03 DIRIYAH, KSA CENTRE OF ATTENTION

Diriyah’s Urban Heritage Administration Centre is to be designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The 8780-square metre head office of the Heritage Museum will incorporate a permanent exhibition gallery, library, lecture hall and educational spaces, plus a scientific institution for conducting field research and to document archaeological finds from this UNESCO world heritage-listed site. Facilities are organised around an atrium with water at its core, as well as four ‘scooped’ green oases under an apparently solid façade that in fact features a carefully perforated outer skin that protects the interior from solar gain whilst maintaining a visual connection with the natural surroundings.