DIRIYAH PAVILLION
Diriyah, the Saudi Kingdom's symbolic city of its prosperity. This city of unique vernacular architectural identity is created by historical events, that can be traced back and identified through its architecture.
Once established as the first Saudi State capital, the small-town trajectory changed forever. As the Saudi state expanded, so did Diriyah's architecture. Palaces, defensive fortresses, and walls were built during that time period, mostly consisting of sun-baked adobe bricks and tamarix wood built on top of a stone base. These structures were not left blank rather their exterior and interior were both decorated with the “Naqsh Alnajdi”. Throughout its history, it has seen its share of attempted invasions, sieges, destruction, and rehabilitation. Today these events eco through Diriyah’s old city and neighborhoods. The most apparent aspect of the old city is its silhouette. This captivating outline is created through the different elevations and positioning of the rehabilitated ruins. We can literally trace its history by way of its architecture, the timeline of its expansion, ruins of the palace, fortresses, homes, and defensive walls.
Today, we aim to celebrate Diriyah's historical triumph and its vibrance, through this pavilion design that stands as a site-specific token of memory.
