Construction has begun on the Asaan Misk Heritage Museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The museum is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and is their first project using adobe construction. The museum is located in At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historic heart of Diriyah.
Diriyah is considered the birthplace of the Saudi Arabian state. The museum’s name, Asaan, comes from the Arabic word meaning “inheritance passed down through generations.”
The museum will be built using locally produced clay mud-bricks. These bricks have high thermal mass and insulating qualities that are well-suited to the desert climate.
The museum’s design draws inspiration from the surrounding Najdi architecture, a vernacular tradition that has shaped the region’s mud-brick buildings for over six centuries. The Asaan Museum is part of the Diriyah Gate development masterplan. This masterplan envisions a fully walkable city that prioritizes water conservation, energy efficiency, wellness, and climate resilience.
The museum is designed to be a low-embodied-carbon building with three stories.
Construction begins on Asaan Misk Heritage Museum
The museum’s facade is punctuated by the geometries of the old town.
The interior is organized around three shaded courtyards, which are a hallmark of traditional Najdi design. These courtyards serve as climatic buffers and functional anchors for the museum’s key programs: Education, Arts, and Administration. The museum will also feature landscaped gardens, public plazas, and rooftop promenades.
Shading devices will enhance outdoor comfort. The Misk Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to youth education and empowerment, is backing the museum. The museum aims to foster deeper engagement with Saudi heritage through interactive exhibitions, workshops, and immersive experiences.
On-site conservation labs will support the preservation of archaeological artifacts. Khaled Al-Saqer, CEO of the museum, says, “Asaan’s role extends beyond preserving and displaying artifacts. It seeks to inspire meaningful engagement through immersive experiences that connect past, present, and future generations, strengthening pride in Saudi identity and sharing our cultural legacy with the world.”
The Asaan Museum is set to become a landmark for cultural preservation and engagement.
It blends innovative design with traditional architecture to create a space where past and future generations can connect.
