Rapid urbanization in Saudi Arabia has reshaped land use and increased the demand for public spaces to enhance residents’ well-being, support quality of life, and strengthen cities’ resilience to global warming and climate change. In this study, an evaluation of user satisfaction with the design of nature-based parks in Saudi Arabia was conducted, using Wadi Hanifa Park in Riyadh city as a case study. To this end, direct observation alongside a questionnaire survey of park users was employed. The findings indicate that users are generally satisfied with the design of the park, with a weighted mean overall satisfaction score of 3.38 out of 5 observed. High satisfaction ratings were reported for various features, with visual quality receiving the highest rating. In contrast, lower satisfaction levels were recorded for some aspects, with the lowest rating given to lighting levels at night. The most frequently cited issue needing attention was the limited presence of greenery. This suggests that users tend to report a higher satisfaction in parks that incorporate diverse plant life and create a harmonious blend of natural and built environments. Accordingly, this study recommends the planting of native species, which require less water, enhance visual appeal, and strengthen place identity. Enhancing these aspects could further increase the effectiveness of nature-based parks in enhancing the quality of life in Saudi cities. This study recommends developing a national evaluation framework for public parks in Saudi Arabia to guide designers and policymakers in implementing the best design practices.

This study reviews the current applications of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in architectural design education using the PRISMA framework. It compares these applications across the different design stages, namely the pre-design, concept generation, design development, and design production, to identify the current state of evidence and conceptual discussions reported in the literature. The study also discusses the associated opportunities and challenges in this regard. The findings indicate that there is a growing interest in integrating GenAI into architectural design education, especially in the early design stages. However, one of the most significant gaps in this regard lies in the lack of empirical evidence on the long-term impacts of GenAI on students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Future research is needed to explore the integration of GenAI throughout the entire design process, including design development and refinement. There is also a need to incorporate the relevant ethical guidelines for AI-generated content into academic quality assurance systems and to strengthen institutional preparedness through targeted training and policy development.

Pedestrian walkways are essential elements of university campus design and urban planning. The function of campus walkways is not only safe walking but also to hold many social activities like interacting and socializing. This paper aims to assess design criteria of successful walkways in the middle eastern arid campus. To achieve the aim, a mixed research methodological approach is adopted whereby a number of qualitative and quantitative methods like naturalistic observation on a case, in-depth interviews, and questionnaire survey are employed to gather data. The study outcomes include a framework of 10 design assessment criteria of successful campus walkways. The shortcomings of middle eastern campus walkways are ranked according to their importance whereby the most and least important shortcomings are identified as the “lack of barrier free environment” and “lack of greeneries along the walkways”, respectively.

This study investigates the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in architectural design education, focusing on its potential benefits, challenges, and implications across the different stages of the architectural design process. This study employed a mixed-method approach including a questionnaire survey of practicing architects and structured interviews with architecture faculty. The findings highlighted a growing acceptance of GenAI’s role in architectural design education, with more preference given to the conceptual design phase. However, this faces multiple challenges including the lack of technical knowledge and training as the most pressing issue, followed by the absence of clear guidelines, resistance to change, and the high cost of the required infrastructure. This study proposed a framework that summarizes the required actions concluded from the collected data to ensure responsible integration of GenAI into architectural design education. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of GenAI on students’ manual skills and critical design thinking.