Musajam Watan Urban Sculpture Competition

The design idea intends to celebrate Saudi Arabian culture, being inspired on the traditional date palm as symbol of immortality and representing its branch as expression of the abundance and prosperity of the Kingdom.
The sculpture consists of an element that rises from the ground, after moments of ups and downs, that evidence the resilience of the Kingdom despite the difficulties imposed by the desert geography, to then culminate in a sublime point of elevation, from where the dates sprout to fulfill the dreams, hopes and ambitions of the homeland, demarking Saudi Arabia one of the most developed countries in the world.
This moment is marked by the centered mirror of water, representing the divine order of life, in the combination of the sacred date and the water, as a transcendent rising of the Kingdom, that is blessed with the combination of strong tradition roots and visionary goals towards development and progress.
The result is a welcome symbol, which manifests the hospitality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the center of the Arab world.

The date palm is the true Tree of Life and a major symbol of Saudi Arabia’s culture, religion, and hospitality, representing its strength and perseverance, as this is the only species that sprouts after being cut down. Like the date palm, the Kingdom regenerates, develops, and renovates. This sculpture, therefore, represents the Kingdom’s power, faith, and abundance, aiming for a prosperous future.
The dates in the sculpture are spherical in shape, a symbol of perfection, inspired by the formal characteristics of the Ajwa, Saudi Arabia’s preferred species. Its color variation, from immaturity to maturity, was chosen, allowing one to appreciate the gracefulness of this chromatic variety, representing the colors of life in the desert.

The 12-meter-tall sculpture is made of corten steel, offering profound strength and durability, and whose tone reflects the warm nature of the landscape.
The body oscillates with ups and downs, creating moments of benches for contemplation of the sculptural piece and moments of aromatic vegetation, for a sensory ensemble that immerses us in the experience of absorbing the sculpture as a spiritual and cultural whole.

The terrain where the sculpture is located is made of porous concrete, beige in color, representing the sand of the desert, from where the date palm branch springs, drawn through the golden spiral, a natural form existent all throughout the region, particularly in palm fronds, dune sands, and date seeds, being a constant feature of the Saudi Arabian landscape.
The spiral represents the inner order of nature and the resilience of life in the desert, being associated with the date palm’s arm, as one only.

Here we celebrate life, and as such the water is added, as its fundamental element. A circular water mirror, 8 meters in diameter, receives the ripe dates. Four narrow paths lead to the core of the piece, which is composed not only sculpturally but also architecturally, organizing a space with a specific use. These four paths and four areas of water represent planet Earth and its four seasons and four cardinal points, assuming the position and relationship of the Kingdom with the rest of the world.

Water-bearing cuticles sprout from the dates, humidifying the space and creating a microclimate that fosters interaction even on the hottest and driest days. Visiting the interior of this date palm grove is a way to experience the beauty of the kingdom’s spirituality, something that is heightened during the nighttime hours, with the lighting of the dates, creating effects of light and brilliance that allow us to dream and glimpse our individual selves, while simultaneously celebrating and committing to our Collective Self – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.