2025 Archives

With Rooted Transience, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation presents its first international exhibition in Venice as part of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2025. Hosted at the historic Abbey of San Gregorio, the project extends a journey that began in Saudi Arabia, establishing a space for cultural exchange and dialogue between tradition and innovation within a uniquely Venetian context.Curated by Faysal Tabbarah, Rooted Transience explores the relationship between rootedness and transformation through the architectural typology of the musalla a space for prayer and contemplation characterized by adaptability and temporality. The exhibition brings together full-scale installations, models, and digital content from the AlMusalla Prize 2025, including the winning project On Weaving Al Musalla by EAST Architecture Studio alongside works by the shortlisted finalists, offering a multifaceted reflection on contemporary Islamic architecture.

At the heart of the exhibition stands a faithfully reproduced architectural fragment of On Weaving, fabricated in Jeddah specifically for the Venice presentation. Constructed using reclaimed date palm wood and traditional natural fiber weaving techniques, the fragment translates the material, structural, and symbolic qualities of the musalla into a form suited to the historic setting of the Abbey. Installed in the cloister, it acts as a tangible mediator between Saudi architectural heritage and Venice’s layered architectural memory.

The exhibition journey opens with the AlMusalla Prize Room, introducing the origins of the Prize and the cultural context from which it emerged. Through archival materials, narratives, and contextual references, the room traces the inception of Al Musalla as an architectural initiative rooted in adaptability, spirituality, and contemporary design, originally situated at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.

The second room presents the four shortlisted projects from the AlMusalla Prize competition. Displayed through scale models, the projects explore diverse interpretations of the musalla typology, addressing themes of light, geometry, materiality, and spatial perception. Together, the models reflect a plurality of architectural approaches, highlighting how a temporary space of prayer can generate varied and culturally resonant forms.

The path then leads to the central model room, where a complete scale reconstruction of Al Musalla reveals the geometry and structure of the winning project. Displayed in its entirety, the model highlights the architectural logic behind On Weaving and serves as the exhibition’s core physical counterpart to the full-scale fragment installed in the Abbey’s cloister.

The exhibition concludes with the VR Room, offering an immersive digital experience that transports visitors inside Al Musalla. Through virtual reality, guests can explore the architecture from within, perceiving scale, light, and spatial continuity, and completing the exhibition journey by bridging physical presence with digital interpretation.

The reproduced fragment of Al Musalla was produced in Saudi Arabia and carefully transported to Venice through a controlled international process. From fabrication to on-site delivery, each phase was managed to ensure quality, safety, and full compatibility with the historic context of San Gregorio Abbey.

Once on site, the fragment was installed through a custom-designed structural solution, ensuring stability and full protection of the historic setting. The installation was completed with a calibrated lighting setup that enhanced the material qualities and spatial presence of the work, guaranteeing visual clarity and safety throughout the Biennale.

The public program

BLΛCK conceived, curated, and delivered every aspect of the Public Program, from the exhibition layouts and technical direction to the development of a dedicated brand identity for each activation. The team also produced a cross-channel communication strategy, managing social media content and a city-wide MUPI campaign across key Venetian touchpoints including Santa Lucia station, vaporetto routes, and the airport ensuring strong on-site visibility and sustained public engagement. Over seven months, the program welcomed more than 85,000 visitors, confirming the Abbey as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange throughout the Biennale.

Saudi short movies

A curated program of Saudi short films presented in collaboration with the Saudi Film Commission. Screenings were accompanied by panels and live Q&A sessions with filmmakers, positioning cinema as a tool for cultural dialogue.

Pop-Up Store KAF BY KAF x adidas

A limited-edition retail activation developed in collaboration with the Fashion Commission, showcasing the partnership between Saudi label KAF BY KAF and adidas. The pop-up highlighted Saudi creativity through contemporary fashion, storytelling, and spatial design.

Threads of Identity: Saudi House of Fashion

The exhibition curated with the Fashion Commission, explored Saudi fashion through heritage and innovation. Garments and jewelry from the Saudi 100 Brands initiative were presented as expressions of identity and contemporary craftsmanship.

