1. Home
  2. Projects
  3. Al Buhayra Masterplan

Al Buhayra Masterplan

McGregor Coxall was selected as one of five consultant teams to lead the Al Buhayra Waterfront masterplanning project titled Islands of Al Buhayra. Our concept provided a compelling vision to transform the Jeddah coastline through ecological restoration and cultural celebration. Key to the design was enhancing the area’s natural beauty while honouring Hejazi culture’s rich architectural legacy. Drawing inspiration from the dense urban fabric and layout of Al Balad, our plan envisioned redeveloping the waterfront into an interconnected microcity evoking old Jeddah. An intricate network of souks, streets and courtyards unified a vibrant, interconnected mix of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces. Sustainable strategies were incorporated throughout to restore the ecological health of the coastline, with architectural details, public spaces, and streetscapes authentically integrating Hejazi design influences.

Year

 2022 - 2023

Site Area

 800 ha

Services
  • Green Roof
  • Landscape Master Plan
  • Water Sensitive Urban Design [WSUD]
  • Blue-Green (Living) Infrastructure Planning and Design
  • Community Engagement
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Analysis + Statistics
  • Public Realm Planning and Design
  • Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse
  • Streetscape
  • Urban Design Framework

Collaborators
  • X Architects
  • WSP
  • Barker Langham

Sectors
  • Cities + Places
Black and white portrait of Adrian McGregor, a middle-aged man with short, curly hair wearing a dark blazer over a V-neck shirt. He is facing the camera and smiling slightly against a plain background.
Talk to Adrian McGregor about Al Buhayra Masterplan
Get In Touch
A split-view image illustrates the Pre-Concept Masterplan for Al Buhayra, showing a tropical cityscape with palm trees and buildings above water, and a vibrant coral reef with various fish and marine life below the surface.
A detailed Pre-Concept architectural site plan shows urban and green areas along the Al Buhayra waterfront, with buildings, roads, and landscaped spaces integrated into the shoreline, extending over water and connecting to the city grid.
Aerial view of a cityscape with turquoise waterfront, modern buildings, and green spaces, illustrating the Pre-Concept Masterplan for Al Buhayra as urban development blends with natural coastal areas. Some parts are covered by clouds.
Aerial view of Al Buhayra coastal city at dusk, featuring modern buildings, waterfront promenades, and boats in the water—illuminated by warm lights and the captivating charm of a Pre-Concept Masterplan beside the blue sea.
Aerial view of a geometric wooden boardwalk encircling a small, lush island at Al Buhayra, bordered by water. A white boat is docked at the walkway, and a few people stroll nearby, illustrating the vision of the Pre-Concept Masterplan.
A landscaped waterfront park within the Al Buhayra Masterplan features palm trees, cacti, and tall grasses. People walk and gather near a reflective water feature, while sailboats glide on the horizon beneath a cloudy sky.
People walk and relax in a sunlit plaza at Al Buhayra, surrounded by palm trees, greenery, and outdoor seating. Some wear traditional Middle Eastern attire. A tall tower rises in the distance under the clear masterplan vision of the area.
People relax and walk along Al Buhayra’s modern, palm tree-lined waterfront promenade, designed as part of the Pre-Concept Masterplan. Some sit and read on wide stone steps, while others stroll by the water in a warm, golden sunset atmosphere.
A scenic view of Al Buhayra’s waterfront features lush palm trees, a winding wooden walkway, kayakers on blue water, and modern buildings in the background—a picturesque setting shaped by thoughtful pre-concept masterplan design under a partly cloudy sky.
A sunny promenade along the Al Buhayra masterplan features people walking, talking, and dining outdoors, lined with palm trees and greenery, modern buildings to the right, and water in the background. The scene is lively and inviting.
Aerial view of a modern city with white buildings near a vibrant turquoise waterfront in Al Buhayra, lush greenery, wooden walkways, and a small boat on the water; the Masterplan extends into the urban background.
Aerial view of the Al Buhayra coastal city Masterplan, featuring turquoise water, islands, walkways, modern buildings, greenery, and boats sailing under a clear sky.
Aerial view of Al Buhayra, a coastal city with lush greenery, sandy beaches, clear blue water, islands, sailboats, buildings, and winding walking paths along the shoreline under a sunny sky—showcasing the vibrant Pre-Concept Masterplan.
A lively pedestrian street in Al Buhayra with people walking and sitting beside a small stream, surrounded by modern, earth-toned buildings as envisioned in the Pre-Concept Masterplan, lush greenery, palm trees, and a clear, sunny sky.
People in traditional Middle Eastern attire walk along Al Buhayra’s palm-lined riverside promenade at sunset, with modern buildings in the background and calm water reflecting the sky—an inspiring scene from the area’s Pre-Concept Masterplan.

More Projects

Other News

Aerial view of a coastal fortress at Ballast Point Park, with stone walls extending into the water. The structure features multiple levels with trees and pathways. Visitors are dispersed throughout the grounds. The surrounding water is calm, and the sky is clear.

