Tag: alula | ArchDaily

7 Unbuilt Houses Shaped by Site, Climate, and Constraints

Nour Fakharany — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0000

Residential architecture continues to offer a productive ground for unbuilt exploration, revealing how architects respond to site, climate, and constraint at the scale of the domestic. In this Unbuilt edition, submitted by the ArchDaily community, the selected projects bring together a range of proposals that reconsider the house not as an isolated object, but as a spatial system shaped by its environment. These works position architecture as a framework that negotiates between ground, material, and inhabitation, often emerging directly from the conditions of the site.

Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture Envisions a Landscape-Inspired Desert Dwelling in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Antonia Piñeiro — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture recently revealed images of the AlUla Immersive Living project, a proposed dwelling envisioned to emerge from the desert landscape of Saudi Arabia. Its form is shaped by the site's light and wind, rooted in climate, and positioned between rock and dune. The design follows the concept of a shelter belonging as much to the desert as to its inhabitants, and behaving as a "living landscape." The structure is conceived with thick rammed-earth walls, contrasted by open platforms that frame the sky. It is presented as a statement of architecture intended "not to dominate but to host," providing refuge without severing connections, reflecting Lina Ghotmeh's position at the intersection of context, craft, and care.

From the Cliffs of Saudi Arabia to the Vineyards of Santorini, Discover 8 Unbuilt Hotel Proposals from the ArchDaily Community

Nour Fakharany — Fri, 09 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Hotels are increasingly being designed as more than just places for accommodation. As expectations around travel shift, architects are approaching hospitality projects as opportunities to explore ideas of context, experience, and identity. Whether integrated into remote landscapes or inserted into dense urban environments, these proposals examine how architecture can shape the guest experience through spatial organization, material selection, and connection to place. The hotel becomes a framework not only for rest, but for interaction with the surroundings, with others, and with the design itself.

Reframing Cultural Landmarks: A Local Approach to Architecture in the Middle East

Nour Fakharany — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 07:30:00 +0000

A previous exploration of cultural landmarks in the Middle East designed by international architects highlighted recurring themes such as architecture as an extension of the landscape, climate-responsive design, and abstraction of traditional forms. These projects often introduced high-tech environmental solutions, used monumental forms to reinterpret local identity, or positioned themselves as landmarks within the broader urban or desert landscape. While these approaches have defined many of the region's most recognizable cultural institutions, they represent just one side of the architectural discourse. An equally significant yet distinct trajectory emerges from local architects, who work within existing structures, historical contexts, and lived environments to create institutions that feel deeply embedded in their surroundings. This approach prioritizes continuity, transformation, and accessibility, ensuring that architecture remains an evolving part of the cultural fabric rather than a self-contained object.

James Turrell Unveils Monumental Commission for Wadi AlFann in AlUla

Maria-Cristina Florian — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 06:30:00 +0000

The AlUla Arts Festival, running from January 16th to February 22nd, 2025, features a significant exhibition of works by renowned Light and Space artist James Turrell. Presented by Wadi AlFann, the exhibition, curated by Michael Govan of LACMA, offers a unique preview of Turrell's upcoming monumental commission for Wadi AlFann, a sprawling contemporary art destination in the AlUla region of north-west Saudi Arabia. The exhibition, located in AlJadidah Arts District within AlUla's historic old town, provides context for Turrell's ambitious project, which will involve the creation of a series of chambers within the canyon floor, designed to create a sensory experience of light, color, and perception.

King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism Award 2024 Announces Shortlisted Nominees in Saudi Arabia

Nour Fakharany — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 04:30:00 +0000

The King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism Award is an initiative designed to recognize and celebrate architectural excellence aligned with the values of the King Salman Charter in Saudi Arabia. Established to honor King Salman’s vision, the Award promotes high-quality design by encouraging architects and designers to integrate the Charter’s principles into their work.

When the Earth Began to Look at Itself - Desert X Installation / Syn Architects

Anna Dumitru — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

We are interested in the possibility and impossibility of establishing physical ties with the geological fabric of AlUla. In our conviction, everything can always be re-examined and reinterpreted since the apparatus of the perceived environment cannot be measured, anticipated, controlled, or known entirely. We might start to perceive this connection through a material offering that traces and constructs human and non-human interactions between elements in the surrounding nature.

13 Architectural Installations at Milan Design Week and Salone del Mobile 2024

Nour Fakharany — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Milan Design Week has long been one of the most significant events in the global design sphere, showcasing groundbreaking concepts and visionary talent and fostering critical discourse in the design community. From the expansive trade fair Salone Del Mobile in Rho Fiera to design districts scattered across the city, Design Week brings together diverse voices, perspectives, and talent. According to Salone del Mobile's press statement, this year’s fair had 17.1% more visitors than in 2023, with a record turnout of 361,417 visitors overall.

Discover the Main Locations and Events to Visit During Milan Design Week 2024

Maria-Cristina Florian — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Milan Design Week stands as one of the most important events in the global design calendar, serving not only as a showcase of innovation but also as a catalyst for critical discourse and creative exchange. This year, the event unfolds with a multitude of exhibitions, installations, and talks happening throughout Milano during the week of April 15-21, 2024. By bringing together diverse voices, perspectives, and talents, Milan Design Week becomes relevant for architects and serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary dialogue. To help you better navigate the plethora of events, conferences, and installations, this article highlights the main venues hosting activities revenant for architects and designers, from the expansive trade fair Salone del Mobile in Rho Fiera to design districts across the city and unexpected locations hidden in Palazzo courtyards or reimagined industrial heritage sites.

