Rubat AlKhunji
Lead Architect for transforming a UNESCO heritage building in AlBalad into a contemporary art gallery, contrasting historic coral stone with minimal polished aluminum interventions.
Located in the UNESCO heritage district of AlBalad the two-storey coral stone building was reimagined as a contemporary art gallery.
Following core and shell renovation by JHD under the Ministry of Culture, our role focused on interior re-functionalization.
The program introduced gallery rooms, gift shop, café, and library at the ground floor. Meeting rooms and offices at the first.
The result is a dialogue between past and present. Historic craftsmanship endures, while contemporary asserts identity.
Materials
Floors are finished in seamless resin, providing a contemporary surface that contrasts with the historic fabric while offering durability. Walls are coated with coral-based plaster, maintaining continuity with Balad’s heritage textures. Exposed timber ceilings preserve authenticity, transmitting the craftsmanship of local tradition with warmth and resonance.
Aluminum elements
Polished aluminum defines all new interventions, from bespoke furniture and counters to shelving, HVAC cabinets, and lighting. Roshn-inspired grills conceal mechanical systems within the walls while visually echoing traditional geometry.
Spatial Distribution
The ground floor opens directly into the galleries, extending into public amenities such as the café and gift shop to encourage access and cultural exchange.
The first floor is dedicated to operational and meeting rooms are carefully arranged to keep separation between private functions and visitor flows. This distribution consolidates the building’s dual role as cultural hub and working place.
The approach was guided by respect for the building’s historical essence, highlighting coral stone walls, timber lintels, and peculiar decorative niches.
The entrance counter is reduced to a precise, minimal surface with refined detailing.
Door handles are carved as linear grooves, encased seamlessly into the solid body.
Polished joints eliminate unnecessary elements, ensuring each interface reads as intentional.
A mechanized canopy slides silently, reinforcing the project’s vocabulary of clarity and restraint.
The canopy employs flexible aluminum strips, engineered to follow fluid motion. As sunlight strikes, reflections ripple across its surface, producing an underwater-like atmosphere.
Visitors perceive shimmering patterns reminiscent of waves, an immersive play of light that merges technology with poetic experience, enhancing spatial identity with sensorial depth.
