Maraya, a multi-purpose concert and entertainment venue in AlUla, North West Saudi Arabia, has been named a winner in one of the world’s biggest architecture awards.
The Architizer A+ Awards promotes and celebrates the year’s best architecture. Run by New York based Architizer.com, the annual event consist of five peer judged finalists with one jury winner and one popular choice winner in each category. The impressive mirrored structure has come away with Architecture + Glass accolade, chosen by popular vote.
“Maraya has been conceived and designed as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 and in line with RCU’s core values to develop AlUla using a sensitive and responsible approach,” said Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer at Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).
“AlUla was at the crossroad of cultural exchange for millennia. With Maraya, we are one step further to realising our vision to recreate a place to dream, a place that inspires and facilitates the sharing of cultures and ideas,” he adds.
The structure has previously been awarded a Guiness World Record for the largest mirror-clad building in the world. An architectural marvel, the exterior walls of the cube-shaped structure is covered in 9740 square metres of mirrors that reflect the dramatic landscape that surround it. Designed by Florian Boje of Gio Forma, it also featured a giant retractable window.
Meaning mirrors in Arabic, Maraya has already played host to a number of concerts from the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Lionel Richie and Yanni. The next step for the unique space is to increase it’s capacity, create a dedicated conference floo as well as a ground floor restaurant and a rooftop terrace.
It is due to reopen for conferences as well as weddings and other events later this year.
