Working with Aecom Abu Dhabi, Spaceagency has developed strategies and designs to improve the public realm, and in particular the Wayfinding and Signage, across 13 selected Riyadh neighbourhoods. The objective is to encourage walking, cycling, and public life.

Streets function as the place for interaction and communication, transportation, social and commercial activities for the general public, so reclaiming streets for all users, and shifting away from the dominance of cars, is an important objective of this initiative. Riyadh public realm, like in other cities, bas been dominated by private cars for decades and there is a need to reprioritize community development objectives for a more sustainable and liveable environment.

Team:
Peter Feldmann, Yasmina Yehia, Lara Vartz, Magda Zdrojewski, Nanelle Jayawardene, Meryem Benyahya

Wayfinding Principles and Objectives

Signage and wayfinding forms an ‘immediate touch point’ between a resident or visitor and the built, urban environment he or she is trying to navigate.
It is therefore important that the design language of the signage is sympathetic to it’s environment. The project’s approach to wayfinding and signage design is experiential, seeing the visitor journey as a physical, cognitive and emotional experience through space.
It is taking inspiration from the architectural characters, materials and colours that are typical for the different neighbourhoods, including Salmani Architectural principles. While reacting to the different neighbourhoods, the entire system shares a common DNA that ensures that signage will be recognizable and consistent across different neighbourhoods. • Orientation and Navigation: The wayfinding strategy must make orientation within, and navigation through the different neighbourhoods intuitive, clear and memorable.

Information Planning
Once locations have been mapped, the question arises - how much information should be placed on each sign? This is not only a question of the amount of information, but also the radius of information. How far afield will the visitor be directed? Once they head out toward their destination, how long will it be before they reach the next sign? Will each sign act as a link in a chain leading toward each destination, or will information be dropped along the trail? The wayfinding system must be systematic in answering these questions.

Mapping Messages for Each Sign Face
The overall wayfinding journey should be planned as a ‘trail of bread crumbs’ so that each juncture addresses only the most immediate questions. By applying the principle of ‘progressive disclosure’, information is sequenced to reveal progressive amounts of detail as the visitor seeks it. Too much information will overwhelm visitors’ ability to absorb the information, and too little information will leave the visitor still guessing.

Information Frequency
Signage placement should be governed by the position of decision points, where a visitor will require information to make a choice about which direction to turn. However, if the path between these is long, additional signage may be required to confirm that the visitor is on the right path. Here it may be necessary to define a maximum interval between sign points. Information coverage can be mapped in plan by specifying a maximum walking radius between signage locations.

Visitor Journeys

Example Neighbouhood

Decision Points in Al Ghadeer Neighourhood

Decision Points in Al Ghadeer Neighbourhood

Mosques in Al Ghadeer Neighbourhood

High level signage locations in Al Ghadeer Neighbourhood

Key Destination in a typical Neighbourhood

ID Patterns for Character Zones

Sign Type Family

Sign Type Family - Elevations

Digital Freestanding Totem

The digital freestanding totem will primarily be used at important public spaces where people can be expected to be congregate. Information will include directionals towards local points of interest and walking maps, and digital event listing and directories.

The freestanding digital map is a feature element of the signage family. It can not only convey large amounts of information, but also be utilized for advertisement or celebratory displays during national holidays and other celebrations.

It’s use shall be careful considered and planned. This sign requires power and data supply.

Generally it shall be placed at significant end- or start- points of user journeys where sufficient shading is available. Sunlight shading studies shall be carried out and direct sunlight shall be avoided for risk of glare.

Further more, it shall only be placed where sufficient space is available in the public realm and where people can be expected to congregate, such as squares, entrances to parks, etc.

Small Freestanding Totem

The small freestanding totem will primarily be used as confirmation point mid-journey at tertiary decision points. Information will include directionals towards local points of interest.
It is an important member of the wayfinding family. This sign requires electric power supply. It shall be placed at secondary decision points and can used secondary decision making points and can additionally be placed at significant start- and end- points of user journeys.
Whenever possible, the freestanding totem shall be aligned with other pieces of street furniture or edges between walking and planting zones or walking and driving zones. It shall be accessible from both sides. It shall keep a minimum distance of 0.6m to all other street furniture to ensure free circulation, street cleaning and passage in between them.

Freestanding Finger Post

The freestanding finger post will be used at secondary and tertiary decision point where limited space on the sidewalk is available and the amount of information to be communicated is limited. Information will include directionals towards local points of interest, such as parks, mosques, public transport, hospitals and recreational facilities Total Height: 2.6m

It is the smallest directional signage element in the family. It can only convey a limited amount of information. It shall be used frequently along secondary and tertiary decision points. It can be adapted with 1, 2, 3 or 4 arms depending on the information requirements at the specific decision point. It can be ambient or illuminated depending on the importance of a specific location.

Whenever possible, it shall be all be aligned with other pieces of street furniture or edges between walking and planting zones or walking and driving zones. None of the arms must project into driveways and none of the arms must be mounted with a lower edge of less than 2.2m above paving level. It shall keep a minimum distance of 0.4m to all other street furniture to ensure free circulation, street cleaning and passage in between them.

Freestanding Endpoint ID

The Freestanding Endpoint ID will be used to identify minor features, such as specific car parks, bicycle parking stations, small playgrounds and similar endpoints.

Cycle Land Graphics

Cycle Lane Graphics

Cycle Lane - Render