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1867 Yonge Street
Suite 1100
Toronto, ON
M4S 1Y5
+1 416.480.2020

United States

530 Seventh Avenue
M2 - Unit 20
New York, NY
10018
+1 212.929.6060

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Canada

1867 Yonge Street
Suite 1100
Toronto, ON
M4S 1Y5
+1 416.480.2020

United States

530 Seventh Avenue
M2 - Unit 20
New York, NY
10018
+1 212.929.6060

National Museum of Saudi Arabia

Overview

Won through an international design competition, the National Museum is a cultural landmark that is the centerpiece of tourism in the region.

Details

Client
Arriyadh Development Authority
Project
National Museum of Saudi Arabia
Size
102,258 sq. ft.
Scope
Exhibit Design, Graphic Design, Interpretive Signage Design
Location
Riyadh, KSA
Year Completed
1999
Budget
$25,000,000

Impact

SQ FT
102,258

The
Design

The project comprised over 100,000 sf of gallery spaces distributed across eight distinct galleries. It included the consolidation of collections from a wide array of small and regional museums in order to be able to present a consolidated history of Saudi Arabia. Themed experiential galleries, integrating innovative and traditional exhibit and information technologies trace the dynamics of the “living earth” through the ages of civilizations to the birth of Islam and the role of modern-day Saudi Arabia as the guardian of its holy places. The design is a mix of thematic set piece reconstructions and classic object displays. The results are a distinctively Saudi Arabian museum with state-of-the-art interactive technologies to enhance the visitor experience.

Large, colorful fabric banners identify the entrances to the nine galleries and provide interpretive overviews for each area. Color-coded metal cubes, their forms quietly evoking the cube-shaped Ka’aba holy site in Mecca, also mark significant waypoints. Comprehensive bilingual wayfinding and an environmental program was implemented using identities based on historical text and symbols within a series of landmark architectural spaces.

  • As the Director General of Antiquities and Museums of the Kingdom I congratulate you on your work and highly appreciate your technical skill and the magnificent display of exhibits in our National Museum. Ibrahim Al Sultan, Director General, Planning & Programs
    Arriyadh Development Authority

The
Result

“Spent a wonderful afternoon here, and would certainly recommend this to everyone. The museum covers ancient to modern history of the Peninsula – and has an incredible collection of exhibits, which we thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite museums!”

Trip Advisor February 2019

Behind
The Scenes

This project involved exhibit design, graphic design and wayfinding for a new National Museum in the cultural core of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It included the concurrent design of eight galleries and a temporary exhibit hall. This was undertaken with interpretive planning by Lord Cultural Resources and architects Moriyama and Teshima. Involving extensive research and management, it was designed and completed in 28 months.

Other
Project Specific Work

In addition to designing exhibits throughout the museum, R&P completed a comprehensive wayfinding system for the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Designed to guide visitors through the museum complex in a historically symbolic manner, the wayfinding and environmental graphic program incorporates cultural motifs, calligraphy, and bilingual messages.

National Museum of Saudi Arabia

Details

Client
Arriyadh Development Authority
Project
National Museum of Saudi Arabia
Size
102,258 sq. ft.
Scope
Exhibit Design, Graphic Design, Interpretive Signage Design
Location
Riyadh, KSA
Year Completed
1999
Budget
$25,000,000

Overview

Won through an international design competition, the National Museum is a cultural landmark that is the centerpiece of tourism in the region.

Impact

SQ FT
102,258

The
Design

The project comprised over 100,000 sf of gallery spaces distributed across eight distinct galleries. It included the consolidation of collections from a wide array of small and regional museums in order to be able to present a consolidated history of Saudi Arabia. Themed experiential galleries, integrating innovative and traditional exhibit and information technologies trace the dynamics of the “living earth” through the ages of civilizations to the birth of Islam and the role of modern-day Saudi Arabia as the guardian of its holy places. The design is a mix of thematic set piece reconstructions and classic object displays. The results are a distinctively Saudi Arabian museum with state-of-the-art interactive technologies to enhance the visitor experience.

Large, colorful fabric banners identify the entrances to the nine galleries and provide interpretive overviews for each area. Color-coded metal cubes, their forms quietly evoking the cube-shaped Ka’aba holy site in Mecca, also mark significant waypoints. Comprehensive bilingual wayfinding and an environmental program was implemented using identities based on historical text and symbols within a series of landmark architectural spaces.

  • As the Director General of Antiquities and Museums of the Kingdom I congratulate you on your work and highly appreciate your technical skill and the magnificent display of exhibits in our National Museum. Ibrahim Al Sultan, Director General, Planning & Programs
    Arriyadh Development Authority

The
Result

“Spent a wonderful afternoon here, and would certainly recommend this to everyone. The museum covers ancient to modern history of the Peninsula – and has an incredible collection of exhibits, which we thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite museums!”

Trip Advisor February 2019

Behind
The Scenes

This project involved exhibit design, graphic design and wayfinding for a new National Museum in the cultural core of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It included the concurrent design of eight galleries and a temporary exhibit hall. This was undertaken with interpretive planning by Lord Cultural Resources and architects Moriyama and Teshima. Involving extensive research and management, it was designed and completed in 28 months.

Other
Project Specific Work

In addition to designing exhibits throughout the museum, R&P completed a comprehensive wayfinding system for the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Designed to guide visitors through the museum complex in a historically symbolic manner, the wayfinding and environmental graphic program incorporates cultural motifs, calligraphy, and bilingual messages.

Projects National Museum of Saudi Arabia