RIYADH: Royal Diriyah Opera House, scheduled to open in 2028 in the historic heart of Diriyah, was designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta and celebrates tradition and modernity.
Speaking to Arab News on the sideline of a reception hosted by the Norwegian Embassy in Riyadh, Eli Synnevag, director and a senior architect at Snohetta, said the design draws inspiration from local Najdi architecture, and reflects a deep connection to the surrounding desert landscape and traditional building techniques.
Part of a broader initiative to reinvigorate the heritage area, the opera house will be a cultural beacon within a master plan aimed at transforming the region into a vibrant, contemporary destination.
Scheduled to open by the end of 2028, the state-of-the-art performing center, designed in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian company Syn Architects, is spearheaded by the Diriyah Company and operated by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, she said.
Synnevag, who has been working with Oslo-based Snohetta for almost 25 years, told Arab News: “Our journey in Saudi Arabia started with the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran. I worked on Ithra way back in 2008. We were so honored to be selected as a part of an international competition to be the winning proposal.”
