The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture by Snøhetta

The giant pebble in the desert

2026-08-10

项目标签

设计公司: :; Snøhetta
位置: :; Saudi Arabia
类型: :; Architecture
材料: :; stainless steel pipe Metal stainless steel Concrete Glass
标签: :; Dhahran
分类: :; Library Culture Center Culture Architecture Cinema

感谢 Snøhetta 予gooood分享以下内容。更多关于：Snøhetta on gooood
Appreciations towards Snøhetta for providing the following description:

阿卜杜勒阿齐兹国王世界文化中心（King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture），又名 Ithra——在阿拉伯语中意为“丰富”（enrichment）——是由沙特阿美石油公司（Saudi Aramco）发起的一项文化倡议，旨在推动沙特王国的文化发展、知识传播与多样性。自2018年开放以来，中心为当地居民和访客提供了前所未有的机会，使所有人都能够使用丰富多样的学习与文化设施。

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also called Ithra which is Arabic for enrichment, is an initiative from the Saudi Aramco Oil Company to promote cultural development, knowledge and diversity in the Kingdom. Since opening in 2018, the center has provided the local population and visitors unprecedented access to a wide range of learning and cultural facilities open for everyone to use.

▼建筑概览，overview © Christian Houge

▼建筑概览，overview © Frans Parthesius

▼文化中心外观，cultural center facade © Frans Parthesius

▼文化中心外观，cultural center facade © Edward Ednilao / bullionsplit

中心内设有一座礼堂，可举办歌剧、交响音乐会、音乐剧及讲座等多种活动；此外还包括电影院、一座藏书超过315,000册且面向全年龄段读者开放的图书馆、大型展览厅、由当地及国际艺术家创作并融入建筑空间的艺术作品，以及博物馆和档案馆。后两者将中心充满活力的当代文化生活与过去相连接，并追溯至孕育这座文化中心的社会根源。

The center includes an auditorium hosting a wide range of events from opera, symphony concerts, musicals and lectures, a cinema, a library with over 315 000 books for all ages, a large exhibition hall, integrated art by local and international artists, as well as a museum and an archive connecting the vibrant cultural life of the center to the past and to the very roots of the society from which the center is conceived.

▼建筑外观，building facade © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

坐落于炎热的沙漠环境中，这组具有高科技感的“卵石”建筑从半干旱的景观中拔地而起。主体塔楼高达110米，周围环绕着数个形似卵石的体量。其中三个——图书馆、礼堂和大厅（Great Hall）——仿佛直接停驻于地面之上。第四块“卵石”——“拱心石”（Keystone）——则悬置并固定于空中，左侧倚靠塔楼，右侧连接图书馆。每一个“卵石”体量，无论在形态还是功能上，都各不相同。

▼设计概念，design concept © Snøhetta

Situated in the hot desert, the high-tech pebble composition emerges from its semi-arid landscape. Its main tower stretches 110 meters up in the sky, surrounded by additional pebbles. Three of them, the Library, the Auditorium and the Great Hall, seemingly rest on the ground. The fourth pebble, the Keystone, is suspended and fixed in its position, leaning against the tower to its left and the Library to the right. Each pebble is unique, both physically and programmatically.

▼具有高科技感的“卵石”建筑从半干旱的景观中拔地而起，the high-tech pebble composition emerges from its semi-arid landscape © Abdullah A Alshammary, AAS

如同罗马拱券中由拱心石将整个结构锁合、避免其坍塌一样，这些“卵石”仿佛被凝固在时间之中。这一拱券般的构成体现了“文化相互依存”的理念，提醒人们：文化并非由一个个孤立、独立的行动组成，而是由彼此连接的力量与思想共同作用，最终形成一个强有力的整体。

Like a roman arch, where the Keystone holds the construction together and prevents it from collapsing, the pebbles are seemingly frozen in time. Reflecting the idea of cultural interdependency, the arch-like formation reminds us that culture is not composed of singular, independent efforts but interconnected forces and ideas that work together to create a strong unity.

