dpa lighting consultants is collaborating with LAVA and a consortium of specialists to develop the concept masterplan and legacy designs for Expo 2030 Riyadh.
We were appointed by LAVA to work on the lighting design for the masterplan.
Following the recent endorsement of the Registration Dossier by the Bureau International des Expositions and the formation of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture), the appointed concept masterplanners, share their transformative thinking for the Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy.
LAVA’s ambitious design reimagines the World Expo as a catalyst for long-term sustainability, cultural exchange, and innovation.
Strategically located between King Salman International Airport and Riyadh City, the masterplan for the Expo 2030 Riyadh site is not only designed to host the global event but to evolve seamlessly into a lasting legacy: a dynamic Global Village centered around retail, dining, and community experiences.
At the heart of this ambitious vision is a deeply collaborative process, shaped by a team of expert advisors, led by LAVA. Together, they have established the core design principles that underpin the masterplan, each one developed with specialist insight and careful attention to place and purpose.
Instead of imposing a traditional urban grid, the masterplan uses the reactivated wadis as the foundation for an organic and interconnected network of spaces. This approach encourages biodiversity, establishes shaded pedestrian pathways, and fosters natural cooling microclimates—crucial elements in addressing Riyadh’s desert climate.
Drawing inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s distinctive landscape—especially its seasonal riverbeds and wadis—the design reinterprets and regenerates these natural formations, breathing life into the site through ecological restoration.
A cutting-edge, site-wide mobility system overlays the site without disrupting the preserved nature corridors. This ensures efficient movement while protecting vital green spaces.
To optimise both spatial and environmental performance, the plan incorporates fractal geometries—a design approach that enhances airflow, light distribution, and energy efficiency while also enriching the human experience.
These geometries express a powerful design philosophy that bridges the global and the local, aligning perfectly with Expo 2030’s overarching theme: Foresight for Tomorrow. The result is a new model for urbanism—where culture, nature, and innovation are not only integrated but celebrated.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to be more than a world event. It’s a blueprint for a sustainable, inclusive future—and a new paradigm for how cities can grow, thrive, and endure.
Lead Consultant / Architect / Master Planner: LAVA
Infrastructure, Utilities, MEP Engineering, Structural Engineering ECC & Vertical Assets: 9e Global
Acoustics, Audio Visual, Broadcast, ICT, Security and Theatre and Staging: Barc Solutions
Governance, Strategic planning, Mobility planning, Crowd modelling, Sustainability and Smart City: Buro Happold
Major Events & Expo Advisor: Christine Losecaat MBE
Accessibility & Fire, Life & Safety: Design Confidence
Exhibition Design – Icon, Souk, and KSA Pavilion: Expo Pavilion Group
Operations Consultants: Event Planning Group
Hospitality Consultant: Gorgeous Group
Landscape Architecture: LAND Italia
Ecosystem Assessment and Parametric Design: LAND Research Lab
Hydrology Plan, Waste Management, Environmental Plan, Climate Change Report (contribution with BH): Montana
Architect of Record: Omrania
Design Management: Plan A
Transport, Mobility & Logistics Consultant: REDAS
Expo Design Strategic Advisor: Samantha Cotterell LLC
Structural Engineer – KSA Pavilion: Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp)
Wayfinding & Signage: Space Agency
Hospitality Consultant: Think Hospitality
Structural Engineer – Icon: Thornton Tomasetti
Climate Engineering: Transsolar KlimaEngineering
F&B Consultant: Tricon
