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Aquellum
Aquellum
Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
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Other Projects by LAVA - Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Aquellum
Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia
STATUS
Under Construction
YEAR
2028
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
What if architecture could invert itself—shifting from a static object into a fluid, curiosity-driven experience? Aquellum is a bold reimagining of what architecture can be in a hybrid, digitized society. Conceived as a subterranean destination hidden within a 450-meter-high coastal mountain, the project proposes a new kind of spatial experience—one that inverts traditional architectural hierarchies and prioritizes emergent, curiosity-driven engagement over fixed form. Accessible only by water, through a floating marina and underground canal, Aquellum invites visitors into a world of fluid public life, discovery, and immersive interaction.
A dramatic spatial journey unfolds within a 100-meter-tall vertical void, revealing a layered urban interior complete with residences, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and cultural zones. Instead of a façade or skyline, the experience is shaped from within—architecture as a sequence of atmospheres rather than a singular object. Pathways spiral upward from the submerged entry point through cascading terraces, dynamic installations, and an AI-augmented climate system that reacts to environmental and emotional inputs.
The upper levels culminate in a cloud garden, a suspended oasis that regulates temperature below through shade and evaporative cooling, merging nature, climate control, and leisure. This “mid-door” zone—neither fully inside nor outside—epitomizes LAVA’s approach to crafting responsive environments that defy binary classifications.
Aquellum’s interior architecture is composed of modular, lightweight components designed for future adaptability. Materials were selected for durability, sensory richness, and their ability to support programmable lighting, soundscapes, and environmental responsiveness. The cave-like structure passively benefits from thermal insulation offered by the surrounding mountain mass, reducing the need for mechanical cooling in the extreme desert climate. Daylight is amplified through controlled openings and mirrored surfaces, while AI-driven systems modulate temperature, acoustics, and ambient light to reflect both natural conditions and user behavior. From the shaded lower levels to the open-air summit, climate-conscious design strategies blend seamlessly with experience-driven programming—creating a public realm that is immersive, sustainable, and future-facing.
Aquellum is less a building than a prototype for a new typology, a hybrid of city and structure guided by natural systems. Architecture here becomes an ever-shifting landscape—adaptive, layered, and alive.
A dramatic spatial journey unfolds within a 100-meter-tall vertical void, revealing a layered urban interior complete with residences, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and cultural zones. Instead of a façade or skyline, the experience is shaped from within—architecture as a sequence of atmospheres rather than a singular object. Pathways spiral upward from the submerged entry point through cascading terraces, dynamic installations, and an AI-augmented climate system that reacts to environmental and emotional inputs.
The upper levels culminate in a cloud garden, a suspended oasis that regulates temperature below through shade and evaporative cooling, merging nature, climate control, and leisure. This “mid-door” zone—neither fully inside nor outside—epitomizes LAVA’s approach to crafting responsive environments that defy binary classifications.
Aquellum’s interior architecture is composed of modular, lightweight components designed for future adaptability. Materials were selected for durability, sensory richness, and their ability to support programmable lighting, soundscapes, and environmental responsiveness. The cave-like structure passively benefits from thermal insulation offered by the surrounding mountain mass, reducing the need for mechanical cooling in the extreme desert climate. Daylight is amplified through controlled openings and mirrored surfaces, while AI-driven systems modulate temperature, acoustics, and ambient light to reflect both natural conditions and user behavior. From the shaded lower levels to the open-air summit, climate-conscious design strategies blend seamlessly with experience-driven programming—creating a public realm that is immersive, sustainable, and future-facing.
Aquellum is less a building than a prototype for a new typology, a hybrid of city and structure guided by natural systems. Architecture here becomes an ever-shifting landscape—adaptive, layered, and alive.
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