Schiattarella Associati: Italian Architects Expand in Saudi Arabia

Rome-based architecture firm Schiattarella Associati, led by Amedeo Schiattarella with his children Andrea (director) and Paola (interior designer), has become the Italian studio with the largest presence in Saudi Arabia. Active in the kingdom since around 2010, the firm won the international competition for the Addiriyah Art Center in 2013, designing a museum on a liminal strip between the Wadi and the modern city. The project includes an art school for both genders, workshops, and public spaces, using local materials to blend tradition with contemporary design. They also won the international invitation for the King Fahd Stadium expansion, adding a skybox ring of mini-apartments, a monumental entrance for King Salman, and a women-and-families section, totaling 50,000 square meters. For the Aljabri Mosque, a privately funded public-use project, the firm emphasized light, volume, and the central piazza. Currently, under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reform plan, Schiattarella Associati is designing three new stadiums and the new Ministry of Agriculture building, which will be the first LEED Gold certified building in the country. The firm's approach to sustainability focuses on identity and memory, responding to the region's climate and resources. The studio also runs internal initiatives like Meet4Lunch, curated by Emilia Giorgi, to connect with contemporary culture disciplines.