Our project won second place in the international Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge 2025, organized as part of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation and the Vision 2030 program. The competition, which aimed to select the most outstanding public art installations for two strategic locations in Al-Khobar, received 366 submissions from 60 countries, confirming the growing global interest in the potential of public spaces across the Gulf region.
The awarded work, titled The Gateway of Civilization and Progress, was designed for the area along Abu Hadriyah Road, one of Saudi Arabia’s most important transport arteries. Stretching over 600 kilometers, from the United Arab Emirates border to Kuwait, the road symbolizes the region’s development and progress.
The proposal by Nizio Design International features a monumental composition of two rammed-earth forms that, resembling rocky massifs, create a symbolic gateway connecting the past and the future. The sculpture’s architecture references the geological layers of the earth, with a strong emphasis on natural resources—water and oil—which have long been the economic foundation of Saudi Arabia. The walls of both structures are cut by fissures inspired by natural cracks found in desert rock surfaces. Facing the roadway, the fissures are narrower, while on the opposite side they widen, allowing entry into the elongated rectangular interiors. Where the sloping roofs reach their highest point, square skylights have been placed. Directly beneath them lie square basins—one symbolizing an oil well, and the other a water well.
In the Spirit of Local Heritage
The competition jury recognized Mirosław Nizio and his team for the project’s clarity and narrative consistency, as well as its harmonious integration into the scale and character of a busy expressway. The use of local materials and a strong spatial gesture made The Gateway of Civilization and Progress stand out as a significant landmark within the urban structure of Dammam.
The Mujassam Watan competition is not only a contest for awards but also a vital component of Saudi Arabia’s broader vision—a country that, through initiatives such as Vision 2030, emphasizes sustainable development and the transformation of public spaces into sites of deep social and cultural significance.
The Nizio Design International project aligns with this vision by offering a contemporary interpretation of local heritage. In doing so, the architecture becomes not only an artistic form but also a medium connecting the community with its history.
The Gateway of Civilization and Progress by Nizio Design International exemplifies how art and architecture can shape new identities for places in the era of globalization while respecting local values.