Profile
Dr. Nawaf Alhajaj is an associate professor and practitioner of landscape architecture and urban design who works at the Department of Landscape Architecture at King Abdulaziz University. He holds a master's degree in urban landscape architecture from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, and PhD degree in urban design and healthy cities from the University of Western Australia. Dr. Alhajaj has worked for many years in private and governmental sectors and has received several local and international awards for redesigning and researching the public realm in different cities in Australia, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. His current research interests concern improving the quality of the public realm and creating walkable, healthy, and lively communities in Saudi cities. Dr. Alhajaj has published several research in highly respected international journals and currently serves as an active reviewer for several international (ISI) journals
Education
- 1999
Bachelor degree from Landscape Architecture Faculty of Environmental Design , King Abdulaziz University , , المملكة العربية السعودية
- 2009
Master degree from Landscape Architecture Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Urban Design , University of Adelaide , أديليد, اســـتراليا
- 2014
Doctorate degree from Landscape Architecture Architecture, Landscape & Visual Arts, University of Western Australia , Perth, اســـتراليا
Employment
- 1999-2001
Landscape Architect Designer, Innovators Consulting Engineers, جدة, المملكة العربية السعودية
- 2001-2006
Landscape Architect Designer, Project Director of KAU, جدة, المملكة العربية السعودية
- 2006-2007
Scholarship , Hawthorn-Melbourne English Language Centre, ميلبورن , اســـتراليا
- 2008-2009
Scholarship - Master degree , University of Adelaide, South Australia, أديليد, اســـتراليا
- 2010-2011
Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, بيرث, اســـتراليا
- 2010-2015
Ph.D. candidate, University of Western Australia , بيرث, اســـتراليا
- 2015-حاليا
Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, جدة, المملكة العربية السعودية
Research Interests
My current research concerns improving the quality of life and public realm of Saudi cities by creating healthy urban environments that promote walkability, physical activities, social interactions and at the same time reduce the dependence on cars usage at neighborhood or city levels. My research interest also includes researching the different ways to increase the provision of functional public open spaces (POS) per person in Saudi cities and modifying existing POS to provide ecological services such as managing stormwater, offsetting CO2, reducing local temperature and creating new wildlife habitats for birds.
Scientific interests
Awards
University Campus within a Park - 2023
2010 - The District of Mount Barker Landscape Planning Prize, University of Adelaide, Australia
2008 - The Boral Resources Prize in Landscape Architecture, University of Adelaide, Australia
2004 - The Eco Resort Prize, National Wildlife Research Center, Saudi Arabia
2000 - The Samir Refinery Headquarter Prize, Morocco
1998 - The Department of Landscape Architecture Prize, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
PUBLICATIONS
Alhajaj, N., Hendrigan, C. (2022). Out of Sight and Out of Reach: Public Access Strategies Using a Mixed Method to Reconnect a Saudi Urban Mega-District with its Shoreline. Coastal Management, 50 (4): 325-345. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2022.2078175
Alhajaj, N., Daghistani, F. (2021). Hybrid method for measuring the accessibility and safety of students’ walking routes in car-dominated campuses. Urban Design International. 26: 53–66 https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-020-00149-z
Alhajaj, N. (2021). Exploring Curriculums of Landscape Architecture in Saudi Arabia from the International Federation of Landscape Architecture Perspective, Journal of Architecture and Planning, 33(2): 245-259. https://cap.ksu.edu.sa/sites/cap.ksu.edu.sa/files/attach/jap_ksu_june_2021_en1.pdf
Alhajaj, N., Sobaihi, M. (2018). Landscape Architecture: The First Saudi Program and Its Global Position, Middle Eastern Journal of Education, 4(2): 12-24. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333356960_LANDSCAPE_ARCHITECTURE_THE_FIRST_SAUDI_PROGRAM_AND_ITS_GLOBAL_POSITION
Alhajaj, N. (2014). New forms of public open space in the city of Jeddah: urban design scenarios for increasing the provision of POS to enhance the urban health of a rapidly growing Saudi Arabian metropolis. https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/new-forms-of-public-open-space-in-the-city-of-jeddah-urban-design
Alhajaj, N. (2009). A Human Response to Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, University of Adelaide.
Alhajaj, N. (2008). Boomtown in the Metropolitan Adelaide, University of Adelaide. https://vdocument.in/metropolitan-adelaide-urban-built-form-biocity-studio.html?page=1
Alhajaj, N. (2014).“Jeddah 2030: A Healthy City” at the 7th Liveable Cities Conference, Kings Cliff, NSW, Australia
Alhajaj, N. (2013) “New forms of public open space in the city of Jeddah: Urban design scenarios for increasing the provision of POS to enhance the urban health of a rapidly growing Saudi Arabian metropolis” in the 6th International Urban Design Conference, Sydney
Courses
| Contemporary Trends in Landscape Architecture |
426 |
LA |
| Urban Design in Landscape Architecture |
396 |
LA |
| Field Training -1 |
312 |
LA |
| Field Training - 2 |
413 |
LA |
| Design Process in Landscape Architecture |
294 |
LA |
| Computer Applications in Landscape Architecture |
261 |
LA |
| Graduation Project |
499 |
LA |
| Urban Design Studio (2) - Master |
602 |
LA |
| Approach to Graduation Project - Master |
694 |
LA |
Areas of expertise
| Expertise |
Dr. Nawaf Alhajaj's expertise lies in improving the quality of the public realm and creating walkable, healthy, and livable communities in Saudi cities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|