Innovative Parasols Combat Scorching Heat in Saudi Arabia

In the shade, summer daytime temperatures frequently surpass 38°C in Saudi Arabia.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 53°C, solidifying Saudi Arabia's position among the hottest nations in MENA.

Annually, millions of Muslims embark on the Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. This year witnessed 1.83 million pilgrims, including 1.6 million from 22 other countries alongside 222,000 locals.

Hajj involves extensive on-foot journeys, sometimes barefoot, with rising temperatures elevating the risk of foot burns from hot surfaces, heat exhaustion and heatstroke amid large crowds in direct sunlight.

With more than 1,300 fatalities during this year's Hajj, primarily from the heat, the necessity of producing shade is paramount.

In 2008, the Saudi government tasked Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH, a subsidiary of the Liebherr Group, with crafting large parasols for pilgrimage site Medina.

These parasols might soon become essential in cities worldwide as global temperatures climb and heatwaves occur more frequently.

Transformable parasols enhance sun safety

The Saudi Binladin Group joined forces with Liebherr for the structural design, leveraging Liebherr's crane technology expertise for the convertible parasols' prototype.

Around the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, 250 of these parasols stand at 15m tall.

Designed to mitigate the harsh climate, they create a shaded expanse of 143,000 square metres, lowering temperatures by about 8°C.

They consist of hydraulic cylinders for roof expansion and retraction, with automation based on sunlight and temperature, craftily concealed in decorative columns when retracted.

Premier Composite Technologies LLC provided advanced lightweight composite cladding, incorporating glass fibre epoxy resin laminate for torsional rigidity.

The parasols need to withstand extreme conditions, being both ultraviolet resistant and strong enough to handle wind loads, fire and sun bleaching, while offering adequate light and shade.

PTFE-coated fabric, developed by SEFAR Architecture, met these stringent requirements, ensuring a smooth surface typically used in food processing and heat-sealing applications.

Colour plays a vital role too, with a sand hue chosen to complement the architecture without absorbing heat or reflecting blinding light.

Water fans that mount the parasols' columns disperse mist, cooling pedestrians underneath.

Each parasol provides sun protection for roughly 800 pilgrims, facilitating their spiritually significant journey.

Are convertible parasols a growing trend?

In 2013, North Texas' Fort Worth saw the introduction of similarly designed parasols at Sundance Square Plaza.

Created by SL Rasch, these parasols enhance public space utility irrespective of weather, transitioning into enchanting light sculptures by night through LED illumination.

With the planet facing unpredictable weather changes due to climate crisis, marked by devastating heat waves in India and Greece, governments find themselves adapting to a harsh new reality.

These innovative parasols promise to be of significant benefit across the Global South, Asia and Southern Europe, cooling and shading dense urban populations.

It is crucial for manufacturers, architects and urban planners to continue exploring the intersection of sustainability and innovation to address these challenges.

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