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RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) will unveil a new commission at Dubai Design Week, which begins Nov. 4.  

Designed by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects, the installation, titled “Flamenco Essence: The Lavender Pavilion,” “bridges Spanish and Saudi traditions through shared arts, scents, and craft details,” according to a statement. 

It is, Spanish architect Izaskun Chinchilla, the founder of ICA, tells Arab News, “a space that embodies calmness, collective serenity, and the therapeutic power of scent.” 

She continues: “This year’s theme (for DDW), ‘Detail,’ invites designers to rediscover the meaning hidden in traditional decorative elements. In our case, we looked at the ruffles of the flamenco skirt — a detail that might seem ornamental, but holds movement, rhythm, and emotion. The ruffle enhances the synchronization between the music and the dancer movements and, for us, it allows the synchronization of breathings from visitors. We translated that energy into architecture: light, undulating forms that seem to breathe with the visitor. 

“Lavender, deeply rooted in Saudi nature, brings its soothing fragrance and becomes a bridge between body, community, and landscape. Here, design becomes an act of care, transforming something as small as a decorative detail into a space for healing and connection.” 

The pavilion is circular, with a sequence of reclinable seats inviting visitors to try out different forms of breathing, depending on their posture. And at the heart of the installation is a plantation of lavender. “The wind naturally carries the fragrance across the pavilion, allowing visitors to enjoy the calming scent over several meters, creating a subtle, immersive experience,” says Chinchilla. “Above, an undulating fabric canopy — inspired by the ruffles of a flamenco skirt and built with outdoor textiles and a light metal structure — protects visitors from sun, dust, and rain, while channeling the lavender aroma toward the seating areas.” 

The collaboration with “our Saudi colleagues,” she adds, “greatly enriched” the project, with input on “local forms of communication” and “contemporary building techniques.” 

The hope is that guests will enjoy “a multifaceted experience of wellbeing and social connection,” Chinchilla explains. “We encourage visitors to explore different forms of interaction within the space: from quiet introspection to shared dialogue, noticing how subtle design gestures — the curvature of the seating, the undulating roof — shape the rhythm of breathing and social engagement.” 

DUBAI: The inaugural Middle East’s Most Transformative New Buildings Awards by the Royal Institute of British Architects aims to highlight the region’s emerging architectural landscape, and showcase a blend of cultural sensitivity and innovative design principles.

This is according to jury chair Kerem Cengiz, who recently spoke to Arab News about the nuanced judging process that celebrates projects demonstrating exceptional contextual understanding and sustainable approaches.

“The key was not just evaluating buildings, but understanding how they speak to their environment,” said Cengiz.

The jury examined submissions across diverse categories, ranging from small boutique projects to large urban interventions, representing the region’s dynamic architectural ecosystem.

“The shortlist is a powerful reflection of a region in architectural renaissance, where cultural identity is alive, evolving and deeply embedded in contemporary form,” he said.

Among the 15 shortlisted projects, for the awards to be announced on Nov. 5, are two from ����ֱ��: King Salman Park in Riyadh, and the nearby Wadi Safar Experience Center.

King Salman Park is a sweeping regeneration of the city’s former airport site by Gerber Architekten, Buro Happold and Setec. The ambitious project is transforming a relic of the aviation era into a vast urban oasis, providing residents and visitors with a network of gardens.

The Wadi Safar Experience Center is a gateway to the wider Wadi Safar development and draws on the vernacular Najdi style. Created by Dar Al-Omran – Rasem Badran, the center features inward-facing courtyards and earth-berm landscaping that create a cool, contemplative atmosphere while celebrating the region’s heritage.

Notably, the judging process emphasized several critical evaluation parameters, including skillful compositional design, exceptional spatial qualities, cultural continuity, environmental sustainability and contextual responsiveness.

Cengiz said he was surprised the jury reached a remarkable consensus, indicating a shared vision for architectural excellence in the Middle East.

“The submissions demonstrated a significant shift from mimicking global design trends to establishing unique regional architectural identities,” he added.

For emerging architects in the region, Cengiz offered advice: “Don't be shy to submit your work. Create designs that respect your environment, heritage, and contemporary design approaches.”

“Be mindful of contemporary design approaches, but also be mindful of the fact that you are in a place where what you design speaks of the environment that we live in, in the whole and in the heritage and culture.

“And not to be either overawed by that, or, you know, playing too much to that, but being encompassed in what you do, in the architecture that you generate.”