An integrated urban project, providing cultural facilities and urban green spaces. Its core is the museum, designed to be interactive and informative using theatrical and multimedia techniques. The mosque, the library and the conference building extend the cultural influence of the centre. The project also conserved a group of adobe houses on the site as exemplars of the vernacular architecture of the region. They were originally programmed to be museums, but were ultimately put to more active use, as a reception centre for major events in the city.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

See also:

Clark, Arthur. 1999. "Saudi Arabia's Centennial: The Centennial's Jewel -- Riyadh". In Saudi Aramco, January/February. Available on Saudi Aramco Website. http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199901/saudi.arabia.s.centennial.the.centennial.s.jewel.riyadh.htm. [Accessed September 21, 2006]