Jeddah Archaeological Museum

Although the proposal we supported wasn’t selected this time, the competition for the Jeddah Archaeology Museum was an incredible opportunity to explore an extreme visual narrative alongside Nieto Sobejano.

Saudi Arabia is undergoing a massive cultural transformation, and this museum is a cornerstone of that vision. The challenge for the architectural team was to design a landmark that protected the collection from the extreme heat without losing its sense of monumentality. Our role was to understand that architectural response and transform it into imagery that communicated the project’s strength to the jury.

Nieto Sobejano’s design focused on mass, featuring large volumes reminiscent of archaeological excavations that used deep shadows to create a cool sanctuary. Our task was to provide these spaces with a tangible atmosphere, where the architecture wasn’t just seen but felt—as if it were a relief emerging directly from the ground.

We decided the imagery should enhance that thermal contrast. While other projects might call for softness, here the protagonists were the blinding Middle Eastern light and its sharp, pitch-black shadows.