Hayy:Cinema, the first non-commercial picture house to be designed and built since Saudi Arabia reversed its decade-old ban on cinemas in 2018 and will show local films and the cinemas will reopen.
Hayy:Cinema is a core part of Hayy:Creative Hub, the first bespoke home for culture and creativity in Saudi Arabia — opening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in winter 2020. The centre is a project of Art Jameel, an independent organisation that supports arts, education and heritage in the Middle East and beyond.
Image © ibda design
In addition to a 200-seater main screen, Bricklab’s winning design incorporates a separate community screening room, audiovisual library, archive viewing rooms and educational space. The expanded picture house was inspired and informed by Bricklab’s extensive research into the history of cinema in the Gulf, and interviews with Saudi and regional actors, directors and producers.
Over 100 architects and designers from around the world entered the competition, with the winning proposal was selected by a renowned international jury. In addition to screening local, regional and international films, the cinema will serve as a home for the local Saudi film community. Source and images Courtesy of Katrina Weber Ashour.
Image © ibda design 
Image © ibda design Image © ibda design 
Image © Bricklab 
Image © Bricklab 
Image © Bricklab
