KAPSARC Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects Opens in the Saudi Capital Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, has witnessed the inauguration of KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center). Plans for KAPSARC were revealed in 2014 by the designer firm Zaha Hadid Architects. The project has an area of 70,000 square meters and resides in the heart of the desert.

The concept behind the campus was for it to resemble a living cell that can expand and reproduce. This resulted in a crystal-lattice shape composed of hexagonal honeycomb units, linking the five buildings together. The five buildings are the energy computer center, the energy knowledge center, a conference center with an exhibition space and an auditorium, a research library, and a space for prayer.

KAPSARC, the promising leap of Saudi Arabia into the future, is a non-profit organization dedicated to research and optimum use of energy. The venue teams up with several international organizations and research centers to face the challenges in the field of energy production and consumption. KAPSARC develops solutions and frameworks to decrease the effect energy consumption has on the environment. It also offers applicable views for more efficient energy use.