above. Wide open seating areas, cafés, and shaded pockets invite neighbors to gather, turning the centre into a destination for friends, family, and colleagues.

Key elements include:

• Brick-paved pedestrian streets lined with greenery and outdoor seating.
• Terraced urban squares that connect from the north, east, and south roads, encouraging natural flow and community engagement.
• Flexible spaces for retail, services, food, and beverage outlets, alongside smaller kiosks and coffee stands—the lifeblood of traditional markets.

Climate-Responsive Strategies

Special attention is given to Dammam’s challenging climate.

• Passive cooling: extensive shading, native trees, and canopies reduce thermal stress. Seating areas are oriented toward cooler northern and eastern sides, while the hotter south and west receive extra shading and local stone cladding.
• Humidity control: plantings that absorb water vapor, plus baskets with coal briquettes or salt beds placed near seating clusters.
• Mechanical aids: discreet breeze and exhaust fans integrated into canopies.

Sustainable & Local Materials

The design prioritizes sustainability and economy:

• Locally sourced brick for walls and paving, concrete for roofs, and low-E glazing.
• Cooler local stone for south and west façades to limit heat gain.
• Crushed-stone (pea gravel) parking bays to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect and improve rainwater absorption.

Socio-Economic Impact

This concept treats socio-economic needs as the driver of design, reinventing how people socialize and do business in public arenas. By merging commerce with community, the project ensures that offline retail remains vibrant and indispensable in the digital age.