Zebra Building in Riyadh Reacts to Thunderstorms

Daniel Canogar's work projected on the Zebra Building
Daniel Canogar's work projected on the Zebra Building
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Zebra Building in Riyadh Reacts to Thunderstorms

Daniel Canogar's work projected on the Zebra Building
Daniel Canogar's work projected on the Zebra Building

Daniel Canogar’s Bifurcation, which is part of the Noor Riyad festival, has drawn many visitors to the Zebra Building who flock to see its facade

Connected to the internet, the building responds to real-time data tracking thunderstorms across the globe.

The Spanish artist, Canogar, is one of the prominent light artists whose artworks have been projected on emblematic facades, including Amalgama El Prado in Madrid and Times Square in New York.

Relying on an algorithm created by Canogar that uses data from a storm-tracking webpage, the Zebra Building in the King Abdullah Financial District has a lightning bolt that sparks with every thunderstorm striking somewhere across the globe. The projected animation gets stronger with the magnitude of thunder.

For his part, Canogar said it was an honor for him to be present this work alongside his colleagues.

"Some of them were my teachers in the field of light art.”

The Noor Riyadh festival is one of the programs of the Riyadh Art project, which aims to place 1,000 original public art installations across the city and transform Riyadh into an open art gallery.



Cafe in Libya Champions Recycling and Sustainability

The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
TT

Cafe in Libya Champions Recycling and Sustainability

The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP
The owner of the Lamma cafe in the Libyan capital Tripoli says he opened it to to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war - AFP

In Libya's capital, a cafe's sleek exterior gives little hint of the vibrant space inside, built entirely from recycled materials to promote sustainability in a country recovering from years of war.

Lamma, which means "gathering" or "hangout" in Arabic, has become a cultural hub for locals and other visitors, featuring an art gallery that showcases Libyan artists, and hosts events and workshops.

But its central mission, its owner said, is raising awareness of an eco-friendly lifestyle in Libya, where green initiatives are scarce as people grapple with the aftermath of a gruelling conflict.

"We use materials that were abandoned in the streets, such as rubber from tyres, wood from trees and construction waste" to build the cafe, said Louay Omran Burwais, an architect who designed and founded Lamma.

"The idea is to show people that what is thrown in the street and may seem ugly or useless is actually still valuable," he told AFP.

- 'New mindset' -

Behind the long, narrow door into Lamma, visitors are greeted with a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.

The plant-covered walls contrast with a web of suspended metal scraps, alcoves and slide tunnels that children swoop down through.

"There are no places like this in Libya," said Roula Ajjawi, Lamma's art director. "We base everything on one aspect that we consider very important: recycling."

Families gather at Lamma on Thursdays, the start of the Libyan weekend, when the cafe holds art workshops for children.

Others borrow books from the venue's small library.

Burwais says his team hopes recycling and other eco-friendly practices, which remain rare, start up in Libya, which currently has no recycling facilities.

Visitors to Lamma will recognize familiar everyday objects repurposed throughout the space, Burwais said, but they will "start seeing them differently. We are here to foster a new mindset".

In Libya, the plastic, metal, and glass left from over a decade of civil war destruction are rarely, if ever, reused or recycled, Ajjawi said.

More often, they are abandoned in nature and on the streets, occasionally washed into the Mediterranean by rain and wind.

But with initiatives like Lamma, objects once destined for the landfill are transformed into works of art -- a concept now catching on with locals.

"I love this place," said Riyad Youssef, now a Lamma regular. "The food is great, the service is excellent, and I appreciate the commitment to reducing waste. Every idea here is amazing."