The new space is set to become a gateway to the rest of the world
Situated in a low-lying complex in the AlJadidah Arts District, Design Space AlUla was envisioned by the government-led Royal Commission for AlUla as part of a wider redevelopment of the region. A celebration of the site’s natural history, the project aims to showcase works from around the country and overseas, building and representing an ever-growing local design community in the region and beyond.
The space is made of an archive, the first permanent gallery dedicated to design initiatives across AlUla, and a workshop space. The inaugural exhibition, Mawrid: Celebrating Inspired Design, presents ten new projects in AlUla spanning everything from architecture and urban design, to graphic and jewellery design.
The showcased works include the Cultural Oasis District masterplan by UK practice Prior + Partners, a mirrored concert hall by Giò Forma Studio and Black Engineering that sits in the desert like a mirage, and SAL Architects‘ restrained renovation of a local mosque, showcasing the guidelines set for regeneration projects within AlUla.
The project also comprises a design award, now in its second year, and a new design residency – both of which are showcased as part of the inaugural exhibition.
The gallery is housed within a building designed by Italian architects Giò Forma Studio and Black Engineering, which was completed in 2022 and is famed for its facade of rust-coloured Corten steel.
The name and vision for Design Space AlUla was born after the building phase, once the character and needs of the area were more established, says architect, urban planner and Design Space AlUla curator, Sara Ghani, who hopes the space will become “a benchmark to the world”. uds.rcu.gov.sa
Lead photo by Nicholas Jackson Photography
