Location: Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Client: AWN Enterprises
Scale: 5600 m2
Cost: 30 million SAR
Design Team:
BACA architects (Architecture and Landscape) in partnership with Wells International (Interior Concept)
The Yanbu Visitor Centre stands as an exemplar of waterfront architecture, located along the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia.
As visitors weave through the park, the centre gradually reveals itself through the landscape’s design language, sculptural seating and the flow of architecture leading them toward the tower and the main building entrance.
Our vision was to create a cultural and educational landmark that celebrates the union of land and sea. The project reflects Yanbu’s centuries of maritime heritage through forms shaped by wind and water, drawing people closer to the natural and ecological beauty of the Red Sea.
The Visitor Centre is more than a visitor destination; it is a platform for learning, exploration, and connection, bridging the built environment with one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems.
Every element, from the tower to the marina, was positioned to choreograph a seamless visitor journey.
The 40-metre sightseeing tower, featuring both a lift and a spiral staircase, elevates visitors to viewing platforms that afford panoramic views across the Red Sea and the surrounding park. From this vantage point, guests can appreciate how architecture and landscape intertwine to shape a unified waterfront experience.
Once inside the main building, visitors are greeted by a welcoming reception area and an immersive gallery that showcases regional attractions across land and water, establishing a connection between local geography and the larger environmental story of the Red Sea.
We paid particular attention to user flow and wayfinding, ensuring guests can easily transition between exhibition spaces, café, gift shop and the marina promenade.
The exterior of the building, with its faceted façade, is designed to respond dynamically to the light of the desert sun. As visitors move inside, the temperature drops and the atmosphere shifts, the brightness softens, colours cool, and the interior becomes a tranquil digital landscape.
The main building’s three key volumes wrap around a west-facing courtyard designed to capture the Red Sea’s enigmatic sunset. A deep canopy shelters the outdoor seating area and links the exhibition zone to the dive centre itself, while framing the horizon in a moment of architectural theatre.
Within the centre, we designed a PADI-certified pool that offers varied depths for divers of all levels and a panoramic glass wall that frames cinematic views of the Red Sea beyond.
These spaces are directly connected to outdoor shower areas, the marina promenade, and dive boats, ensuring a seamless transition between land and sea.
Every design decision, from material selection to spatial planning, was made to support sustainability and longevity. Elevated foundations and naturally ventilated volumes respond to coastal conditions, while durable, locally sourced materials ensure that the Visitor Centre stands as a resilient and enduring landmark.
