Elevating Saudi Arabia’s Design Scene

What’s the central theme of the fair this year? 

For our first edition of Downtown Design Riyadh, we wanted to make it an unmissable event for design enthusiasts, professionals and the culturally curious alike – both for those based in Saudi Arabia and international audiences as well. With more than a decade executing a successful event in Dubai, we are excited and ready to bring a curated design experience to Riyadh, specifically to the heritage site of Diriyah.

The Riyadh fair will reflect the true essence of what Downtown Design is, including our strong mandate for contemporary design, emphasis on high-quality and original design, local and regional contextuality in both programming and creative offers, and providing a platform for creative talent as well as global brands, while offering a bridge for the industry – all the while supporting Saudi Arabia’s growing design scene. As such, we try and avoid one common theme by way of ensuing inclusivity across relevant sectors, topics of the industry and participants, in a filtered and curated showcase, and the fair will bring together regional and global brands alongside local studios and emerging designers, as well as galleries showcasing limited-edition and collectible design pieces for visitors to discover, buy or commission. Mirroring the dynamism of Riyadh and KSA’s burgeoning creative scene, visitors can expect an array of engaging experiences, pop-up concepts, creative installations, modern craftsmanship and a thought-provoking talks programme across pertinent themes that are rooted in a local context, across wellbeing, innovation and culture. 

Mette Degn-Christensen, Director of Downtown Design

How will the Riyadh edition of Downtown Design differ from the Dubai edition? 

We are welcoming several new global and local designers, manufacturers, studios, galleries and collectives to this edition, many of whom will be making their Middle East debut at Downtown Design Riyadh. In its first edition, the Riyadh fair is a tighter curation of exhibitors; there is a high-calibre level of premium galleries, manufacturers and collectives showcasing limited-edition pieces to the sophisticated audiences of Riyadh, who are participating for the first time. We also have incorporated trends – and, of course, the venue is just stunning, with exhibition halls perched on top of the Diriyah Valley, with windows and terraces both providing panoramic views.

The showcase of exhibitors and product categories presented is generally more filtered than at the Dubai fair, more tailored to the local fast-growing market and with a clear emphasis on high-end interiors and calibre products, mirroring the sophisticated end-consumer. In future editions we will further expand the offer across sectors and product offerings – such as kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor, for instance.

Can you give us some background on why the JAX district is an ideal venue? 

JAX District in Riyadh is the creative hub of the city and we believed it would work perfectly as the venue for Downtown Design Riyadh. Set against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif in Diriyah, Riyadh, JAX District attracts an eclectic mix of the local cultural community, and is now home to many creative organisations, artists and galleries. JAX District’s creative energy and shared spaces that invite collaboration make it a natural home for Downtown Design Riyadh. 

Additionally, the district will offer the perfect backdrop for the vernacular, outdoor intervention by Karim+Elias – the Lebanese design duo Karim Tamerji and Elias Hage. This is a modular, outdoor public intervention, hand-crafted using sand sourced directly from Saudi Arabia, and taking form of a modular seating installation consisting of more than 50 triangular components, hand-made using the rammed earth technique and designed to accommodate visitors to Downtown Design Riyadh. Adopting the iconic geometry of Diriyah’s ‘furjat’ triangle, a motif recognised in the local Najdi architectural style, the concept for the installation was ‘relics’, resulting in it being made of and from the heritage site.

The outdoor intervention will incorporate immersive trees and plants by Green Trend – a gorgeous landscape company – in a configuration that uses the greenery as the focal points, defining the landscape infrastructure. 

What are you most excited for during this edition? 

It is an exciting time for the industry and creative landscape in Saudi Arabia generally, and I look forward to seeing the showcase of leading design brands from around the world and the region. I am especially interested to see the presentations from the Saudi and local creative talent. 

ENLACE by Aranda/Lasch, photography by Federico Floriani

Scarlet Splendour Flower Chair Mocha

We are thrilled to see other regional and global brands at the fair this year, with Huda Lighting bringing a large-scale multi-brand exhibit featuring brands from Articolo to Tom Dixon, and The Bowery Company highlighting modern Scandinavian design through furniture brands Audo Copenhagen, GUBI and &Tradition. Jotun will stage an experiential colour exhibition in collaboration with local designers – while ‘Enlace’, designed by Aranda\Lasch for a digital-meets craftsmanship-collaboration between the iconic Maison Louis Drucker and TRAME, is a must-see, offering visitors the opportunity to engage with the time-honoured design process through an algorithm. And design house Scarlet Splendour, whose founders I have known for many years now, are joining us for the first time to present a bold collection, including statement brass pieces designed by Richard Hutten. I am also thrilled that we have Cosentino, Iwan Maktabi, Natuzzi and the beautiful Saint-Louis with us in this milestone fair… I could go on forever!

Iwan Maktabi Strata Collection

Natuzzi Italia Deep by Nika Zupanc

Azerbaijan’s Aida Studio has teamed up with Jeddah-based architecture practice Bricklab for an architectural presentation of their exhibition space, bringing a local element to the booth. Together, Klekktik and Assembly are bringing together their respective expertise, presenting modern design alongside contemporary vintage collectibles. Gray Gardens Plant Studio is showcasing for the first time, introducing its raw, handmade planters and vases.

How has the partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission of the Ministry of Culture helped promote the fair, and how has it shaped its outlook? 

We are delighted to stage Downtown Design Riyadh in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission of the Ministry of Culture, as we support the growing position of Saudi Arabia in the global design sector and the region’s cultural community. Together, Downtown Design Riyadh is spotlighting local creative talent, enabling the regional and global design industry to access Saudi Arabia’s dynamic interior design market and ensuring the right reach for the event and access for the sector. The partnership is also key for the fair’s non-commercial programming and activations, considering its context across design and local themes rooted in Saudi Arabia’s heritage of craftsmanship as well as the dynamic, fast-growing design landscape across the Kingdom.

Will there be limited-edition works at the fair? 

In a dedicated space at Downtown Design Riyadh, visitors will be able to discover collectible design and ultra-high-end pieces. These are all presented by leading international galleries, independent designers and makers known for their exceptional craftsmanship and contemporary vision. One of the highlights in this section is Gallery COLLECTIONAL, who will be showcasing a curated selection of limited-edition pieces by some iconic names, including beautifully crafted furniture by Christophe Delcourt. Visitors will also get to see the sculptural lighting of New York-based Apparatus Studio, along with the vintage-inspired creations of experimental design duo Draga & Aurel, as well as names such as Laurids Gallee, Mario Tsai, Sabine Marcelis, Steven John Clark and Refractory.

Venini Stele Floor Lamp by Arnaldo Pomodoro

Other standout presentations include Venini, famous for its hand-blown glassworks and featured through collaborations with Michele De Lucchi and Peter Marino, among others, while Visionnaire and Serafini will also display in this section. 

Who are some of the participating homegrown brands? And will there be a ’Saudi designer exhibition’ as part of the fair? 

We have a fantastic selection of contemporary Saudi creatives throughout the sections of the fair, who embody the energetic and creative energy that is emerging from the wider design community across the Kingdom – there is so much happening in the emerging design scene in KSA, so we are excited to be able to offer a platform for this rising talent. 

Tajalla Creative Agency will stage a stand-out creative exhibit presenting its design objects, while the Designed in Saudi initiative will highlight the development of the Kingdom’s industrial design sector. We will also be welcoming locally renowned NWII.III, the interior design studio co-founded by Saudi designer Noura Suleiman. Known for blending aesthetic trends with tailored design solutions, Suleiman has worked on numerous projects across Saudi Arabia.