Kingdom Photography Award “In A New Light”

A photography exhibition presented in collaboration with the Visual Arts Commission, showcasing contemporary perspectives on Saudi Arabia through selected works from the Kingdom Photography Award. Public engagement activities fostered visual exchange and dialogue by an activation called “photo walk”

Flavors Without Borders

Two day culinary experience developed with Slow Food and the Culinary arts Commission, where chef Taleen Miliani chef and Chiara Pavan co created a shared tasting menu, blending two culinary culture to create a space for dialogue around culture, sustainability, and creativity.

A Fusion of Saudi & Venetian Sound Landscape

A site-specific sound installation developed in collaboration with the Music Commission, weaving traditional Saudi instruments with Venetian soundscapes. The immersive experience invited visitors into a contemplative journey, where sound guided the discovery of shared cultural resonances.

Year of Handicrafts,WRTH,Heritage commission

An installation developed in collaboration with the Heritage Commission, celebrating Saudi craftsmanship through materials, objects, and regional traditions. The project highlighted traditional techniques and artisanal knowledge as living cultural practices.

Lines That Unite: Arabic Calligraphy in Space

An exhibition presented with the Heritage Commission, exploring Arabic calligraphy as a spatial and living art form. Performances and workshops invited visitors to engage directly with calligraphy as cultural expression.

Gift Shop

The exhibition gift shop was designed as a curated extension of the show, blending contemporary design with Saudi cultural identity. Custom displays and furnishings enhance the products and echo the exhibition’s visual language. Saudi handcrafted items are presented with concise storytelling and refined packaging, highlighting their origin, technique, and meaning. The space functions as both retail and cultural experience, making Saudi heritage accessible, memorable, and high-quality.

Together, the ground-floor exhibition and the first-floor activations shaped a single, continuous experience within San Gregorio Abbey. Architectural research, material heritage, and contemporary creative practices converged into a shared narrative — one that invited visitors to move between physical fragments, digital immersion, and live cultural exchange, expanding the meaning of the musalla beyond its original context.

Through the realization of Rooted Transience and the production of the Public Program, BLΛCK helped transform the Abbey into a landmark platform for international dialogue during the Biennale. The project stands as a lasting example of how historic venues can be reactivated through design and cultural programming, creating new bridges between Saudi Arabia and Venice while leaving a legacy of collaboration, visibility, and shared knowledge.

Bukhara Biennale 2025, titled Recipes for Broken Hearts, brings to the city a distributed exhibition program involving artists, curators, artisans, and institutions from across the world. Within this international framework, BLΛCK contributes to the Biennale’s organizational and production structure, supporting both operational delivery and the technical realization of artistic projects.

BLΛCK is engaged in technical and organizational supervision for venue operations, protocol, and guest experience, working alongside the Biennale teams to develop coordinated processes, practical tools, and operational guidelines. This scope also includes methodological support and on-site training of the resources involved, ensuring consistent execution throughout all phases of the event.

In parallel, BLΛCK manages the logistics for invited Biennale guests, coordinating transfers, hospitality, and dedicated communications. This activity requires handling complex international flows and maintaining constant interaction with partner institutions, cultural delegations, and official program stakeholders, with a focus on experience quality and operational risk mitigation.

A further area of involvement concerns the technical production of fifteen commissioned works for the Biennale. BLΛCK supports artists and curators in technical assessment, executive documentation, and production coordination through testing and commissioning, ensuring full alignment with curatorial intent, artistic specifications, and the conditions of the different exhibition sites.

The operational scope also includes production management for the installation of Al Musalla, presented in Bukhara as part of a project promoted by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation. Overall, BLΛCK’s participation confirms its ability to operate within complex international cultural contexts, integrating planning, coordination, and technical expertise to enable the delivery of contemporary art at scale.

With its deep knowledge of AlUla, BLΛCK has been involved in several worldwide activations to promote and launch the vision. Exhibitions and experiences have been designed and produced across various contexts.

