Maraya Concert Hall

AlUla, (KSA) 2019
2019
Completed
Architecture

Maraya is a multi-purpose theatre, with a giant retractable window of 800 square meters that opens up to the surrounding nature of the desert

Maraya is a multi-purpose theatre, entertainment and conference venue.

Maraya was the first project to be developed for the Journey Through Time Masterplan 1; aimed at turning AlUla, KSA into a living museum and share its cultural legacy with the world.

The first brief from the client was to have a complex able to host concerts and events in an area of enormous archaeological and scenic value; a valley in the region of Al-'Ula surrounded by the presence of ruins from the Nabataean empire and 200,000 years of heritage.

Our mission was based on figuring out how we could build in such a beautiful and meaningful place and we wondered how to establish a relationship between the construct and the existing in the most respectful way possible.

Maraya is a multi-purpose theatre, entertainment and conference venue.

Maraya has a unique and unseen stage set up: a great 40m x 15m stage, with a giant retractable window of over 800 square meters that opens up to the surrounding nature, allowing shows to take place directly on the desert level where mass-coreo can perform in a unique in-and-outdoor scenario, blending landscape and entertainment.

Complete with all state of the art facilities, the Maraya Concert Hall can host international productions from opera to ballets, shows and concerts;

For the design of the interiors, including the foyer, the lounge area and the VIP box of the concert hall, the choice has been to utilize local materials as far as possible to evoke a building carved out of the rock by human hand by the wind, and from the terrace-restaurant on the roof you can admire the shifting play of light on the surrounding canyon, at any hour of the day and night.

On the rooftop of Maraya, Maraya Social comes to life, created by Jason Atherton, one of Britain’s most celebrated chefs and owner of Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. Guests can enjoy sharing plates and refined non-alcoholic cocktails crafted with seasonal ingredients inspired by Mediterranean, Arabic, and British cuisines. An ideal setting to relax, dine, and socialize while taking in the breathtaking canyon views of Ashar Valley.

With its 9740 square metres of reflective walls, it is the largest mirrored building in the world (and already an official Guinness World Record

Maraya Concert Hall is a multi-purpose theatre, entertainment and conference venue designed by Giò Forma architects and Black Engineering.

Maraya concert hall: mirrored cube reflecting the sandstone cliffs and blue sky of AlUla – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Mirrored facade seen across rippled sand dunes, reflecting the desert and rocks beneath a blue sky – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architectureEroded sandstone rock in the foreground and the mirrored facade reflecting the cliffs behind – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Corner of the mirrored building with its entrance cut, reflecting red sandstone cliffs – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architectureRestaurant terrace at dusk with lit tables and rattan chairs, cliffs reflected in the mirrored wall above – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Rooftop restaurant terrace at dusk with lit tables, the mirror wall reflecting rocks and a cliff behind – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architectureTerrace with rattan chairs and marble tables with lamps, glass wall and reflected cliffs behind – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Maraya at night: mirrored building reflecting the cliffs, with red light trails along the desert road – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Banquet room with green velvet chairs, set round tables and glass pendant lights – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architectureLounge with leather sofas, gold side tables and a long metal wall sculpture under a slatted ceiling – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture
Lounge with curved wooden ribbons forming arches overhead and cream leather armchairs – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architectureRender of a concert in the hall: orchestra on stage, colourful screens and spotlights over the audience – Maraya Concert Hall, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2019 – architecture