Cosentino’s Moon Vignettes makes a comeback at Downtown Design Riyadh

Moon Vignettes, an immersive installation by Kuwait-based Babnimnim Design Studio (BNN) for Cosentino, returns with a new identity at Downtown Design Riyadh after its acclaimed debut at Downtown Design Dubai in 2024. The “Moon Gate” inspired installation pushes the boundaries of materiality, circularity and permeability in design. This latest iteration is reimagined for Saudi Arabia, featuring a desert-inspired palette and drawing on the raw beauty of the region’s landscapes.

At its core, Moon Vignettes is a contemporary take on the Moon Gate, a mystical architectural motif of Oriental origin. These abstracted portals symbolise life’s cyclical nature and echo the “circularity” of Cosentino’s sustainable surfaces, Silestone® and Dekton®—materials that seamlessly clad the installation’s walls and floors. Rather than serving as mere cladding, Cosentino’s large-format slabs are transformed into sculptural, place-making elements, pushing the boundaries of materiality in design.

A hallmark of this installation is its commitment to sustainability: over 70% of the materials from the previous Downtown Design edition in Dubai have been repurposed for Riyadh, offering a tangible demonstration of circular design in practice. Jassim Alsaddah, Partner and Creative Director at BNN shared, “Usually, installations are built to last only a few days, and sadly, a lot of beautiful work ends up being discarded. From the start, we had designed Moon Vignettes to be easily disassembled and reassembled, so it is really meaningful that Cosentino has taken this initiative to bring it back. It feels like a small but important step toward being more mindful about waste, especially in an industry where so much is thrown away after such a short time.”

The most striking element of the design is undoubtedly its materiality and juxtaposition of different colourways from the brand’s extensive range of collections including: EARTHIC® by Silestone®XM, a capsule collection designed in collaboration with iconic Italian design studio Formafantasma, Dekton® Pietra Edition and Pietra Kode, a Mediterranean natural stone inspired collection by designer and architect Daniel Germani and Dekton® Ukiyo, a first of its kind fluted collection with designer Claudia Afshar.

Complimenting the structure is its interior, tastefully curated with the choicest of statement pieces: a bespoke table clad in Silestone® Jardin Emerald from Cosentino’s Le Chic Bohème and lighting novelties from Vibia. Phases of the moon captured through sculptural pieces made from offcuts, and the desert garden reimagined by Green Dunes, further roots the project in its Saudi context.

Cosentino, a global brand known for its collaborative projects with some of the region’s most well-known design practices, has over the last five years established a strong presence in the Saudi market with projects ranging from luxury residential to commercial and retail. The brand is also gearing up to open a showroom in Riyadh this summer with local partner Mase Gulf. Cosentino City Riyadh, as the showroom will be referred to, will be the brand’s 41st in the world, and second in the region after Cosentino City Dubai. 

Talking about the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving design scene, Cosentino’s Regional Director Middle East & India, Eddy Abou Khalil said, “Over the last few years we have witnessed a massive shift in momentum and creative energy. It is not only the most exciting time to be here in Riyadh in the midst of all this action, but also a privilege to contribute to the industry’s growth and engage deeply with a new generation of forward-thinking architects and designers shaping the future of this country.”

The brand’s timely presence at the inaugural edition of the fair at JAX District is just a precursor to the shape of things to come. 

Images credit: DUOCR8