Desert X AlUla 2024 Visitor Centre / KWY.studio

Clara Ott — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The Desert X AlUla 2024 Visitor Centre is located at the end of a narrow canyon, a cul-de-sac that implied the position of the building as well as its spatial organisation. Nested between rock formations, the structure offers a singular uninterrupted view towards the West, starkly contrasting with the adjacent canyon walls to the North, East, and South. These immediate views of the stratified cliffs become essential to the experience.

"Architecture that Responds to the Memory of a Place": In Conversation with Sumaya Dabbagh

Nour Fakharany — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Sumaya Dabbagh, the founder of Dabbagh Architects, based in the UAE, stands at the forefront of architectural innovation with a focus on identity and connection to place. Her recent participation in the Sharjah Architecture Triennial’s second edition “Earth to Earth" is a showcase of cumulative ideas that Dabbagh Architects has been fostering through their projects. Onsite in Sharjah, ArchDaily had the chance to speak to the architect about her exploration at the Triennial, as well as her broader architecture practice and its impact on the Global South.

Desert X AlUla 2024: Exploring Unseen Art in Saudi Arabia's Desert Region from February 9 to March 23

Nour Fakharany — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Desert X AlUla will open its latest exhibition themed “In the Presence of Absence,” from February 9th to March 23rd, 2024. Featuring 15 commissioned artworks that explore the unseen, the festival takes place bi-yearly in the desert region of Saudi Arabia. This edition of Desert X AlUla is curated by Maya El Khalil, renowned for her art advisory and MENA-focused curation, and Marcello Dantas, an award-winning curator known for his interdisciplinary practices.

Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision Unveiled through Mega Projects

Nour Fakharany — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia, a country going through a tremendous transition, is not only changing its skyline but also redefining its identity on a global level. As part of their 2030 Vision serving as the compass, the kingdom is moving toward new developments, aiming to revive culture and diversify the economy. In fact, the capital, Riyadh, is leading the transformation by hosting the 2030 World Expo. Representing the country’s dedication to advancement, several mega projects are taking place and transforming the kingdom's fabric.

Desert X AlUla Announces 2024 Dates for Upcoming Edition in Saudi Arabia

Nour Fakharany — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:30:00 +0000

Desert X AlUla has just announced its return in 2024 in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. Marking the significant highlight of the AlUla Arts Festival, Desert X AlUla is a transient, site-responsive, and inclusive open-air art exhibit that takes place bi-yearly in the desert region of the country. Launching on February 9^th and continuing until March 23^rd, 2024, this edition is curated by Maya El Khalil, renowned for her art advisory and MENA-focused curation, and Marcello Dantas, an award-winning curator known for his interdisciplinary practices.

Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan Selected to Design Two Major Museums in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Maria-Cristina Florian — Wed, 24 May 2023 06:30:00 +0000

The Royal Commission for AlUla has appointed Lina Ghotmeh and Asif Khan as the lead architects for two upcoming museums to be added to the cultural oasis of AlUla, a destination in North-West Saudi Arabia displaying 7,000 years of continuous human history. Ghotmeh is set to design the contemporary art museum to house works by artists from the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean in dialogue with their contemporaries from across the world. Asif Khan will design the Museum of the Incense Road, the first museum dedicated to the millennia-old network of major land and trading routes. The architects have been selected following an international competition.

The Centre Pompidou Signs a Partnership Agreement to Develop a Contemporary Art Museum in Saudi Arabia and South Korea

Nour Fakharany — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:30:00 +0000

The Centre Pompidou is an arts and culture institution that has been present in Paris since the late 1970s. It houses the Public Information Library, the largest museum for modern art in Europe, and a center for musical research. This month, the institution signed a partnership agreement to create a museum of contemporary art in Saudi Arabia with the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU). Additionally, the establishment signed a similar partnership agreement to develop a modern and contemporary museum in Seoul, South Korea, with the Hanwha Culture Foundation.

Under the Same Sun Installation / Stephanie Deumer

Hana Abdel — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Created for Desert X AlUla 2022 in Saudi Arabia, Under the Same Sun examines the tangled web between the sun, its material reality, and the energy, images, and forms that it produces. This multimedia installation developed by Canadian artist Stephanie Deumer features a greenhouse of native plants submerged in an underground cavernous space.

Valley of the Arts in AlUla, in KSA, Announces 5 Permanent Large-Scale Installations, to be Completed by 2024

Paula Cano — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 06:30:00 +0000

The new cultural destination Wadi AlFann, Valley of the Arts in AlUla desert, Saudi Arabia, unveiled its first permanent large-scale installations by some of the world's most compelling contemporary artists. Agnes Denes, Ahmed Mater, James Turrell, Manal AlDowayan, and Michael Heizer will be the first five to be completed and unveiled by 2024, starting a program of commissions with more renowned artists to be announced.