MDL Beast: Redefining the Relationship Between Equestrian Heritage and Contemporary Music & Arts

The History of Public Music in Saudi Arabia

For decades, musical performances and other non-religious public gatherings were strictly regulated by the Saudi government. In practice, this resulted in most forms of public cultural expression, particularly music, being confined to private homes and closed communities.

Social and Cultural Transformations

By 2016, the Kingdom witnessed broad social, cultural, and economic changes. These transformations aimed to curb religious extremism, enhance quality of life, and attract foreign investments. These measures helped open the door to new cultural experiences, including music and public arts.

The Emergence of Music Festivals

In 2019, a group of entrepreneurs founded Middle Beast (MDL Beast) to launch a series of major music festivals across the Kingdom. This event marked a significant turning point, representing a radical shift in public attitudes toward cultural gatherings. It also provided the public, for the first time, the opportunity to engage with the electronic music scene that had previously existed only underground.

MDL Beast’s Permanent Project in Riyadh

In 2023, following the major success of their recurring events, MDL Beast commissioned Bricklab to design one of their first permanent venues. Located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, the project spans an area of 18,000 square meters and was formerly one of the city’s most prominent equestrian facilities.

Facilities and Spaces

The expansive site includes a horse stable, an administrative building, and several small service structures dispersed across sensitive desert landscapes. The original facilities were constructed in the 1990s, reflecting the traditional architectural character of the region.

Architectural Character and Cultural Influences

The architectural style of the site reflects the influences of Central Najd, noticeable in the triangular windows, stepped barriers, and the use of locally sourced Riyadh stone. However, the building also displays an unusual harmony of vibrant colors, pink and yellow, drawing inspiration from the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragán. This combination gives the venue a contemporary and lively spirit while preserving its historical roots.

Project Scope and Main Interventions

The project scope includes three primary interventions, with defined programs distributed across the expansive, desert-like site. These interventions aim to reactivate the existing facilities and deliver a fully integrated experience for visitors.

The Administrative Building and Restaurant

The 500-square-meter administrative building sits atop an elevated plateau. It has been renovated and expanded to include an upscale restaurant and reception lounge, creating a multifunctional space that blends administrative functions with social amenities.

The Stable as a Music Venue

At the opposite end of the site, the deteriorated 1,000-square-meter stable building was structurally reinforced to transform it into a world-class music venue. This conversion integrates equestrian heritage with contemporary music culture while preserving the historical identity of the location.

Additional Building for Members and VIP Guests

A standalone 250-square-meter structure was added to serve members and VIP guests, enhancing the project’s complementary functions and providing exclusive, distinguished spaces.

Color Harmony and Structural Expansion

Taking into account the distinctive color layers of the existing buildings, a contrasting color palette inspired by the RGB model was applied to each structure. Vibrant steel frameworks were used to expand interior spaces, accommodate new programs, and create shaded outdoor areas that offer comfort for visitors in the desert environment.

The Steel Structure and Colorful Design

The new additions consist of tubular steel components with clearly expressed structural qualities, where welding and assembly processes are deliberately showcased in the design. The vibrant RGB-inspired interventions stand in sharp contrast to the existing buildings, creating a rich visual dialogue between the old and the new structures.

Landscape Strategy

The landscape strategy was developed by Libani, a studio based in Beirut, Dubai, and London, drawing inspiration from the subtle characteristics of the local ecosystem of Wadi Hanifa, which aligns with the site’s existing conditions. This approach enables the seamless integration of natural elements with the architectural design in a sustainable and harmonious manner.

The Dry Farm Concept

The project was designed around the dry farm concept, where carefully selected islands of lush landscaping are distributed across the dominant rocky and arid terrain composed of stone, sand, and gravel. This method creates visual and environmental contrast, enhancing the visitor experience by introducing integrated natural spaces within the site’s desert context.

Interior Design Reflecting the Architectural Language

The project’s interior spaces were conceived as extensions of the site’s architectural language through the use of a cohesive color palette and contrasting materials. While elements of the building’s equestrian past were preserved, a narrative sequence of atmospheric qualities was created to enrich the visitor experience and encourage interaction with the space.

An Interactive Visitor Experience

Visitors are invited to roam between halls, rooms, and corridors, where they can experience a variety of atmospheres that support different types of social engagement. This approach reflects a focus on designing dynamic spaces that encourage movement and discovery rather than restricting the building to its traditional functions.

Architecture as a Medium for Preservation and Renewal

The project serves as an architectural meditation on preservation and renewal, encouraging a reevaluation of architecture’s role as a steward of progress amid a period of rapid construction and looming demolition. By celebrating the poetics of memory and adopting a mindful approach to material use, the project highlights the value of rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, offering a living example of how the urban landscape can be developed in a sustainable and inspiring way.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The MDL Beast Project in Riyadh can be seen as an attempt to reactivate a historical and heritage site by integrating music and contemporary arts with the existing architecture. One of its notable strengths is that it offers opportunities for cultural and artistic experiences within a carefully designed architectural environment. It also demonstrates strong attention to color details and material choices, reflecting an effort to bridge local heritage with contemporary design.

However, the project raises several points that architects and urban planners may wish to consider. It relies heavily on steel additions and brightly colored structures, which may compromise the visual coherence of the heritage context. Additionally, the distribution of functions and programs across the large site could, at times, weaken the visitor experience if the balance between public and private spaces, and between musical events and the site’s historical character, is not carefully maintained. Moreover, while the dry farm concept is sustainable, it may limit the flexibility of outdoor spaces and make long-term integration with the local natural landscape more challenging.

The project can serve as a valuable case study for understanding the challenges of adaptive reuse in historical sites within contemporary cultural contexts, encouraging reconsideration of how heritage can be blended with modern practices without affecting the overall identity of the place. It also highlights the importance of evaluating the balance between form and function when working with sites of historical and cultural value, an insight that can inspire or guide future projects in architecture and urban heritage.

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Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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