LAYALI DIRIYAH || This Architecture Project Lights Up Saudi Nights with an Eclectic Fusion of Design, Contemporary Art, and Cuisine
Beneath the starry night sky and swaying palms just outside Riyadh, Designlab Experience transformed a quaint tree farm into Layali Diriyah.
Also known as Diriyah Nights, the immersive architectural installation is open to the public for 54 consecutive nights until February 22nd.
The architecture firm and creative studio designed the 25.000 sqm open-air wonderland for Diriyah Season, the annual celebration honouring the traditions, heritage, and birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi.
Visitors are invited to wander along the elevated walkways illuminated by 20,000 twinkling lights and explore the mesmerizing site that brings together international design, contemporary art, world-class cuisine, and local cultural talent from this up-and-coming Saudi city. Sponsored by the Ministry of Sport, the event is a collaboration with production company Blink Experience.
Wooden tunnel marking the entrance.
A sleek wooden tunnel featuring undulating waves reaching high into the night sky welcomes guests as they enter the space. The semi-open installation offers partial views of the farm grounds lit by a myriad of glowing roses and showcases local art. Between the palm trees, a wavy burgundy bench marks a walkway connecting a series of modern treehouses inviting family play and offering fresh produce and local delicacies. On a crescent-shaped stage, musicians, folk artists, and dancers entertain throughout the night. In addition, six international pop-up restaurants, including the Lebanese dining destination cafés and retail kiosks, create a seamless fluidity between architecture and nature.
Layali Diriyah uses rustic materials such as wood, metal, and rope in earth tones reminiscent of the traditional mud architecture of Najdi, a nearby UNESCO- protected site. The project was completed in a record time of nine weeks from conception to execution, with just three weeks on site. The architects surveyed the area, mapping the palm trees of the farm before transforming the space without imposing on the natural surroundings and creating a platform to level the grounds and protect the farm’s irrigation system.
Light design plays a vital role in the project. Designlab Experience collaborated with international contemporary artists, including Vendel & deWolf, Studio Toer, and Masamichi Shimada. They collectively designed moving light installations placed on water ponds, elevated walkways, and communal gathering zones as unexpected elements of surprise for the guests.
Vendel & deWolf | The Netherlands
“Celestial Time Dust,” displays a cluster of orange LED lights swirling in orbit, radiating a fiery blaze. The designers created the installation to emulate celestial bodies in the universe and people as they crowd around a point of interest.
Celestial Time Dust.
Studio Toer | The Netherlands
“Fish are Jumping” is an abstract interpretation of the fish that sometimes draw our attention when jumping above the water—a play of light and dark, speed of slowness, sound, and stillness.
In “Social Sparkles”, a cloud of elements waits calmly. When you enter the area, the elements are set in motion. A swarm of lights fills the air above you, inviting you to move, and creating a lively interaction between you, the light, and others.
Fish are Jumping Installation.
Masamichi Shimada | Japan
“You can’t catch me” invites childhood memories of chasing dragonflies. When viewers approach the dragonfly installation, it will always elude them right before they can touch it, just as it did when they were children.
You can’t catch me.
Layali Diriyah is a shining example of the positive impact of temporary architecture on elevating neighbourhoods, reshaping communities, and giving purpose to otherwise neglected areas.
Photos courtesy of Roberto Conte x Designlab Experience
