Highlights from the inaugural Downtown Design Riyadh
Downtown Design Riyadh has opened its first edition, running until tomorrow (Friday May 23)…
Textured wall paints, bespoke lightings, handcrafted tiles and sculptural surfaces, those are some of the medley of pieces that you can find at Downtown Design Riyadh, the Kingdom’s first fair dedicated to contemporary, high-quality design.
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Spotlighting new collections and multidisciplinary innovations, the event also features a series of activations, pop-up concepts and installations staged throughout JAX District’s indoor and outdoor spaces, plus much more.
Here’s what caught our eye.
Striking showcases
Bringing a local touch to the outdoors at Downtown Design Riyadh, multidisciplinary studio Karim+Elias unveils Strata – a striking modular installation crafted from Saudi sand using the age-old rammed earth technique that has become the studio’s signature. Designed by Karim Tamerji and Elias Hage as a tribute to Diriyah’s architectural landscape, you’ll find the seating installation adorning the outdoor courtyards of JAX District’s main square as you enter the fair.
Scarlet Splendour is making its debut in the region with a bold presentation featuring pure brass pieces by Richard Hutten, including the Wolk Chair. The Dutch industrial designer took the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining,” added a plot twist to it, and incorporated that into his chair design. Entirely crafted from brass, it is inspired by the natural beauty of Mammatus clouds and adorns the space with its sculptural yet functional aspects. Known to be a unique example of Dutch design, the chair exemplifies ergonomic euphoria and evokes a mesmerising feel.
Also making its debut at Downtown Design Riyadh, Gray Gardens Plant Studio presents a collection of raw, handmade planters and vases. Characterised by an unfinished, irregular surface, these large-scale and highly versatile planters are devoid of any additional motifs or ornaments. They are also ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
Meanwhile, Jordanian design duo Naqsh Collective centralises the concept of engravings, one of the earliest forms of art. Their sculptural work blends contemporary aesthetics with traditional Arab craftsmanship, showcasing works that reflect cultural memory through modern form.
Among the works Naqsh Collective will debut at Downtown Design Riyadh is ‘In The Garden’, a tribute to the quiet beauty of a garden that once nurtured creativity, storytelling, and tradition.
Intergenerational rare rugs atelier Iwan Maktabi presents ‘The Guardian Palms’, a sculptural, hand-knotted wall piece by Saudi designer Sumaya Shelbi, paying homage to Al-Diriyah and Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day. Framed by two palm trees, symbols of resilience and unity since 1727, the composition unfolds in two colour variations, sand or white, evoking the texture and rhythm of Najdi mudbrick architecture through subtle reliefs and abstract geometry.
Saudi talent is at the heart of the fair
Exhibiting Saudi-based designers include Hobal, Lucas Barcelo, and NWII.III, the interior design studio co-founded by Saudi designer Noura Suleiman. Their work spans architecture, product and object design, with contemporary interpretations of cultural heritage. Alongside the Designed in Saudi initiative, which will highlight the development of the Kingdom’s industrial sector and key initiatives, Saudi Arabia is hosting leading talent from the global and regional design communities at the Downtown Design Riyadh fair.
Glow-in-the-dark cheesecake
London-based Bompas & Parr, the creative duo known for crafting wild, immersive food experiences that blend art, science, and gastronomy, has collaborated with The Lighthouse to bring a multi-sensory experience to the fair, turning desserts into neon art.
Inside a space designed by the award-winning Saudi firm Laeta Interior, visitors will discover a multi-sensory food experience where mini cheesecakes literally glow under black light. These aren’t your average sweets, though.
Each dessert is shaped into bold, geometric forms inspired by Bauhaus design and finished with a specially developed UV-reactive glaze made from white chocolate, cream, gelatine, and luminous food-grade pigments. Choose from the Electric Dome (pistachio in a striking comet blue glaze), Citrus Wedge (passionfruit & yuzu in Luna yellow), or the Berry Block (strawberry in a dazzling astral pink).
Downtown Design Riyadh, May 22 & 23, 4pm to 11pm, JAX District Biennale (B1), Riyadh. Tickets for Downtown Design Riyadh are available via PlatinumList. @downtowndesignd
Images: Social / Supplied