VENICE — Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) inaugurated its debut international exhibition The Light Footprint today in collaboration with Italian architecture studio Schiattarella Associati.

Coinciding with the opening of the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025, the exhibition runs through June 15 at the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice and highlights the architectural vision for DAF’s upcoming headquarters in Riyadh.

Curated by Marta Francocci, The Light Footprint presents a comprehensive selection of architectural models, sketches, videos, drawings, photographs, and archival materials that document the design and development process of the DAF complex.

The exhibition celebrates the integration of tradition, technology, and sustainability in the creation of a future-facing cultural institution.

The opening was attended by Mona Khazindar, Advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Culture; Haytham Nawar, Director of Diriyah Art Futures; and Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella, Principal Architects of Schiattarella Associati, who joined a guided tour of the exhibition led by the curator.

The event offered an in-depth look at the conceptual and architectural approach behind the project.

Designed by Schiattarella Associati, the DAF headquarters is carved into the escarpment of Diriyah and reflects Najdi architectural traditions, employing local materials and a design philosophy rooted in sustainability and cultural continuity.

The 6,550-square-metre facility will offer state-of-the-art infrastructure to support artistic research, technological exploration, and interdisciplinary education.

“We are pleased to present our vision for Diriyah Art Futures alongside the prestigious Venice Biennale,” said Mona Khazindar.

“This pioneering project exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building globally relevant cultural institutions that nurture bold creativity while remaining deeply rooted in our heritage.”

Amedeo and Andrea Schiattarella commented: “Our work begins with the belief that architecture must resist the global flattening of cultural identity. With Diriyah Art Futures, we aimed to create a structure that is not imposed upon the land, but one that emerges from it — a balance of geometry and unpredictability, tradition and innovation.”

Elements of The Light Footprint are also featured in the Biennale’s main collective exhibition, Intelligens Naturale, Artificiale, curated by Carlo Ratti and hosted at the Arsenale. — SG