CONFERENCE - "THE NEW BREATHING HUBS - Shaping systemic interfaces"

Introduction

This conference is organised by the Saudi French Business Council (CAFS) and will be delivered by ABA-WORKSHOP, VALORHIZ and DELHOM ACOUSTICS.

The event will take place in person, on 6th October 2026, at 7 PM, at the Federation of Saudi Chambers, in Riyadh.

It is open to everyone and participation is free of charge. Registration is mandatory.

Summary of conference

Infrastructure performance can be enhanced by integrating mobility, architecture, environmental expertise and acoustics. The goal is to connect seamless journeys, climate resilience and operational requirements with long-term investment value.

The New Breathing Hub is a pilot project that can be adapted to different sites and contexts.

Through this pilot, we aim to share a systemic methodology that underpins a viable economic model and embeds climate adaptation in project development.

Application to projects in Saudi Arabia

The method is adapted to the climate change, water availability, cultural practices, mobility needs and operating models of each project. It aims to support shared use of resources, optimise capital and operating expenditure, and integrate services that can generate revenue. Reversibility and changing functions are considered from the outset to limit obsolescence and support the long-term value of the asset.

The symposium invites decision-makers to identify critical interfaces and their potential within ongoing or planned projects. Discussions will explore the expertise required and the conditions for putting this approach into systemic practice.

Presentation of Speakers

Speaker

Contribution to the project

Nelly Bussac
ABA-WORKSHOP
CEO and Cofounder

Architecture, urban strategies, mobility and user journeys. Connecting interfaces and creating continuity in the user experience.

Dr Hassan Boukcim
VALORHIZ
CEO

Environment, water, soil and ecological restoration. Microclimate and resilience, adapted to local resources and conditions.

Antoine Pommier
DELHOM Acoustics
Partner and Head of Strategic Projects

Acoustics, comfort and sensory experience. Integrating the sound environment into the design of spaces and their uses.

Nelly Bussac is co-founder of ABA-WORKSHOP. Her strategic vision was forged in territories where constraints make infrastructure choices decisive for the future of people, cities and regions. This vision drives her systemic approach to architecture and urban planning, grounded in the interdependencies between mobility, resources and climate.
She sees mobility hubs as urban synapses, connecting infrastructure, services and human behaviour. Drawing on multidisciplinary experience, she links flows and user journeys across scales with sensory design to shape resilient, resource-efficient infrastructure built to evolve. Her work bridges present needs and future transformations, aligning architectural quality with economic performance and long-term value.

ABA-WORKSHOP:

ABA-WORKSHOP is an international architecture practice shaping mobility infrastructure around people and evolving ways of life. Since 2014, its collective, systemic approach breaks down silos, connecting urban planning, landscape, architecture and environmental expertise from the earliest stages.

Working across borders and scales without replicating models, it serves the public interest through intermodal infrastructure and seamless journeys, integrating climate resilience and adaptation to help communities embrace societal changes.

Dr. Hassan Boukcim is CEO of VALORHIZ. Ecologist, entrepreneur and innovation leader, he has over 27 years’ experience, a PhD in Ecology and an Executive MBA. Founder and CEO of Valorhiz Group, he translates research into scalable solutions for soil diagnosis, ecological restoration and Nature-based Solutions.

As an author and co-author, he contributes to international R&D programs and partnerships involving research, industry and public stakeholders, within Mediterranean, arid and desert environments.

Valorhiz Group:

Valorhiz Group restores ecosystem functions by regenerating degraded soils, enhancing biodiversity and strengthening climate resilience. Combining advanced soil diagnostics, ecological engineering, bio-based products, circular resource use and AI-powered environmental intelligence, it designs and implements locally adapted Nature-based Solutions, with long-term monitoring to assess performance.

Operating across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Brazil, including 11 years in Saudi Arabia, Valorhiz turns scientific expertise into practical environmental outcomes.

Antoine Pommier is Head of Strategic Projects, Partner and Senior Acoustic Engineer at Delhom Acoustics. With over a decade at the company, he supports projects across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He works at the intersection of acoustic engineering, architecture and urban design.

As a musician and former composer, he combines technical expertise with sensitivity to how sound shapes people’s experience, contributing to research and strategic partnerships supporting comfortable, resilient and human-centered environments.

Delhom Acoustics:

Founded in France in 1995, Delhom Acoustics is a leading French acoustic consultancy supporting architects, developers, designers and engineers from early planning through project delivery. With offices in Toulouse, Paris, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Dubai and Singapore, the team combines international expertise with local knowledge across building, environmental and urban acoustics.

Its approach integrates technical performance, soundscape design and user experience to create more comfortable, resilient and engaging environments.

Provisional program

6.45 PM – Arrival of participants
7 PM – Welcoming speech by Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden, Presidenf of the Saudi French Business Council (CAFS)
7.10 PM – Conference “The New Breathing Hubs” delivered by:
- - Mrs. Nelly BUSSAC, CEO and Co-Founder of ABA-Workshop
  - Dr Hassan BOUKCIM, CEO of VALORHIZ
  - Mr. Antoine POMMIER, Partner and Head of Strategic Projects at DELHOM Acoustics
8.10 PM – Networking session
9.30 PM – End of event