Image: The Red Palace boutique-hotel transformation, Riyadh — Aedas / Boutique Group, supplied to WAAR
Image: Red Palace architectural detail — Aedas / Boutique Group, supplied to WAAR
Image: Red Palace interior concept — Tristan Auer / Boutique Group, supplied to WAAR
The Red Palace: Ignacio Gómez Reimagines a Royal Landmark for Riyadh’s New Era
WAAR Editorial · 3 min read
Built in 1943 under the patronage of King Abdulaziz, Riyadh's Red Palace became the residence of King Saud and later served for more than three decades as the headquarters of Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers. Today, the landmark is being given a new chapter as an ultra-luxury boutique hotel.
At the centre of the transformation is Ignacio Gómez, Global Design Principal at Aedas, whose approach preserves the palace's architectural identity while introducing a contemporary hospitality experience. It is not simply a hotel conversion; it is an exercise in architectural memory.
FROM ROYAL RESIDENCE TO CONTEMPORARY HOSPITALITY
The palace witnessed royal life, international receptions and significant political moments. For Gómez and Aedas, adaptive reuse provides the answer to introducing a new function without erasing that identity. Boutique Group intends to protect the palace's key architectural and design features while giving it a new role.
NAJDI HERITAGE MEETS ART DECO
The design combines traditional Najdi elements with Art Deco references, connecting Saudi heritage with the international character of the palace's historical era. The façade retains its established character while contemporary interpretations of the mashrabiya and carefully introduced stone and glass establish a dialogue between original architecture and new intervention.
ARCHITECTURE AS A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
The arrival sequence uses a grand entrance, colonnade and landscaped royal gardens. Courtyards and gardens create transitions between spaces, allowing the architecture to unfold progressively. The building itself becomes part of the story guests are invited to enter.
A PALACE REBORN AS AN INTIMATE HOTEL
Boutique Group's current information describes 45 suites and 25 premium rooms, alongside private celebration spaces and fine-dining restaurants. Wellness, dining, events and highly personalised service extend the experience beyond accommodation.
THE INTERIOR: A DIFFERENT KIND OF LUXURY
Paris-based designer Tristan Auer combines Art Deco influences, rich woods, marquetry, intricate patterns and local artworks. Rather than competing with the palace, the interiors reinforce its narrative and connect contemporary luxury with regional craftsmanship.
WHY ADAPTIVE REUSE MATTERS IN SAUDI ARABIA
At a moment of extraordinary new development across Saudi Arabia, adaptive reuse offers another route into the future. Historic buildings can retain the physical evidence of earlier generations while gaining new economic and cultural relevance. Aedas' transformation received the Best Adaptive Reuse Project award at the Design Middle East Awards KSA 2024.
THE ROSE OF RIYADH
Boutique Group calls the Red Palace ‘Riyadh's Rose’, linking the façade to the Rose of Taif. The metaphor suits a building being carefully opened to a new generation without abandoning the character that made it significant.
WAAR PERSPECTIVE
The Red Palace captures an important direction in contemporary Saudi architecture: the future does not require abandoning the past. Historic architecture provides the foundation, contemporary hospitality gives it purpose, and Najdi and Art Deco influences form a bridge between Saudi identity and international design. The palace is not simply being preserved; it is being given another life.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Project: The Red Palace Boutique Hotel · Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Developer: Boutique Group · Design and Project Architect: Aedas · Design Principal: Ignacio Gómez · Interior Design: Tristan Auer · Gross development area: 20,500 m² · Architectural approach: adaptive reuse · Key influences: Najdi architecture and Art Deco · Current opening: 2026, according to Boutique Group.
