Liebherr Group & The Convertible Parasols of Medina

In Saudi Arabia, summer daytime temperatures in the shade regularly exceed 38C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the country is reportedly around 53C, and it’s one of the hottest countries in the MENA region. 

Pilgrimage, known as Hajj, brings millions of Muslims to Saudi Arabia every single year. This year 1.83 million travelled to perform the Hajj, with 1.6 million of those muslims from 22 other countries and 222,000 Saudi citizens.

Pilgrimage- which involves extensive walking by foot, with some even doing this barefoot- is undertaken during the final month of the Islamic calendar, usually in June or July. 

As the sun rises, so do the risks. Heated ground and marble can burn and injure feet. Heat exhaustion and stroke kill, as people move in large groups under direct sunlight.

This year more than 1,300 people died during Hajj, the majority after walking in the scorching heat. 

With all this considered, creating shade is a critical priority.

This is why in 2008 the German architectural group Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH, part of the broader Liebherr Group, was commissioned by the Saudi government to manufacture large parasols for a major pilgrimage site in Medina, Saudi Arabia. 

Parasols which could become a feature of more cities in the future, as global warming leads to increased global temperatures and increasingly frequent heat waves.

Enhanced sun protection from convertible parasols

The Saudi Binladin Group contracted the project’s structural planning with Liebherr. Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH drew on its expertise in crane technology to develop the prototype for the area's convertible parasols.

Today, 250 convertible parasols, which are 15m high, surround the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.

These umbrellas, designed to reduce the intense heat and provide much-needed shade, form a shaded area of 143,000 square metres and reduce temperatures by an estimated 8C.

They utilise hydraulic cylinders to unfold and raise their roofs, automated to open and close according to sunlight and temperature levels. When the parasols close they are encased in a decorative column, naturally blending into the surrounding area.

The cladding was created from advanced lightweight composites by Premier Composite Technologies LLC, with glass fibre epoxy resin laminate used to provide torsional stiffness. 

The umbrellas needed to meet exceptional material requirements. They needed to be ultraviolet resistant and created from a material with high tensile strength, that would be capable of providing flexibility whilst withstanding wind load.

The material also needed to be resistant to fire and bleaching from the sun, providing suitable light transmission and shading.

To meet all these requirements, SEFAR Architecture helped develop a highly durable PTFE-coated fabric.

This fabric creates a smooth surface and is most commonly used as a release mechanism for food processing and heat-sealing. 

Another critical aspect of the parasols was their colour. They couldn’t be a dark colour, as this would absorb heat and funnel this onto those below, but they also couldn’t be white as they would become blinding beneath the sun.

In response, a sand-coloured fabric was picked that matched the surrounding architecture.

Additionally, water fans with sixteen water spray apertures were strategically placed on the columns of the parasols to mist and cool passers-by as they walk beneath.

Each of the parasols produced offers around 800 people protection from the sun, enabling pilgrims to complete what is a difficult and religiously important journey. 

Convertible Parasols: a growing trend?

In 2013, parasols with a similar design popped up somewhere else across the world- Fort Worth, North Texas.

Developed by SL Rasch and showcased in November at the Sundance Square Plaza, the convertible shading umbrellas allow public spaces to be used both day and night regardless of weather conditions. 

These four umbrellas were the first permanent lightweight structures developed by SL Rasch for the US.

They harmonise with surrounding architecture, providing protection from the sun during the day and transforming into delightful light sculptures during nighttime through an LED system.

As weather conditions grow more unpredictable due to climate change, with killer heat waves recently devastating countries like India and Greece governments must adapt to an unfortunate new normal. 

These parasols could have critical applications across the Global South, Asia and Southern Europe, cooling and providing shade to millions of people in dense urban environments. Manufacturers, architects and city planners must continue to explore the vital intersection between sustainability and innovation moving forward. 

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