Deep Surfaces
How does architecture shape the way we experience the world’s most treasured heritage sites? Deep Surfaces, a groundbreaking exhibition, explores this very question. Selected as a Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, this first-of-its-kind global showcase brings together pioneering approaches to visitor centre design from across UNESCO-designated sites.
About the project
Organized by UNESCO, in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the exhibition “Deep Surfaces. Architecture to enhance the visitor experience of UNESCO sites”, runs from 10 May to 23 November 2025, offering an immersive journey through multifunctional architectural solutions that connect people, stories, and landscapes while safeguarding our shared heritage.
Deep Surfaces delves into the realm of multifunctional architecture designed to enhance the experience of UNESCO designated sites, with a focus on visitor information and interpretation centres. Developed in collaboration with UNESCO sites worldwide, this exhibition investigates the role of architecture to enhance visitor’s experience, connect narratives, people, and their environment, while also contributing to the preservation of our shared heritage.
Featuring over 50 facilities in UNESCO designated sites (World Heritage, Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks and more), the exhibition invites viewers to discover how visitor centres and similar site-specific architectural interventions harness the natural, cultural and collective intelligence of these sites. The chosen facilities were selected through a call for participation and include new constructions, converted historical buildings, small-scale interventions and projects in the making.
What we aim to achieve
Visitor centres are more than just entry points—they are gateways to discovery, learning, and connection. Thoughtfully designed architecture can transform a visitor’s experience, making heritage sites more accessible, educational, and inclusive while supporting sustainable tourism and local economies.
Deep Surfaces invites the world to reflect on how architecture, when integrated into a site’s management vision, can foster heritage stewardship, improve and regulate accessibility, support local economies, and promote social inclusion. Ultimately, Deep Surfaces seeks to enhance UNESCO sites as learning environments for sustainable development and global citizenship, helping to address the complexity of today’s global challenges.
A special focus of the exhibition is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site located in AlUla, a landscape of profound ancient history and nature. Through the UNESCO-RCU partnership, new interpretation strategies are being developed to set a global benchmark for best practices in heritage presentation, conservation, and engagement.
About the UNESCO-RCU partnership
The Deep Surfaces is part of a far-reaching collaboration between UNESCO and the , a strategic partnership launched in 2021 to preserve ’s rich heritage and regenerate the Oasis that embraces a millennial legacy for the benefit of local communities.
Their shared ambition is rooted in a deep commitment to enrich lives, introduce sustainable livelihoods, and create new memories in this ancient landscape. Inspired by ’s deep history, meaning “the high place” in Arabic, encompassing height, noble aspirations, and the epitome of achievement, UNESCO and RCU are harnessing innovation and creativity to restore the Oasis to its flourishing glory, transforming it into a sustainable haven capable of meeting the challenges of today's world.