Architectural firm Snøhetta has unveiled plans for the construction of a new opera house in Saudi Arabia. The building, the Royal Diriyah Opera House, will have an unusual design inspired by traditional mud buildings from the region. The design should provide cooling for the Saudi summer heat.
The Royal Diriyah Opera House is located on the outskirts of Riyadh. The area is densely packed with historic mud buildings to ensure shade. The design of the opera house builds on this traditional construction with open passages between buildings to provide cooling for the intense Saudi heat. There will also be garden areas with vegetation and water misting systems to lower the temperature in the area.
46,000-square-metre interior and will include a 2,000-seat opera theatre at its centre. There will also be an adaptable 450-seat theatre and a 450-seat multipurpose theatre for smaller events. On the roof will be a shaded 450-seat amphitheatre for outdoor performances, while elsewhere there will be a visitors' pavilion, as well as a café and retail space. A mix of palm, stone and earth will be used as the main materials for construction.
The concept for the new building is based on a cluster of buildings that appears to rise out of the ground with open passages throughout. By emphasising open, naturally ventilated spaces and natural lighting, the opera house will have modest energy consumption. Energy-efficient cooling will also be installed in the form of chilled ceiling panels.
The Royal Diriyah Opera House is scheduled to open in 2028.
