LAVA and a consortium of specialists are developing the concept master plan and legacy designs for Expo 2030 Riyadh.
Following the recent endorsement of the Registration Dossier by the Bureau International des Expositions and the formation of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, LAVA, the appointed concept master planners, share their transformative thinking for the Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy.
LAVA’s ambitious design reimagines the World Expo as a catalyst for long-term sustainability, cultural exchange, and innovation.
Strategically located between King Salman International Airport and Riyadh City, the master plan for the Expo 2030 Riyadh site is not only designed to host the global event but to evolve seamlessly into a lasting legacy: a dynamic Global Village centered around retail, dining, and community experiences.
"Expo has always celebrated breakthroughs in science, technology, and cultural understanding. The team at Expo 2030 Riyadh are proud to be working with the world class team of design specialists led by LAVA whose concept master plan reflects this spirit by interpreting the theme of Foresight as a vision for a new way of living for current and future generations", says Talal Al Marri, CEO, Expo 2030 Riyadh Company.
At the heart of this ambitious vision is a deeply collaborative process, shaped by a team of expert advisors, led by LAVA.
Together, they have established the core design principles that underpin the master plan, each one developed with specialist insight and careful attention to place and purpose.
Nature-Led Urban Design
Instead of imposing a traditional urban grid, the master plan uses the reactivated wadis as the foundation for an organic and interconnected network of spaces. This approach encourages biodiversity, establishes shaded pedestrian pathways, and fosters natural cooling microclimates—crucial elements in addressing Riyadh’s desert climate.
Nature-Inspired Regeneration
Drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s distinctive landscape—especially its seasonal riverbeds and wadis—the design reinterprets and regenerates these natural formations, breathing life into the site through ecological restoration.
Sustainable Mobility Without Compromise
A cutting-edge, site-wide mobility system overlays the site without disrupting the preserved nature corridors. This ensures efficient movement while protecting vital green spaces.
To optimize both spatial and environmental performance, the plan incorporates fractal geometries—a design approach that enhances airflow, light distribution, and energy efficiency while also enriching the human experience.
These geometries express a powerful design philosophy that bridges the global and the local, aligning perfectly with Expo 2030’s overarching theme: Foresight for Tomorrow. The result is a new model for urbanism—where culture, nature, and innovation are not only integrated but celebrated.
“We have anchored the design firmly in nature,” says Chris Bosse, Co-Founder of LAVA. “The Master plan exemplifies how nature and technology, environmental restoration and urban innovation can effectively coexist. Expo 2030 Riyadh is a prototype for future cities — linking the microcosm of nature with the global digital realm and creating a new urbanism.”
Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to be more than a world event. It’s a blueprint for a sustainable, inclusive future—and a new paradigm for how cities can grow, thrive, and endure.
DESIGN TEAM
LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture)
Chris Bosse, Alexander Rieck, Tobias Wallisser
Project director: Riccardo Allegri
• LAVA / Lead Consultant / Architect / Master Planner
• 9e Global / Infrastructure, Utilities, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering ECC & Vertical Assets
• Barc Solutions / Acoustics, Audio Visual, Broadcast, ICT, Security and Theatre and Staging
• Buro Happold / Governance, Strategic planning, Mobility planning, Crowd modelling, Sustainability and Smart City
• Christine Losecaat MBE / Major Events & Expo Advisor
• Design Confidence / Accessibility & Fire, Life & Safety
• DPA Lighting / Lighting Design
• Expo Pavilion Group / Exhibition Design – Icon, Souk and KSA Pavilion
• Event Planning Group / Operations Consultants
• Gorgeous Group / Hospitality Consultant
• LAND Italia / Landscape Architecture
• LAND Research Lab / Ecosystem Assessment and Parametric Design
• Linesight / Cost Consultant
• Montana / Hydrology Plan, Waste Management, Environmental Plan, Climate Change Report (contribution with BH)
• Omrania / Architect of Record
• Plan A / Design Management
• REDAS / Transport, Mobility & Logistics Consultant
• Samantha Cotterell LLC / Expo Design Strategic Advisor
• Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp) / Structural Engineer – KSA Pavilion
• Space Agency / Wayfinding & Signage
• Think Hospitality / Hospitality Consultant
• Thornton Tomasetti / Structural Engineer - Icon
• Transsolar KlimaEngineering / Climate Engineering
• Tricon / F&B Consultant
Follow the five year journey towards new bio-urban futures:
- Instagram / Expo 2030 Riyadh
For Media Enquiries: r.mackie@l-a-v-a.com
Image credits: LAVA / BUCHAREST