Royal Diriyah Opera House, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

With a proposal rooted in the surrounding desert landscape, local cultural heritage, and Najdi building traditions, Snøhetta has been chosen to design an opera house in the historic area of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, creating a new stage for future generations of performers and audiences. The Royal Diriyah Opera House is part of a wider master plan to redevelop the ancient Diriyah area on the outskirts of Riyadh into new vibrant destinations and communities while being embedded in the region’s cultural heritage and vernacular architecture. Scheduled to open in 2028, the opera house will be built by Diriyah Company and operated by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
The 46,000 square meter opera house will accommodate around 3,500 people distributed across four venues, each tailored to specific types of performances. At the core, a 2000-seat opera theatre will set the stage for large-scale productions and headline artists. Complementing this, a 450-seat adaptable theatre and a 450-seat multipurpose theatre will host smaller events, interactive programming and rehearsals.
A 450-seat, shaded rooftop amphitheater will be a prominent feature, accommodating outdoor performances and adding a unique dimension to the overall experience. This iconic project will also include a diverse array of facilities, including a visitor services pavilion, as well as a café and retail space.
The cluster of buildings provide open access in between, making the opera house accessible to the public from the central boulevard and pedestrian-focused streets. This openness ensures that the cultural and recreational essence of the location is accessible to all, extending beyond just those attending a performance.
The buildings are strategically oriented to create shaded outdoor zones that provide cool pockets away from intense sun and include vegetation and incorporated water misting for warmer periods. A careful selection of endemic plant species fosters greater biodiversity and contribute to a nurtured climate-specific ecosystem.
The project is designed to achieve compliance with the highest environmental regulations by considering water conservation, lighting, building orientation, and thermal comfort strategies that reduce unnecessary energy and water wastage. Utilizing open spaces and natural lighting efficiently have all been considered in the design.
Various approaches will also be applied to reduce embodied carbon for concrete and steel structures. In addition, the roof surface of the largest building volume will create a suitable ground for PV installation due to high solar exposure, contributing significantly to on-site or grid-wide clean energy production. Radiant cooling will be achieved in specific areas through chilled ceiling panels and displacement ventilation.
Consultants and collaborators: Plan A Consultants, JLL, Penguin Cube, Tricon, Arup, Saudi Diyar, Buro Happold, schlaich bergermann partner, Theatre Projects, Spec Studio, Evergreen Adcon, Fractal Landscape, Transsolar, Maha Mullah.