BLΛCK, on behalf of the Visual Art Commission, was the official Global Management and Execution Partner of Art Week Riyadh 2025. It was a big and challenging adventure that involved a team of more than 30 professionals, who were in charge of the Artistic and curatorial part, external exhibitions and public program, design and production of locations, logistics and transportation of artworks, guest logistics, marketing and communication, visitor experience, health & safety, procurement and administration.

An initiative of the Saudi Visual Arts Commission, one of the eleven sector-specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, the event is a non-commercial platform for celebrating and amplifying Saudi Arabia’s dynamic art scene, by fostering exchange and supporting the arts.

As Saudi Arabia continues to grow its presence on the global art stage, Art Week Riyadh established a significant new platform for discovery, dialogue, and creative exchange bringing together over 50 leading local, regional, and international galleries, more than 200 artists, over 500 artworks, and more than 100 activations in a city-wide celebration of Saudi’s dynamic art scene.

As the Global Management and Execution Partner of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, Black oversaw a comprehensive scope of operations designed to ensure a seamless and deeply engaging experience for all visitors. From the initial guest experience study and development, every aspect of the visitor journey was meticulously curated including the management of tour guides and hosts, and the coordination of special events throughout the Biennale. Operational excellence was ensured through full venue management, cleaning and waste coordination, and strict adherence to health and safety protocols. Security and accreditation systems were implemented to manage both public access and VIP programs, complemented by efficient traffic and valet services to support the high volume of attendees.

The guest experience was further enriched through the supervision of food and beverage services, artwork handling and preservation, and the organization of curated visits for both pilgrims and school groups aligning with the Biennale’s mission to foster wide-reaching cultural engagement.
Black’s holistic operational model not only guaranteed logistical success but also enhanced the emotional and intellectual impact of the Biennale, making it a transformative celebration of Islamic arts and heritage.

With a dedicated team of 1,195 employees, the operational scale matched the ambition of the project. Audience engagement was a priority, with 7,900 on-site surveys conducted to gather valuable feedback and insights, further refining the visitor experience.
The event demonstrated strong national reach, with 80% of visitors being Saudi nationals, while maintaining a global perspective thanks to 20% international attendance. These results reflect the Biennale’s success in fostering both cultural pride and global dialogue.

BLΛCK Engineering is serving as Project Management Consultant for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture for the KSA Pavilion at Osaka Kansai Expo 2025. The role encompasses full project oversight, including planning, design coordination, construction management, and quality assurance, ensuring delivery on schedule, within budget, and aligned with the highest international standards.

BLΛCK’s responsibilities cover stakeholder communication, risk management, procurement support, and continuous progress monitoring, while guaranteeing compliance with Expo regulations and local requirements. This integrated approach supports a smooth and controlled development process, reinforcing the pavilion’s strategic value within Saudi Arabia’s global cultural positioning.

The project is delivered through a coordinated network of international and local stakeholders, with BLΛCK ensuring alignment across all phases of execution. Key partners include F+P as Lead Designer, Rimond for Construction Management, Azusa Sekkei as Local Architect, Ando Hazama for Shell & Core, Tanseisha for Fit-out, BeWunder for AVL equipment, Ishihara Design for Landscaping, and all related suppliers and contractors involved in the pavilion’s realization.

Working closely with the Salone del Mobile. Milano and the Ministry of Culture, BLΛCK played a central role in delivering “Red in Progress” the three-day event building on the deep-rooted cooperation between Italy and Saudi Arabia and standing as the first concrete platform for dialogue and cultural, commercial, and visionary exchange between the two countries. Created to connect two evolving ecosystems, the initiative shared the goal of fostering a structured dialogue among institutions, designers, and companies.

Developed at the Financial Plaza in KAFD, crafted around several spaces , the event included a large installation curated by Gio Forma studio showing more than 200 iconic design products other than a business lounge designed by Studio Lissoni hosting a three day B2B activity planned and managed by BLACK involving 38 leading manufacturer companies and architects, developers, interior designers, contractors, and industry professionals, confirming the MENA region’s strong interest in Made in Italy and in a top-tier design culture.

