BSBG announces Lead Design Consultant role on landmark Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre project

Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) has announced its partnership with LA-based design studio Tom Wiscombe Architecture on Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre, set to become the centrepiece attraction of the Qiddiya City development on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. BSBG is engaged by Qiddiya Investment Company as Lead Design Consultant on the iconic landmark project.
 

Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre represents a dramatic departure from established theatre design. The landmark building is envisaged as an alien craft that has landed on the cliff-edge in Qiddiya City. The design language is bold, unconventional and graphic, in keeping with the narrative of the Qiddiya City masterplan.
 

Five protruding illuminated blades integrate uniquely with the surrounding topography, with the main body of the building (the loft) housing three main theatre venues with a combined capacity of 3,000. The theatres will host both classic shows such as musical theatre, dance, and music, but also new forms of immersive, interactive theatre and entertainment.

In addition to the theatre components, Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre includes dining, retail and educational entertainment, as well as a rooftop sky garden, art galleries and green spaces.
 

The central aspiration for the project is to inject fresh interest in the performing arts among the youth of Saudi Arabia, creating new audiences, and adding an iconic theatre to be appreciated by those in the Kingdom and around the world. Commenting on BSBG’s involvement in Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre, Senior Partner Andrew Bereza said: “This project is the epitome of transformative, iconic architecture. Working alongside (Concept Architect) Tom Wiscombe and his team in LA to understand their vision and help guide the approach to deliver Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre is an incredible process to be involved in. This project is clearly without comparison, certainly in the region – the energy, creativity and originality of the scheme will surely set the stage for new discussions around the way we imagine our buildings, and it redefines what we can consider possible or feasible in the scope of 21^st Century architecture.”
 

At night, Qiddiya Performing Arts Centre comes alive with the unprecedented combination of lighting, digital media and sound, creating a virtual digital media object featuring video projections, LED lighting embedded into the façade, colour-changing lighting, and activated public art and holographic/AR experiences, with environmental sound effects throughout.

More to follow.