The Madina Welcome Center also known as Museum project, is a first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, to responds to the government’s call for a cultural visitor center and museum, located at Al Madina Al Monawarah City. This project will be located at Madina City, the second holiest city for Islam. Inaugurated by the king, and is highly valued for its reflection of the city’s rich history.
While the holy city allows entrance only to those of Muslim faith, the project is situated strategically within an oasis at the edges, where prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived and lies, in a location that allows people from all nationalities and religions to visit.
The Madina Welcome Center, design concept was generated through a deep understanding and poetic interpretation of the origins and context of the holy city. Drawing its inspiration from multiple layers of religious and cultural references, the design approach cultivated a rich combination of culture, religion, identity, and context.
Islamic architectural concepts such as unity within diversity, the duality of existence, the heavenly gardens, and Islamic geometry were applied through the use of historic Islamic architectural elements.
This include the use of Muqarnas, an intricate structural glass facade that allows light to penetrate throughout while providing protection against wind, pressure, and heat. The project is designed to host Museum’s information center, main exhibition hall, temporary exhibition halls, multipurpose hall, business center, shops, administrative offices, prayer hall, building main core and service core, as well as areas for future expansion, all hosted within 30,479 square meters.
The project also features a contemporary wall, a massive 140 meter long brick wall inspired by the ancient city walls, decorated and patterned with Islamic geometry and motifs reflecting the traditional carpets.
Madina Welcome Center is a collaborative design project of Marwan Bajnaid Architecture and Engineering Consultants of Jeddah Saudi Arabia and Ghouyoum in Beirut, Lebanon. Madina Welcome Center was initially submitted to Al Madina Al Munawarah Development Authority in Saudi Arabia, to respond to the government’s call for the Welcome Center Design Competition in 2016. This entry earned the 1st place award.
Meanwhile, later in 2017, It was also submitted to the A’ Designers Award and Competition and received broze award under Building and Structure Design Category. A’ Designers Award and Competition is one of the worlds’ largest design competition awarding best designs, design concepts and products & services. A’ Designers Award and Competition aims to provide a fair, ethical and competitive platform for companies, designers and innovators from all fields with different experience levels, different disciplines and market focus to compete on. Likewise, A’ Design Award aims to provide a global audience for award winners to showcase their success and talents to. It also acts as blender; to bring together designers, companies, the audience and the press and highlight good products and services.
 and implement a design that stand out while preserving the identity and to address environmental challenges.){kind=link}