Saudi Arabia’s Next Architectural Marvel Is a Museum Made of Mud

A futuristic design firm. A centuries-old building technique. A kingdom in transition. And a museum rising from the dirt.

Saudi Arabia’s building boom has dazzled the world with glass towers and desert megacities. But this time, the Kingdom is turning to its roots. A new museum in Diriyah, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, won’t rise in steel and concrete—but in sun-dried mud.

Mud Bricks Meet Modern Vision

At first glance, “mud” and “Zaha Hadid” don’t exactly belong in the same sentence. But the upcoming Asaan, Misk Heritage Museum proves otherwise.

The 40,000-square-meter cultural hub is the latest gem in the crown of Diriyah, a historic town near Riyadh that’s undergoing a multi-billion dollar revival. While Saudi Arabia’s recent showpieces—think The Line or NEOM—have embraced tech-heavy urbanism, Asaan makes a bold pivot: it embraces tradition.

The building will be constructed with adobe bricks made from clay, straw, and water, baked naturally under the sun. No glittering façades. No concrete towers. Just centuries-old construction wisdom reimagined with 21st-century flair.

Why Mud? Why Now?

The decision to build a mud museum isn’t some nostalgic whim. It’s deeply intentional.

Diriyah’s traditional Najdi architecture has stood the test of time—literally. Mud brick buildings have sheltered locals from scorching desert heat for generations. Their thick walls insulate interiors, keeping them naturally cool without modern HVAC systems.

This low-tech, climate-responsive method couldn’t be more relevant in today’s age of overheating cities and soaring energy demands.

It’s not just about sustainability, though. It’s about symbolism. Asaan—which means “inheritance passed down through generations”—is being pitched as a cultural anchor that preserves and celebrates Saudi Arabia’s rich, pre-oil past.

Three Courtyards, One Identity

The museum’s layout is as considered as its construction.

Spread across three shaded courtyards, the design includes:

• An Educational wing for workshops and learning spaces

• An Arts wing showcasing heritage crafts and exhibits

• An Administrative section supporting operations and curation

All of these spaces will orbit around the museum’s core: immersive exhibition halls housing cultural artifacts, historical collections, and multimedia installations that trace Saudi heritage from ancient times to the present day.

In the back? A full-fledged conservation lab. That’s where restorers will painstakingly preserve everything from ancient pottery shards to rare manuscripts.

Zaha Hadid Architects: Designing in Earth, Not Concrete

You might associate Zaha Hadid Architects with space-age forms and swooping curves. From Beijing to Baku, their buildings usually look like they were sketched by an architect dreaming in CAD software.

So what’s a high-concept firm doing with clay and straw?

They’re adapting. And this isn’t their first regional project with roots in heritage. ZHA has previously shown flexibility with climate-sensitive materials and local traditions—just not quite like this.

Still, don’t expect anything rustic. Early renderings suggest a flowing form that echoes Najdi courtyards while still bearing Hadid’s signature geometry. The paradox is intentional: modern form, ancient fabric.

One line, one impact.

Diriyah: From Mud Village to Cultural Capital

If Asaan sounds like an outlier in a desert of megaprojects, it’s not. Diriyah itself is undergoing a massive transformation.

Once the heart of the First Saudi State, Diriyah is being reimagined as a cultural capital, with luxury resorts, museums, and souqs nestled among restored heritage sites.

The goal? Attract 27 million visitors annually by 2030, according to the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA). That’s not just tourism—it’s nation branding.

Let’s look at how the museum fits into that vision:

The contrast is obvious. While other megaprojects reach for the future, Asaan looks to the past. Together, they sketch a broader identity for the Kingdom.

Bricks of Change

If it all sounds a little poetic, that’s because it is. A country long defined by its oil exports is now exporting ideas—about heritage, sustainability, and architecture.

There are still plenty of unanswered questions. Will the museum use concrete reinforcements? Will the mud bricks meet global building codes? How will it all hold up decades from now?

And yet, the idea of sun-hardened clay bricks forming the foundation of one of the world’s most modern architectural practices? That’s compelling.

Saudi Arabia isn’t just pouring concrete anymore. It’s shaping narrative out of the earth beneath its feet.