Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia

Special Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
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Ambassador Carlo Baldocci makes an address at the 8th Italian Design Day in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Rashid Hassan)
Special Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
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Ambassador Carlo Baldocci makes an address at the 8th Italian Design Day in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Rashid Hassan)
Special Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
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Attendees at the 8th Italian Design Day in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Rashid Hassan)
Special Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
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Ambassador Carlo Baldocci at the 8th Italian Design Day in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Rashid Hassan)
Special Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
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Ambassador Carlo Baldocci makes an address at the 8th Italian Design Day in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Rashid Hassan)
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Updated 09 December 2024
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Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia

Italian ambassador wants ‘to create a big space’ for design collaboration between Italy and Saudi Arabia
  • Carlo Baldocci: ‘We feel that there is room to create a big space, which might be a sort of a museum for Italian design in Riyadh’
  • Baldocci: ‘Vision 2030 is a spectacular and very successful approach and vision for the future of this country and of the region’

RIYADH: The Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Carlo Baldocci, on Monday said there is room to create a big space for collaborations between Italy and Saudi Arabia in the design sector.

Speaking to Arab News at the opening session of Italian Design Day, the ambassador said: “Today we are celebrating the Italian Design Day, which is a very important moment of aggregation to explain and to discuss possible collaborations between Italy and Saudi Arabia in this sector.

“We are making a lot of new ideas on paper. We feel that there is room to create a big space, which might be a sort of a museum for Italian design in Riyadh.

“But it’s something that we are working on. It has not yet been defined, we want to be very successful on something which we are sure will be a strong pillar of the collaboration, in which we will reinforce our partnership capacity in all aspects, sharing knowledge, sharing capacities, and experiencing different sensibilities. We really want to work on this together with our Saudi friends,” Baldocci said.

On transformation in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030 and the Italian design, Baldocci said: “Vision 2030 is a spectacular and very successful approach and vision for the future of this country and of the region. And we feel that there is incredible possibility for the Italians to be present in all the aspects of this vision, cooperating at the economic level, cultural level, partnering in all the different aspects we can do together, and of course there is space for the Italian design in the vision, why not.”

The eighth edition of Italian Design Day kicked off in Riyadh with a two-day program of workshops by the Lombardini22 studio, the chosen representative for 2024 for the day in Saudi Arabia.

Lombardini22 is a leading group in the Italian architecture and engineering sector, specializng in the office, retail, urban, living, hospitality, education, data centre and fair sectors.

A group of professionals, from architects to engineers, designers and communication specialists, are attending the workshops taking place until Tuesday at Casa Italia in the Localizer Mall, where experts from Lombardini22 will share their experience in the field of urban regeneration, sustainability, innovation, hospitality and lifestyle and human centered architecture.

The Italian Design Day is an initiative created by Italy’s ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation in collaboration with the ministry of culture and, as last year, includes the participation of the Association for Industrial Design, the Compasso d’Oro Foundation, the ITA Agency, the Salone del Mobile, the Triennale di Milano and Confindustria, with the aim of involving and recognizing key figures from the public and private sectors who embody the excellence of Italian design and the business world.    

In seven years (from 2017 to 2023), the Design Day generated about 1,370 events around the world. At these events, more than 580 professionals, including designers, architects, entrepreneurs and academics focused on innovation, industry and high-quality Italian craftsmanship.

The event this year proposed a theme: “Manufacturing value — inclusiveness, innovation and sustainability.”

The event is an opportunity to promote the participation of international experts in the sector in the Salone del Mobile in Milan, one of the most important events worldwide for the furniture and design sector, scheduled from April 8 to 13, 2025.


Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition

Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
Updated 21 sec ago
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Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition

Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
  • Exhibition is homage to renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai

The much-anticipated “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition will be held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in JAX Diriyah from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8.

Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, the exhibition, ratified by the Kingdom’s Museums Commission, will showcase the works of the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

It will highlight the history and evolution of manga, and provide a perspective on how Hokusai’s classical illustrations have influenced modern visual arts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Hokusai published his first collection of art in 1814, featuring sketches of “daily life, landscapes and whimsical creatures,” according to a post on X by the museum.

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art aims to foster cultural exchange between local and international creators.


Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia

Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
Updated 10 January 2025
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Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia

Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
  • Warning of high waves along the Kingdom’s coastlines

RIYADH: Rain of varying intensities will fall over most parts of Saudi Arabia from Jan. 10 to 12, the National Center for Meteorology stated on Thursday.

In a weather bulletin, the NCM warned of downpours accompanied by winds of up to 60 kph, and the possibility of torrential rain and hail. High waves are expected along the nation’s coastlines.

The regions of Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, and Hail will have rainy conditions on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, rain is expected in the Tabuk and Madinah regions; on Saturday and Sunday in the Eastern Province, Asir and Jazan; and on Saturday in Qassim.

For the Riyadh and Al-Baha regions, rain is expected from Friday to Sunday.

The NCM urged the public to stay updated on the weather conditions in the Kingdom by checking the daily reports on its website, the Anwaa application, or its social media accounts.


Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
Updated 10 January 2025
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Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.

One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.

Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.

The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
 


Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
Updated 10 January 2025
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Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.

She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.

She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.

The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.

The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.


KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams

KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
Updated 10 January 2025
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KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams

KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
  • Collaboration with scientists from Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne

RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, has conducted an unprecedented, in-depth study on microbiomes — microorganisms that live symbiotically with humans or other organisms — in glacier-fed streams.

These streams, originating from glaciers atop the Earth’s highest mountains, harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms.

The research team collected and analyzed samples from 170 glacier-fed streams over five years across regions including New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Russian Caucasus, the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, the European Alps, the Scandinavian Alps, Greenland, Alaska, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, and the Ecuadorian and Chilean Andes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The findings, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, represent the first global reference for microbiomes in glacier-fed streams.

These streams, which are among the most extreme natural freshwater ecosystems in the world, are located at mountain summits and are characterized by near-freezing temperatures and low nutrient levels.

They also serve as the origin for many of the world’s largest rivers, functioning as vital water reservoirs for the planet.

KAUST researcher Dr. Ramona Marasco emphasized that glacier-fed streams were highly vulnerable to climate change. 

She spoke of the importance of establishing a baseline for their microbiomes to better understand the rate of ecological change, while highlighting KAUST’s extensive genetic sequencing efforts, which have significantly contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of these endangered microbiomes.

The researchers successfully developed the first global atlas of microorganisms in glacier-fed streams.

Their work revealed that these streams harbor a unique microbiome distinct from other cryospheric systems, such as glaciers, frozen soils, and ice-covered lakes.

About half of the bacterial species in these streams are endemic to specific mountain ranges. The scientists attribute this phenomenon to the geographical isolation of mountain ranges, similar to islands, and to the powerful natural selection exerted by the harsh conditions in glacier-fed streams.