Material Potential of the Date Palm

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture - Ithra is a masterwork of architecture, a towering beacon in the Dhahran skyline. The steel-pipe wrapped building represents five mutually-supporting stones that house its components: a library, cinema, theater, great hall, a four-gallery museum, a soaring tower dedicated to educational facilities, labs, studios and more, along with a creativity lab and the freestanding Energy Exhibit. A prominent and pioneering cultural center, Ithra is a platform
for world-class exhibitions, performances, conferences, cinema and theatrical events. The award-winning center was honored by TIME magazine as “one of the greatest 100 places in the world to visit.”
Ithra is dedicated to fostering the Saudi creative and cultural industries as well as acting as a cross-cultural window to act both as a global platform for talent from the Islamic World and a source of curated international experiences for regional audiences. Ithra’s museum features two galleries
dedicated to Saudi and Islamic culture. The most recent edition of Ithra’s Islamic Art Conference featured renowned international speakers, workshops, demonstrations and 11 exhibitions on the
theme “In Praise of the Artisan” — a deep dive into the evolving Islamic arts landscape and a call to action for supporting traditional craft professions. Ithra’s display examines the practice of waqf — a centuries-old approach to charitable endowment associated with mosques and Islamic institutions.

Sara Kanoo is an accomplished architect with a rich background rooted in Bahrain's vibrant artistic and intellectual community. Growing up in her family's art space, Kanoo was immersed in a world of creativity from an early age. Her diverse career spans interiors, furniture design, graphic design, development, and urban design. She has spearheaded teams in organizing festivals and public interventions, and creating interactive environments that foster dialogue on sustainability-ty, design, and community.

Kanoo collaborates with various organizations, including the Jasra Handicrafts Center and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). Her work with artisans focuses on innovating techniques in jewelry design, pottery, palm tree weaving, dyeing, and crafting.

As the head of That Studio, Kanoo leads multidisciplinary projects that emphasize cultural storytelling through design. Her approach integrates cultural, social, and environmental sustainability, reflecting her commitment to creating meaningful and impactful design solutions.

Creative Program Developer, with background in art, design, and material exploration. He currently manages creative initiatives at Ithra’s: Idea Lab, where he has spent over five years developing and facilitating creative experiences that bridge design, culture, and community. His work includes curating workshops, managing interdisciplinary collaborations, and developing innovative programs such as design challenges and art residencies.

As co-founder of the Maker Society and manager of Ithra’s recycling facility, The Factory, AlSadah has pioneered hands-on programs that highlight the creative potential of overlooked and discarded materials. He also curated From the Lab, a forward-thinking exhibition showcasing experimental design practices emerging from Ithra’s creative talents.

With a background in journalism from the UAE, AlSadah returned to Saudi Arabia to apply his storytelling lens to cultural programming. His artistic practice, developed over 15 years in his personal studio, focuses on reimagining the value of everyday materials and objects often deemed imperfect.