Al Khalid

Story of the heat absorbing Giant Umbrellas!

Located at the Medina Haram Piazza in Saudi Arabia

Every year, a huge number of pilgrims come down to the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi mosque located in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

This holy journey that hitherto was in the winter or cooler fall months; however, due to the changes in the lunar calendar, the pilgrimage time now falls in hot summer months. This results in making a sunshade absolutely necessary.

The architectural planning of the Medina Haram Piazza project was given to a Germany based SL-Rasch GmbH in Leinfelden-Echter-Dingen. The Saudi Binladin Group was aware about the usage of PTFE fabric crafted by Sefar from Switzerland. It was then found out that only this fabric could meet the exceptional climatic demands. This fabric has a tremendously high tensile vigor that gives UV-stability, flexibility, fire-resistance, and is well effective in the basic shading and proper light conduction.

It was impossible to have the tough PTFE fabric to remain pure white as it blinded the people beneath the sunshade. This was the sole reason for choosing a sand-colored fabric.

There are oriental patterns made of blue PTFE-ribbons underneath the umbrella. They are carefully adjusted thus maintaining the quality of the huge fabric throughout. The project was completed in September 2010. There are 250 umbrellas each occupying the surface area of 25.5 x 25.5 Mtr. (when open) & the height is 20 meters. These umbrellas stand proudly surrounding the mosque area.

These umbrellas give shade to the overall area of 143,000 m² – far more than the floor area. It takes merely three minutes to open and close. When closed each umbrella resembles an elegant pillar.

The most important & impressive fact about these umbrellas is, they reduce the heat and absorb the atmospheric temperature by 8°C benefitting the pilgrims which helps them to pray conveniently and without any weather related hindrance.