Client:          VADO and The Eastern Province Municipality
Location:     Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Timescale:   2014 - Ongoing

In 2014, Cultural Innovations was appointed to advise on and develop a concept design for an interactive visitor centre located in Dammam city. The centre, housed within a historic government building, would be an exciting addition to a changing city, exploring stories relating to the urban heritage of the Eastern Province. Following completion of concept design the project was put on hold.

In January 2020, we were instructed to commence scheme design and have since designed a world class visitor centre which reveals the rich architectural heritage and rapid urban development of the Eastern Province.

Inspired by local materials, traditions and patterns, the five zones in the visitor centre each have a distinct aesthetic and feel. The narrative is chronological, revealing stories about the rich urban history of the region through to more reflective stories, which delve into future city life in Greater Dammam and the wider region. With the belief that buildings are not just about materials, but also about people, communities and culture, we have endeavoured to make the stories we tell relatable and personal. Immersive films, rare photographs and beautiful paper models are just some of the ways these stories are brought to life.

The centre is slated to open towards the end of 2021.