вЂњAlUla has an amazing diversity of produce unique to the region and an incredible history and culture which I am excited to explore both in the landscape and in the menu,вЂќ said Chef Atherton. The beauty of the Ashar Valley, the native produce and the iconic Maraya architecture are all the ingredients we need for what is sure to be a sought-after destination dining experience.вЂќ I jumped at the chance to be one of the first permanent fine-dining venues in AlUla and be part of the exciting progress in the Kingdom.

Jason Atherton said,вЂњMy team and I are so impressed by the natural beauty, history and culture of AlUla. The restaurant is located on the rooftop of the iconic-mirrored building with 360-degree views of stunning rock-strewn valleys and canyons of the Ashar Valley. English Chef and restaurateurВ Jason Atherton, who owns and runs three-Michelin-star restaurants across the world, will open Maraya Social on 27 October 2021. It is famous for spectacular Nabataean ruins вЂ“ monumental tombs from an abandoned necropolis.( MENAFN- Mid-East.Info) AlUla, Saudi Arabia:В AlUla, home to Hegra, aВ UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula is set toВ welcome itsВ firstВ signature fine-dining restaurant. WATCH:вЂњThe Other PetraвЂќ aboutВ Hegra, an ancient archaeological site in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula. вЂњIt constantly moves and adjusts itself.вЂќ вЂњBecause the temperature varies so dramatically, from 2вњ¬ to 45вњ¬, the building is never still,вЂќ he explained. вЂњWe built this in the shape of a U, because we knew the risk of not completing it we had to prioritize as we couldnвЂ™t run events without the theatre, toilets, lifts, etc.вЂќД«ounous admits the first season was essentially a 4-month вЂњexperiment,вЂќ as the arid climate may require modifications to be made. вЂњOur kitchen was fitted in zero time because the equipment arrived a day before opening,вЂќ recalled Bounous, who is an architect by training. Other facilities include a roof terrace, a conference center, exhibition space (including an вЂњinfinity roomвЂќ installation by Yayoi Kusama) and a restaurant. Behind the stage, an 800m 2 retractable window can be opened to reveal craggy rock formations,В which are illuminated at night and produce colorful reflections. Inside, the main auditorium houses 500 seats, along with five boxes with space for up to 60 more guests. вЂњThe mirror is a way to create a dialogue between nature, history and the future.вЂќ вЂњYou meet past and future together in the same moment вЂ“ the mirror just adds another level of perception,вЂќ said architect Florian Boje, a specialist in set design and land art, referring to the presence of spectacular ancient tombs just 22km from the new building. Copyright: GIГ’ FORMA STUDIO ASSOCIATO S.r.l.ДЇittingly, the Arabic word вЂњMarayaвЂќ translates as a mirror or reflection. Image Credits: Maraya Concert Hall / Guardian Glass. Subtle curvature on the faГ§ade means that, from a distance, the building looks like a shimmering mirage of the surrounding panorama вЂ“ but as visitors move closer, they see a perfect reflection of themselves. вЂњWe created this to put AlUla on the global cultural map,вЂќ he told ArchiExpo e-magazine.ДЄ total of 3,000 pre-tempered panels were manufactured locally by Guardian Glass, which adapted its highly durable UltraMirror product to withstand harsh conditions like wind, sandstorms and extreme temperature fluctuations. вЂњWhen you build something in a beautiful location, what do you do? You canвЂ™t compete вЂ“ so letвЂ™s enhance the landscape,вЂќ said Alberto Bounous, development director of the Royal Commission for AlUla, a regional government body that commissioned MilanвЂ™s GiГІ Forma studio to design the project. The awe-inspiring Maraya concert hall in Saudi ArabiaвЂ™s northwestern desert holds the Guinness World Record for largest mirrored building on earth, but another impressive feat which received less recognition is the fact it was effectively completed in just two-and-a-half months in 2019 вЂ“ possibly a record in itself.ДЄs the start of a major festival in December 2019 drew closer, hundreds of people worked around the clock to erect a 100x100x26m cuboid steel frame and clad it with 9,740m 2 of mirrors that cover the exterior.

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