Restoring an existing artist village into a new magical, vibrant, cultural sanctuary.
Client
Confidential
Programme
Exhibition spaces, workshops, residential units, visitor centre, grand theatre
Project Lead
Michał Wojtkiewicz
Year
2023
Introduction
The project restores an existing artist village into a new, magical, vibrant cultural sanctuary. Our redevelopment focused on a series of dramatic functional and spatial improvements, which established the village's new identity as an international centre for art deeply rooted in local heritage.
The gleaming white entrance towers balance the calm fabric buildings. These landmarks highlight the key access points within the village and create a dramatic new identity.
The towers subtly reference traditional architecture with their sloping section and tall proportions. Broader at the base and narrower at the top, they provide functional zoning at the ground level but also minimise the impact on daylight below with their tapering profile.
The architecture of this region has austere exteriors and vibrant interiors. The richness and intricacy of the traditional wall decorations give us a strong cultural reference point. The interiors of the towers are an opportunity for art to meet architecture and for a dramatic expression of character in these transitional arrival spaces.
The colours are vibrant and distinct from tower to tower, and they all traditionally originate from pigments found in traditional art and landscape.
The rich interiors create a memorable arrival experience for public functions. These are powerful, immersive spaces rich in colour and texture. This is the place where one would welcome a distinguished guest. It is a photo opportunity for visitors and a moment of drama and surprise as earthen tones give way to gold, blue, and green. We propose to clad them in glazed ceramic tiles, pressed in relief with patterns designed in collaboration with local and other Saudi artists.
Our scheme creates dramatic, grand function halls and beautiful creative spaces within the existing fabric. It maintains the intimate grain of the village while introducing a larger civic scale to some of the main function areas. The new spaces are highly flexible and adaptable, allowing for maximum utilisation of the spaces.
To create a stronger visual impact, we have introduced another scale and material to the village, with white entrance towers inspired by local tradition. Softly glowing white towers beckon, marking critical functional areas and creating a sense of scale and wonder.
The programme functions have been distributed in clear programmatic blocks that are functional for users and legible to visitors.
There is a gradation of privacy across the site, with the west area dedicated to artist studios and community spaces. At the east end of the site sit the restaurants, education facilities, and the very public theatre at the northeast. To the south, the Great Hall facilitates significant events and exhibitions, creating another public anchor at that end of the site. The workshops and maker spaces sit at the heart of the village, linking everything and everyone together.
Each of the public spaces is activated by the functions of its adjacent building and has its own spatial character and theme.
Client
Confidential
Location
Saudi Arabia
Year
2023
Programme
Exhibition spaces, workshops, residential units, visitor centre, grand theatre
Size
Site area 700 sqm, building area 165sqm, gross floor area 660sqm
Status
Competition
Project Lead
Michał Wojtkiewicz
Project Team
DaeWha Kang, Michał Wojtkiewicz, Monika Bilska, Eduardo Camarena, Laura Dinares, Farzad Lee
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