AlUla Music Hub
When thinking about recording studios, it is easy to picture a completely shut, stylish space equipped with cutting-edge technology. Time and space become intangible, allowing one to completely dissociate from the exterior world. What happens, though, when the environment is so unique and breathtaking that it can't be ignored? Can it become an active part of the creative process and inspire artistic flow?
A Remarkable Land
AlUla is an ancient region in Saudi Arabia, located in the Medina province. Its particular landscape, including the Nabataean rocks and vast stretches of sand, makes it a memorable site waiting to be discovered worldwide. Recognizing its uniqueness and cultural significance, the project aims to enhance, highlight, and preserve its true essence.
The plot is situated in the north of the province and offers undisturbed and isolated areas near various cultural and heritage assets. It is located next to a hotel in a very intimate area behind an existing pavilion, offering the opportunity to create a secluded space where the goal is to produce and experience a different way of working.
The uniqueness and cultural value AlUla offers are essential in projecting the architecture of the area. Constructing here means respecting the existing land, honouring the region, and affecting the landscape as little as possible.
Rethinking The Traditional Recording Studio
When thinking about recording studios, it is easy to picture a completely shut, stylish room with cutting-edge technology. Time and space become intangible, allowing one to completely dissociate from the exterior world to focus on the act of creation and, ultimately, meet production deadlines. Legendary recording studios such as Abbey Road in the Westminster area in London or Electric Lady in the Greenwich Village in New York are good examples of how these spaces are also usually located in the heart of fast-paced cities.
What happens, though, when the environment is so unique and breathtaking that it can't be ignored? Can it become an active part of the creative process and inspire artistic flow? From these thoughts and extensive research into pioneering recording studios, comes the idea of designing a space that offers an immersive experience and embraces AlUla's surroundings through exceptional facilities.
The AlUla Music Hub is designed to inspire artists and promote collaboration among musicians, engineers, and producers. It helps break traditional barriers to discover inspiration and new working methods in an exceptional location. Its private and laid-back setting aims to create a relaxing and creative atmosphere, blurring the lines between its areas and nurturing a sense of unity and shared inspiration.
Being One With The Landscape
In line with the vision of creating an exclusive music-making experience, the Hub is strategically positioned at the canyon's centre, hidden away from the hotel's volumes, set to frame the impressive views of AlUla.
The structure aims to integrate with its surroundings, using the natural slope to blend the building into the landscape without altering the existing topography, which creates varying heights within the same space. The flat roof, resembling a protective shell, adjusts to these height requirements, forging a seamless connection between the interior and exterior, reinforcing a feeling of seclusion. Mimicking the sand dunes, the roof and exterior columns are built in rammed earth, while the core uses birch wood, a very acoustic material.
With a simple 360º layout, the project nods to traditional Bedouin tents. It splits the floor into four areas, all catering to the different stages of the creative process: one master recording studio, two smaller recording rooms, and a lobby. Each space is different, and so is the view it frames, which adds layering and dynamism to the experience. On the outside, the buffer area and its perimeter are characterized by lightweight, hanging curtains, which the user can adjust to set the mood.
AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cultural
Private
Secondary Bounce
