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Monolith Oasis

Shopping Mall and Gallery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, defining a new vernacular

Category

Public, Mixed use, Culture, Innovation

April 20, 2024

Date

Area

10000

sqm

The Monolith Mall in Riyadh redefines local architecture by using large, natural desert rocks to create a raw, majestic aesthetic. Central to its design is a vast open space with a stone ceiling featuring a waterfall, cooling a vibrant water plaza surrounded by public seating. This innovative approach merges Riyadh's natural environment with cultural requirements, offering a new vernacular that moves beyond conventional styles of glass, steel, and traditional Salmani architecture.






In Riyadh, the Monolith Oasis Mall introduces a bold departure from conventional architectural styles, moving beyond glass and steel or traditional Salmani architecture. This project embraces a raw aesthetic, utilizing large stones and desert rocks in their natural forms to create a distinctive local experience. The mall's design centers around a vast open space with a stone ceiling featuring an opening for a waterfall, which cools the atmosphere and forms a lively water plaza. This central area is a hub of public life, surrounded by ample seating and social spaces. The use of natural stone elements as both walls and ceilings imparts a sense of majesty and scale, reminiscent of natural wonders. This approach not only responds to Riyadh's natural environment but also meets cultural requirements, proposing a new vernacular architecture for the city. Monolith Oasis Mall exemplifies how landscape elements can be rearranged in innovative spatial layouts, offering a fresh perspective on ecological, culturally resonant architecture in Riyadh.

Project Team

This project is in collaboration with BAD.Built by associative data
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Firas Safieddine
Ali Basbous
Nemer Nabbouh

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