Attache / BRICKLAB | ArchDaily

Text description of the architects. For decades, musical performances and other non-religious public gatherings were tightly controlled by the Saudi government. As a result, most forms of public cultural expression, particularly music, were effectively confined to the privacy of homes and gated communities. By 2016, the country was undergoing sweeping social, cultural and economic changes to reduce religious extremism, improve the quality of life and attract foreign investment. In 2019, a small group of entrepreneurs founded Middle Beast (widely known by the acronym MDL Beast) to launch a series of large music festivals across the country. This historic moment represented a dramatic shift in general attitudes towards public gatherings. More importantly, it is the first time that the hidden underground culture of electronic music has been exposed to the public.