Saudi skyline informs PriestmanGoode's cabin design for Riyadh Air

Industrial design studio PriestmanGoode has designed the first cabin interior for newly launched airline Riyadh Air, featuring a twisting, tensile pattern and built-in lighting intended to evoke the architecture of the Saudi capital.

PriestmanGoode spent 18 months working on the project for Riyadh Air, which involved creating a brand identity for the airline and designing the cabin for its inaugural B787-9 fleet.

"Unlike existing carriers with decades of brand history to observe, Riyadh Air was starting from a blank slate," said Ben Rowan, a director at PriestmanGoode.

"This was both an opportunity and a challenge: the freedom to shape something entirely new, but also the responsibility to create a design language that would resonate with passengers and stand the test of time."

As part of the research process, the design team visited Riyadh to explore the city's culture and ensure their proposals combined local heritage with a contemporary design language.

Inside the cabin, this idea is embodied by a pattern of curved triangles, which the project team calls the Canopy Twist.

This dynamic formal element, informed by local architecture, recurs throughout the cabin in surfaces, textiles, brand panels and livery graphics.

In business class, seats are enclosed by curving walls arranged in the same pattern to enhance passenger privacy.

Concealed lighting illuminates the cabin and seats, highlighting the pattern's different dimensions.

This creates an effect that PriestmanGoode compares to the nighttime skyline of Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) – home to notable buildings, including Zaha Hadid Architects' sinuous metro station.

"Whilst in Riyadh, we were inspired by many different locations, including Al Diriyah, Masmak Fortress, KAFD and the Souk Al Zal, among others," Rowan told Dezeen.

A custom colour palette created for the cabin features indigo, peach and lavender hues, with threads that appear to change colour, complementing the iridescent paint finish used on the aircraft livery.

Most of the materials were custom-designed for the project, including a textured pearlescent paint and a bespoke fabric for the economy class seats that changes shades depending on the viewing angle.

PriestmanGoode worked alongside specialist suppliers to design the seats and suites, using spatial mock-ups to define the ergonomics and developing a custom seat topper for the business and premium economy classes.

According to Rowan, the ability to oversee every aspect of the project enabled the team to "push boundaries where feasible and identify scope for innovation in what is always a limited space".

The airline, which will have its main hub at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, plans to operate domestic and international scheduled flights to over 100 destinations.

PriestmanGoode has also been contracted to help fit out a fleet of up to 60 Airbus A321Neo aircraft, in addition to the 72 Boeing 787s.

The employee-owned studio is best known for its transportation, infrastructure and aviation projects, including the interiors for the Airbus A380 superjumbo.

The team also developed a post-pandemic concept for easy-to-clean aircraft interiors, as well as an aeroplane seating system that accommodates powered wheelchairs.

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