The King Abdulaziz Library and Auditorium, Riyadh (1999), Omrania. Photo © Peter Bogaczewicz / Omrania
The King Abdulaziz Library and Auditorium buildings have served as the cultural heart of Riyadh since their completion in 1999.
Located in the King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre, a 374,000-square-meter urban redevelopment project, the library and auditorium buildings wrap around a large public plaza. Their gently curving facades are clad in the same local limestone used in many of the capital’s historic buildings. The beige stone reflects the bright Saudi sun to give the two structures a sense of warmth, craftsmanship, and historic resonance.
The King Abdulaziz Library and Auditorium, Riyadh (1999), Omrania. Photo © Peter Bogaczewicz / Omrania
Inside, the library is flooded with natural light — the result of unabashedly modern engineering and design techniques. The library features large reading rooms, a manuscript hall, and multi-purpose cultural spaces. A skylit, three-story atrium crisscrossed by stairs and bridges creates a light well in the heart of the building. The adjacent 600-seat auditorium is designed to host international conferences, symposia, and theatrical performances.
Drawing on the architecture of the past and the technology of our time, the elegantly simple, timeless design of these two cultural buildings aims to inspire the men and women who will shape the Kingdom’s future.
The King Abdulaziz Library and Auditorium, Riyadh (1999), Omrania. Photo © Peter Bogaczewicz / Omrania
Omrania, a renowned architecture firm, has established a reputation for excellence in blending aesthetic and functional design, setting a benchmark for architecture firms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
