Gillespies has been recognised at the 2025 Landscape Middle East Awards, securing first runner-up in the Future Landscapes: Vision in Progress (Unbuilt) category. The award celebrates the studio’s masterplan for Jabal Thabeer Park in Makkah, created for Kidana | كدانة, highlighting its leadership in purpose-driven landscape design across the region.
Located beside the Jamarat Bridge and Mina Tent City, the Jabal Thabeer area carries deep cultural and religious significance. As pilgrimage numbers continue to grow, the need for thoughtfully designed, resilient landscapes that enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience has become increasingly important. Gillespies’ proposal responds to this context with a vision that prioritises safety, comfort and spiritual movement.
Project and Design Details
The 250,000 sqm masterplan reimagines Mount Thabeer as a serene, accessible public landscape. The design introduces shaded gardens, layered terraces, and intuitive pedestrian routes that guide pilgrims with clarity and ease. Representing the studio at the Abu Dhabi ceremony, Partner Michael De Wet joined the client in celebrating the milestone achievement.
Economic and Regional Impact
The recognition reinforces the project’s potential to influence large-scale public realm development in Saudi Arabia. By enhancing mobility, wellbeing and safety for millions of pilgrims annually, the masterplan serves as a model for culturally responsive and future-ready landscape planning in the Middle East.
Strategic Significance
Gillespies’ placement at the awards highlights its expanding footprint and thought leadership across the region. The Jabal Thabeer Park proposal underscores the studio’s commitment to designing landscapes that support religious rituals, elevate user experience and strengthen the environmental resilience of high-intensity sites.
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