Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Black Gold Museum has opened its doors on the KAPSARC campus in Riyadh, marking one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious cultural adaptive reuse projects to date.
Designed by London-based DaeWha Kang Design, the museum transforms a former research library—originally designed by Zaha Hadid and completed in 2017—into a dynamic, state-of-the-art cultural institution.
Spanning 6,800 square meters across four floors, the museum explores the global impact of oil through modern and contemporary art, offering visitors a deeply immersive and thought-provoking experience.
Rather than constructing a new building, the project prioritizes sustainability and architectural ingenuity.
Only 6% of the structure—approximately 440 square meters—was newly added, primarily to create circulation spaces that enable the building’s transformation.
This minimal intervention preserves much of the original structure while introducing key features such as a central atrium and a sculptural spiral staircase, which now serve as the museum’s spatial core.
These elements open up previously enclosed areas, allowing natural light to flood the interiors and enhancing visitor orientation.
The museum houses 14 gallery spaces equipped with museum-grade lighting, advanced climate control systems, and back-of-house facilities to support the conservation and display of over 350 artworks.
Visitors are guided through a carefully choreographed journey that unfolds across four thematic sections: Encounter, Dreams, Doubts, and Visions.
Each gallery explores a different chapter in the story of oil—from its discovery and industrial impact to its role in shaping economies, raising environmental concerns, and influencing future innovation.
Material choices throughout the museum draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s geological landscape, incorporating references to wadis, canyons, and sedimentary formations.
Subtle patterns inspired by hydrocarbon molecular structures and hexagonal geometries connect natural and scientific narratives, reinforcing the museum’s thematic depth while maintaining a strong sense of place.
Sustainability remains central to the project’s ethos. By preserving the building’s façade and structural frame, the design significantly reduces embodied carbon and construction waste.
Durable materials, efficient systems, and integrated operational infrastructure ensure long-term resilience and performance.
About DaeWha Kang Design
DaeWha Kang Design is an award-winning architecture and design studio founded in London in 2014.
The practice operates at the intersection of architecture, interiors, and urban design, with a focus on sustainability, human wellbeing, and digital innovation. Its international portfolio spans the UK, Middle East, and Asia.
About DaeWha Kang
DaeWha Kang is an architect with over 25 years of global experience. After a decade at Zaha Hadid Architects, he established his own studio to pursue design excellence grounded in human-centered principles.
He has also taught at leading institutions including Yale, The Bartlett, and Columbia University, and contributes actively to academic and professional discourse.
About Black Gold Museum
The Black Gold Museum is a pioneering cultural institution dedicated to exploring the influence of oil on humanity through art.
Featuring a permanent collection of over 350 works alongside temporary exhibitions, it fosters dialogue around energy, culture, and the future, positioning itself as a landmark destination in Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape.
About Michal Wojtkiewicz
Michal is an architect with 15+ years’ experience. Formerly at Zaha Hadid Architects, he joined DaeWha Kang Design as Associate Director, leading major cultural projects with a focus on sustainable, computational, and technically driven design.
Project: Black Gold Museum (BGM)
Architect: DaeWha Kang Design
Design Team: DaeWha Kang (Founder & Director) and the DaeWha Kang Design studio team
Associate Director: Michal Wojtkiewicz
Client: Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission (in partnership with KAPSARC), funded by the Quality of Life Program