▼“巨石”意向，paint pebble concept © Ivan Brodey

▼中庭，courtyard © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼遮阳棚下的户外空间，the outdoor space under the canopy © Ivan Brodey

▼庭院休息区域，the seating area in the courtyard © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼外部连廊，the colonnade © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

“文化相互依存”的概念还通过一条从过去延伸至当下、并进一步通向未来的时间线被编织进建筑之中。这三个时间维度之间的联系体现出：当代文化与未来的发展必须根植于历史与过去。这条时间线也被深刻地嵌入建筑表达本身——建筑的一部分深入基岩之中，象征过去；另一部分则向天空延伸，象征未来。对于未来的象征同样体现在建筑的功能与开放性项目设置中，它鼓励平等，并确保所有人都能够充分使用这里的设施。

The concept of cultural interdependency is woven together by a timeline stretching from the past and into the present and future. The connection of these three times reflects how contemporary culture and the future must grow out of history and the past. The timeline is strongly embedded into the architectural expression itself, as the building is partially set deep into the bedrock, a symbol of the past, and partially stretching up toward the sky, a symbol of the future. The symbolism of the future is also echoed in the building’s functionality and open program, which encourages equality and full access for all.

▼一层大堂，the lobby on the ground floor © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼展览空间，exhibition space © Ivan Brodey

▼走廊空间，corridor space © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼剧院空间，theater space © Ivan Brodey

▼展览空间，exhibition space © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼细部，detail © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

建筑立面延续了对“未来”的表达。弯曲的不锈钢管如同一根根单维线条，勾勒并解析出建筑的有机形态，传达出创新与大胆的精神。反射性的表面进一步强化了这些“卵石”体量的有机轮廓；随着太阳在天空中移动，光线不断变化，也使建筑呈现出动态的生命力。

The building’s façade embraces the concept of the future, with bent stainless steel tubes as single dimension lines resolving the organic shapes, echoing innovation and boldness. The reflective surfaces enhance the organic shapes of the pebbles and animates the buildings as the sun moves across the sky.

▼建筑立面延续了对“未来”的表达，The building’s façade embraces the concept of the future © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼建筑立面，The building’s façade © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

▼建筑立面细部，The building’s façade detail © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

这种具有未来感的金属表皮，与围合广场（Plaza）的古老夯土建造技艺形成鲜明对比，展现出过去与当下如何共同作用、彼此交织。

The futuristic metal stands in contrast to the ancient technique of rammed earth framing the Plaza, demonstrating how the past and present work together.

▼具有未来感的金属表皮，The futuristic metal skin © Abdullah A Alshammary, AAS

图书馆收藏了超过315,000册实体书籍，涵盖阿拉伯语与英语读物，并面向各年龄段读者开放，是该地区规模最大的公共图书馆之一。图书馆同时举办一系列学习项目，包括面向儿童的工作坊和读书会。

The library holds over 315 000 physical books for all ages in both Arabic and English and is one of the largest public libraries in the region. The library also hosts a series of learning programs, including workshops and book clubs for children.

▼图书馆空间，library © Ivan Brodey

▼大厅，great hall © Ivan Brodey

▼顶层天窗，the skylight © Ivan Brodey

▼连廊，corridor © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta

大厅（Great Hall）是一处高度最高可达13米的多功能空间，可用于举办展览及各类活动。图中所展示的是由 Snøhetta 设计的“爱德华·蒙克：灵魂的风景”（Edvard Munch: Landscapes of the Soul）展览。

The Great Hall is an up to 13 meter-tall, multipurpose space that hosts exhibitions and events. Pictured here is the Snøhetta designed “Edvard Munch: Landscapes of the Soul” exhibition.

▼夕阳下的建筑入口，building entrance under sunset © Cieran Murphy/Snøhetta