KING FAHAD CULTURAL CENTER
The renovation of the King Fahad Cultural Centre, the largest and most advanced opera house in Riyadh and the Kingdom.
BLΛCK held the role of Project Management Consultant and Lead Consultant, overseeing the development of the design, engineering, and construction of the structure, with a unique expertise in both architectural and technological domains.
Project & Design Management
-
Client
Ministery of Culture
-
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
-
Year
2024
-
Partner
F&M Middle East Engineering Consultancy, GIO' FORMA
Project & Design Management
The new design of the King Fahad Cultural Centre reflects the ancient Salmani heritage while fully honouring the existing historical venue. Najdi’s existing decorative motifs are reinterpreted in a new, modern key that interconnects the past with the future. Colours and shapes, light and shadow contribute to the public’s experience of Saudi heritage in a contemporary way.
The existing elements, like the historical marble on the façade, were preserved and restored, alongside some new structural elements, such as enlarged staircases and new bridges for the VIP and Royal journey from the lounges to the main hall.
The design reinterpreted Najdi decorative motifs, giving rise to a full-height new central element that evokes the mountains of central KSA, covered with rammed earth clay. Beneath that, a system of spatial arches hosts the ticketing area, cafeteria and guest lounges, all featuring special acoustic plaster treatment.
We have completely re-engineered the scenic tower of KFCC, addressing both the upper and lower mechanisms. Specifically, we redesigned the grid structure by implementing the ‘Italian’ model, elevating the full theatre to a state-of-the-art venue.
The entire acoustic has been redesigned implementing also a fully immersive 3D sound system composed of more than 200 speakers. This type of setup allows us to modify the electroacoustic response in real-time, as well as manage sound sources within the space.
The main hall can host up to 2,800 guests, distributed between the parterre (which hosts a VIP dedicated area and 4 Royal Boxes with movable partitions), and the upper floor gallery. The entire finishing has been redone, starting with the wall cladding, which consists of massive, double-curved wooden elements, to the ceiling chandelier, a crafted metal baffle customized for the project. The seats are the result of a special partnership with Poltrona Frau, who created a new chair model for the occasion, called ‘King Fahad,’ covered with premium leather, walnut armrests, and featuring embedded translation screens.
At the ground and first floors, an area fully dedicated to VIPs and Royals has been completely reshaped introducing a strong design element, consisting of double curved slanted walls, covered with rammed earth clay to recall the traditional central Saudi construction methods. These walls create intimate lounge areas connected by a central open space and equipped with premium quality furniture and lighting.
Photography by Shoayb Khattab https://shoayb.net/
RELATED Projects
see all
BLΛCK was honoured to manage the full scope of the world’s first Islamic Biennale project.
A collaborative hub where global design meets AlUla’s cultural heritage, fostering creativity and innovation
