From Madrasat Addeera’s palm-weaving workshop to Design Space AlUla’s international residencies, how can a territory become a source of inspiration and research for contemporary design?
In AlUla, creativity is not imported: it is shaped through direct engagement with the territory. The landscapes, materials, and local expertise - from palm-leaf weaving ( sa'af ) and mud-brick construction ( ṭīn ) to stone carving, ceramics, and incense-related traditions - inspire a new generation of designers and creators. During this discussion, Hamad AlHomiedan , Director of Arts and Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Simon Garcia , Director of Cultural Development at AFALULA, along with designer Aseel Alamoudi and the studio bahraini - danish , participants in the AlUla design residency programs, explore how initiatives developed in AlUla - Design Residency, AlUla Design Awards, and Designathon - foster a fruitful dialogue between vernacular craftsmanship and contemporary practices, which has become one of the hallmarks of Saudi Arabia’s current creative scene. This encounter between heritage and contemporary creation is also central to the Vie des Formes exhibition, informing both its works and its themes. Discussion moderated by AD Middle East .
Source: paris.fr — photo: Studio ThusThat © Lorenzo Arrigoni