Black Gold Museum, Grand Spiral Staircase (Render) Credit: DaeWha Kang Design.

Rather than constructing a new building, the London-based design studio completely transformed the Zaha Hadid-designed research library (completed in 2017) into a state-of-the-art cultural institution. Of the museum’s total 6,800 m² gross floor area, 440 m² of new structure was added – only 6%. These limited insertions establish the museum’s primary circulation spaces, enabling the former library to transform into a major art museum with minimal structural intervention. The interiors now feature museum-grade lighting, 14 versatile gallery spaces, back-of-house facilities, and advanced climate control, supporting the conservation and display of more than 350 artworks and major installations to the highest international standards.

The interior architecture introduces a new central atrium and sculptural spiral staircase, forming the building’s spatial and experiential core. Previously enclosed areas now benefit from abundant natural daylight, enhancing openness, visibility, and intuitive orientation. The interior layout supports a clearly curated visitor journey, guiding guests seamlessly from basement to fourth floor and back, with every movement carefully choreographed to create a sense of discovery.
 

The material palette draws inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s geology, including wadis, canyons, and sedimentary formations, while subtle visual references to hydrocarbon molecular structures inform patterns and spatial rhythms. Hexagonal geometries link natural formations with scientific systems, echoing KAPSARC’s architectural language. Together, the materials and spatial language anchor the museum in local identity, while contributing to global conversations on energy, society, and culture.

The studio worked closely with the museum’s museography and scenography teams to ensure the interior architecture not only meets the functional requirements of a world-class art museum but also reinforces curatorial storytelling. The four thematic galleries - Encounters, Dreams, Doubts, and Visions - are shaped by light, materials, proportion, and rhythm, creating distinct spatial experiences that guide visitors through the museum and the evolving story of oil’s impact on humanity:

ENCOUNTER displays works focused on the discovery of oil and its early uses in the mid-19th century around the world, illustrating how oil spurred dramatic changes in ways of life with the acceleration of industrialization, the rise of machines, and automation.

DREAMS traces how oil became a valuable resource that reshaped societies and fuelled ambitions for economic development.

DOUBTS addresses the growing awareness and critical reflection on the consequences of oil, environmental crises, consumer culture, and the paradoxical questions raised by dependency on oil.

VISIONS looks toward the future with a dynamic approach, reflecting current challenges and anticipating solutions that will help shape tomorrow, with an ongoing program that opens space for dialogue and discovery.

 

DaeWha Kang, Founder and Director, comments: “Transforming the former library into a museum required a complete rethinking of how people will move, gather, and encounter artworks within the building. Our aim was to bring clarity and rhythm to the existing geometry, creating a sequence of spaces that guides visitors intuitively while giving each gallery its own identity. This project brought together our experience in adaptive reuse, scenography, and human-centred design, with the aim of offering a museum experience that feels contemporary, intuitive, and grounded in the character of the site.”

 

Sustainability is central to the museum’s design. The preservation of the façades and structural frame, combined with minimal demolition, significantly reduced embodied carbon, material consumption, and construction waste. Durability and operational efficiency were prioritized, from terrazzo and polished plaster finishes to museum-grade climate control and robust backup power systems. The integrated back-of-house infrastructure, including art handling, logistics, quarantine, and workshop facilities, ensures efficient, long-term operations.

Established in partnership between the Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission and KAPSARC, and funded by the Quality of Life Program, the Black Gold Museum demonstrates how adaptive reuse, innovative interior architecture, and thoughtful operational planning can transform a landmark into a resilient, future-ready cultural institution. By preserving heritage, supporting sustainability, and setting benchmarks for operational excellence, the museum positions itself as a model for cultural institutions in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
 

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About DaeWha Kang Design
DaeWha Kang Design is an award-winning architecture and design studio based in London. Founded in 2014 by DaeWha Kang, the practice works at the intersection of architecture, interiors, and urban design, with a focus on human wellbeing, sustainability, and future-facing digital craft. Recent projects include the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh (2026), courtyard and pavilion at The OWO in London (2023), and the biophilic Living Lab workspace at The Shard in London (2018). The studio works internationally across the UK, Middle East, and Asia. www.daewha.com

About DaeWha Kang
DaeWha has spent the past twenty-five years studying, designing, and building architecture around the world. After working for ten years with Zaha Hadid Architects, he founded his award-winning practice, DaeWha Kang Design - a studio born with the goal of improving wellbeing through thoughtful and exceptional design. With a global design reach spanning the UK, Middle East and Asia, his areas of expertise and industry leadership include parametric design, digital fabrication, adaptive reuse, and working within challenging heritage contexts for planning approvals.

Beyond his design work, DaeWha has extensive academic experience, having taught at the Yale University School of Architecture, The Bartlett School of Architecture, and Istituto Marangoni London. In addition to co-founding the environmental charity Climate Change All Change, he has served on juries at the Architecture Association, The Bartlett School of Architecture, and architecture schools in the United States including Columbia University, Pratt Institute, and New York University. He also sits on awards juries for the American Institute of Architects, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and others. Selected public lectures include the second Al Murabba Lecture for the Architecture Commission of Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh Design Festival, the New London Architecture Lecture Series, and the Churches Conservation Trust. DaeWha has also written for industry and academic publications, including Architectural Digest, Perspecta, and the Yale Architectural Journal.

About Black Gold Museum
The Black Gold Museum (BGM) is the first museum of its kind and scale, exploring the transformative story and profound influence of oil on humanity, through the lens of modern and contemporary art and creative expression. The museum invites visitors to reflect on their relationship with oil, its past, present and potential futures. Its four sections – ENCOUNTER, DREAMS, DOUBTS, and VISIONS – guides visitors through the origins of oil, the marvels of its transformation, the complex consequences of its use, and a vision of what lies ahead. Through a permanent art collection of over 350 works by leading Saudi and international artists, alongside temporary exhibitions, the museum forges deeper understanding and discourse around oil’s multiple histories, forms, and global reach. Established in partnership between the Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission and KAPSARC, and funded by the Quality of Life Program, the museum advances the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding history while fostering new forms of artistic innovation. The Black Gold Museum is housed in KAPSARC, designed by the late Zaha Hadid in Riyadh. Follow the Black Gold Museum on social media: X @BGM_moc and Instagram @bgm_moc.

Project name: Black Gold Museum
Project location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Year: 2026
Programme: Four floors of permanent galleries, temporary exhibition hall, events garden, café, offices, art handling, art logistics.
Site area: 5,585 m²
Gross Floor Area: 6,800 m²

 

Release: Pelham Communications, London, United Kingdom