Location: Diriyah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Architect: Ricardo Bofill taller de Arcquitectura.
As part of the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 strategy to expand tourism in the nation, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s masterplan, which is located on the outskirts of Riyadh, seeks to establish the Kingdom’s premier historic tourism destination.
The 14 square kilometres, $50.6 billion USD construction will protect, develop, and celebrate Diriyah’s rich history while rehabilitating At-Turaif, a 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site that served as the Saudi royal family’s first residence and the nation’s first capital.
In order to create a cogent cityscape that is unique to its area, the architecture of King Salman Cultural Centers embraces the traditional Najdi style with the design of the buildings inspired by the legacy observed in the surrounding historic neighbourhood.
Through the use of patios, landscaped courtyards, and large halls, traditional building typologies integrate the three institutional elements while precisely combining solid with emptiness, light with shade, and human contact with purpose and objective.
For specific information regarding the exterior composition and detailing of facades, material quality, and colour, specific reference has been made to the adjoining At-Turaif UNESCO site. Clear doors, porticos, decoratively organised ventilation holes, and parapets give the structures a feeling of identity that is in line with the goals of the masterplan.
