The Diriyah Biennale Foundation (DBF), which oversees the JAX District housing the culture and arts sector in Riyadh, has unveiled a new plan for the area, led by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), a global firm specializing in architecture, urban planning, and cultural analysis.

The JAX District in Riyadh is home to local art studios and major regional cultural events, including the Noor Riyadh exhibition, the Athar Creativity Festival, and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale.

The district spans 73,500 square meters across 100 warehouses, housing over 50 tenants, most of whom are artists and designers, along with numerous cultural institutions such as the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), MDLBEAST, and leading media stations like Telfaz11.

JAX District was established as an industrial zone in 1975. In 2020, it was revived and transformed into a cultural hub, becoming a meeting point for many creative initiatives in the city.

Aya Al Bakri, CEO of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, told AD: 'With the expansion of the JAX District, Riyadh's creative scene will enter a new chapter, reflecting the cultural vitality of our country. JAX District will become a vibrant and advanced platform for creativity, and a key pillar of the city's cultural life.'

The development plan for the JAX District in Riyadh - biennale.org.sa

In the next phase, after developing the JAX District, the Diriyah Biennale Foundation aims to add more art galleries, studios, music production companies, restaurants, cafes, and exhibition spaces to the area, 'bringing its area to about 78,000 square meters, i.e., four times the number of current tenants,' according to the same website.

Kaveh Dabiri, assistant architect at OMA and project supervisor, explained: 'The Diriyah Biennale Foundation focuses on how to improve public life in the area, ensuring ease of pedestrian movement, providing a comfortable environment, and improving infrastructure.'

He added: 'We do not want to present an overly perfect design; rather, we are careful to work with the existing site. Unlike traditional master plans, we do not impose any directives. There are some things to maintain the quality of the space, but the main focus is on the unbuilt spaces, not on restricting tenants and how they use their own spaces.'

He affirmed that 'after this first phase, what the studios and shops propose in terms of colors, shades, and facades still inspires us, and I believe that the identity of JAX will continue to evolve and transform naturally over time in a wonderful way.'