Ballast Point Park: Featured on Gardening Australia

August 4, 2026 Media
This modest 2.5-hectare park, perched on Wangal Country in Birchgrove, sits on the bones of a former petrochemical refinery. In the local Wangal language it is called Walama — to return — and that word carries the full weight of everything Adrian McGregor and his team set out to...
Aerial view of the Tropicalia Village masterplan reveals a large, modern complex with white-roofed buildings nestled among dense green trees, open fields, and a distant coastline under a clear sky.

Aldea Tropicalia shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival

July 15, 2026 Project New Photos
World Architecture Festival (WAF) is the largest live awards event for architects and designers. Held annually, it is the only awards program where all finalists present their projects live to a panel of judges at the festival in Miami, Florida. McGregor Coxall’s Aldea Tropicalia masterplan for a biophilic village...
Aerial view of Sydney cityscape with the Rozelle Interchange, river, bridges, lush parklands, residential houses, and tall buildings under a clear blue sky. The skyline is visible in the background with scattered greenery throughout.

Celebrating A Decade of The Rozelle Interchange Parklands

March 6, 2026 Project New Photos
In 2016, McGregor Coxall was engaged by Infrastructure NSW to investigate the Rozelle Interchange, a critical node within the $16.8 billion WestConnex roads program. Originally conceived as an above-ground cloverleaf of elevated roads that would have permanently entrenched the disconnection between surrounding communities, the project presented a rare opportunity to rethink...
Aerial view of a Green Square Sydney with modern high-rise buildings, streets, and green spaces under a clear sky, reflecting the vision set by Green Square Guidelines, with water and the distant skyline in the background. Photo by Ruth Gold.

Green Square Centre Nears Completion

August 29, 2025 Project New Photos
In 2001 McGregor Coxall in association with Wiel Arets from the Netherlands and Turner Associates won an international design competition to masterplan the Green Square Centre in South Sydney. The urban regeneration project proposed new sustainable typologies of living, working and leisure over the existing Green Square railway station...
Aerial view of a large, green botanic gardens park with curving pathways, a central pond, dense trees, scattered buildings, and distant cityscape; birds fly overhead under a clear sky.

Botanic Gardens of Sydney Masterplan Unveiled

August 12, 2025 Project Milestone
Botanic Gardens of Sydney has released the McGregor Coxall masterplan to transform Australia’s largest botanic garden into a world class visitor destination for Western Sydney. Located on Dharawal Country and shared by the Dharug and Gundungurra nations, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan spans an enormous 416 hectares, making it...
A modern, multi-story residential building with orange accents sits adjacent to Nine by Mirvac, a sleek white rectangular apartment complex. Both are enveloped by lush greenery and manicured lawns. In the foreground, a shaded structure with benches completes the serene setting under a clear blue sky.

Where Landscape Leads: The Vision Behind NINE

July 2, 2025 Awards
McGregor Coxall is proud to announce that NINE by Mirvac has received the 2025 AILA NSW Award of Excellence for Gardens — the highest honour in its category — recognising the project’s design excellence and contribution to urban garden-making in Australia. Once a gated television studio site closed to...
A view of a city skyline with modern high-rise buildings next to a river, showcasing urban biodiversity amid green trees and bushes under a partly cloudy sky in the late afternoon.

Two AILA Queensland Awards for Urban Biodiversity and Cemetery Design

June 18, 2025 Awards
McGregor Coxall has been recognised at the 2025 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Queensland Awards, receiving two Landscape Architecture Awards for the South Bank Biodiversity Strategy and the Tallowwood Cemetery Masterplan. The award-winning projects demonstrate our continued leadership in creating sustainable, biodiverse urban environments that balance ecological health...
A 3D topographic map of the Birrarung Catchment sits on black stands in a dark room. Behind it, a glowing map, digital screens displaying Melbourne river catchment data, and other illuminated visuals are mounted on the dark walls.

McGregor Coxall Celebrates AILA Victoria Award Win for Visionary Birrarung Project

June 6, 2025 Awards
“Reimagining Birrarung: Design Concepts for 2070” has won the 2025 AILA Victoria Award of Excellence for Research, Policy and Communications. The groundbreaking exhibition, presented by the National Gallery of Victoria, brought together eight leading landscape architecture practices to envision the future of Melbourne’s iconic Yarra River. McGregor Coxall, along...
Aerial view of a lush, green peninsula extending into a body of water, surrounded by sailboats and yachts. The shoreline is dotted with parks like Ballast Point Park and residential areas, while a cityscape with tall buildings and bridges is visible in the background under a clear sky.

Ballast Point Park Added to NSW State Heritage Register

May 16, 2025 Project Milestone
A Milestone for Regenerative Landscape Design. McGregor Coxall is proud to acknowledge the recent announcement that Ballast Point Park has been formally added to the NSW State Heritage Register. This recognition cements the park’s significance not just as a public open space, but as a pioneering example of regenerative...