Black also managed the full public program: Red in Progress featured a robust program of 13 talks and masterclasses, including the presentation of the 9th Italian Design Day, hosted by the Embassy of Italy in Riyadh, with 33 moderators and speakers from 11 countries exploring contemporary design, sustainable design, and intercultural dialogue between Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the global scene.

Hosted at M7 in Doha, Woven Legacies: Uzbekistan’s Living Heritage offers an immersive journey through Uzbekistan’s textile culture, where enduring artistry continues to inspire the present. Through silk, embroidery, and ornamental traditions, the exhibition reveals how craft carries identity, resilience, and imagination across generations.

The exhibition unfolds as a layered museum narrative, highlighting the material sophistication and cultural depth of Uzbek craftsmanship. Each work contributes to a broader story of living heritage — one rooted in tradition yet expressed through contemporary curatorial language.

BLΛCK was responsible for the full production and on-site installation of the exhibition, ensuring a seamless translation of the curatorial vision into space. Delivered in partnership with Hasenkamp, the setup combined precision logistics, technical coordination, and museum-grade detailing to meet the highest standards of presentation and visitor experience.

Founded in 1618, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is one of Milan’s most important historic museums, preserving masterpieces collected by Cardinal Federico Borromeo and representing a cornerstone of the city’s artistic heritage.

At the core of the installation is a custom-designed interactive table, developed by BLΛCK in collaboration with Limiteazero, which allows visitors to explore Jan Brueghel the Elder’s works in depth. Through high-resolution imagery and intuitive touch interaction, guests can uncover minute and often hidden details—symbolic elements, scientific references, and compositional nuances that are not immediately visible to the naked eye. The experience also reveals the connections between the artworks, guiding visitors through a network of visual and thematic relationships that link one painting to another, transforming individual works into a coherent narrative system.

The interactive table transforms observation into participation, combining art, science, and spirituality within an intuitive and immersive digital environment. Designed for diverse audiences, the experience supports both educational engagement and contemplative discovery, extending the museum visit through a refined, accessible, and non-invasive digital language.

Al Musalla is a contemporary sacred structure born from the AlMusalla Prize and realized through the winning project On Weaving by EAST Architecture Studio. Made of reclaimed palm wood and woven fibers, it embodies a rare balance of architectural innovation and cultural heritage — a work that demands museum-grade handling, precision, and respect for its ritual and symbolic value.

The journey began in Jeddah, where Al Musalla was first installed for the Islamic Arts Biennale at the Western Hajj Terminal, King Abdulaziz International Airport. Presented from January 25 to May 25, 2025, the Biennale showcased Islamic art, history, and contemporary creations, providing the original context for the work’s debut.

After its first presentation in Jeddah for the Islamic Arts Biennale, Al Musalla was selected to travel internationally as a living fragment of Saudi cultural identity. Its relocation became the core of Rooted Transience at San Gregorio Abbey during the Venice Architecture Biennale, bringing a tangible piece of contemporary Saudi architecture into dialogue with Venice’s historic fabric.

The fragment was shipped from Saudi Arabia to Venice inside a dedicated container aboard a cargo vessel. Upon arrival in Italy, its condition was formally assessed and certified before reassembly in the Abbey’s cloister. The structure was mounted onto a custom welded metal base, ensuring both the protection of the cloister flooring and a stable support throughout the Biennale. Alongside the fragment, a selection of objects crafted from the same palm-based materials was displayed, extending the narrative of On Weaving through its shared material language.

From Venice, Al Musalla continued its itinerary to the Bukhara Biennale 2025, where it was presented as part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation program. BLΛCK supported the production management on site, ensuring the work’s installation aligned with curatorial intent and local exhibition conditions.

This journey highlights BLΛCK’s ability to deliver highly sensitive cultural operations at an international scale, where logistical precision and respect for symbolic value are equally essential. Across each relocation, BLΛCK managed the full art-handling process — technical assessment, dismantling, cataloguing, packing, international shipping, reassembly, and commissioning — preserving Al Musalla’s materials, geometries, and weaving techniques with museum-grade care.