Blu Pizzeria in Riyadh by KIDZ
Following earlier concepts shaped by earth, sea, and mountains, the Riyadh restaurant takes on the narrative of Blu Fiori and explores vegetation not through literal greenery, but through the more elemental idea of soil as the source from which growth begins.
This conceptual foundation informed every aspect of the interior. Rather than relying on decorative motifs, the team focused on materiality, structural gestures, and atmospheric depth. Warm tones of sandstone, copper, and timber establish a grounded tactile quality, balanced by restrained touches of green that hint at the plant narrative without dominating the room. The approach supported the client’s broader brief for a venue that resonates with the surrounding city while maintaining continuity with the chain’s existing locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The generous footprint presented its own complexities, most notably the abundance of structural columns. Instead of attempting to conceal them, KIDZ turned the constraint into an architectural feature. Each column was reimagined in sculpted timber, forming elements that suggest trees emerging within the interior. Their branching geometry introduces gentle compression and expansion throughout the dining areas, influencing circulation and giving the home a layered sense of depth.
A clear spatial hierarchy supports the dining experience. At the centre sits an open kitchen equipped with two ovens, forming a focal point of activity surrounded by both standard and lounge-style seating. Along the facade, four-person tables echo the geometry of the trapezoidal windows, reinforcing the project’s emphasis on honest structural expression. Toward the rear, a more secluded room allows for quieter gatherings, while the entrance sets the tone with a host stand framed by timber-clad elements that highlight the project’s sculptural core.
KIDZ continues its ongoing collaboration with the Blu restaurant chain with Blu Pizzeria in Riyadh, a project that extends the brand’s nature-driven identity while introducing a new chapter rooted in the theme of plant life.
Materials play a central role in shaping identity. Textured plaster, microcement-effect porcelain flooring, and custom copper wall panels introduce refinement through surface variation and density. Wooden features anchor the plant-inspired concept, expressed through bold geometric profiles rather than figurative decoration. The combined palette creates a cohesive setting suited to the brand’s contemporary hospitality experience.
Several technical challenges required inventive solutions. The flooring, for instance, uses a single material in two applications to distinguish pathways from dining zones, providing visual guidance without introducing competing finishes. Mechanical systems are concealed within ceiling boxes, ensuring an uncluttered overhead plane that supports the warm, enveloping atmosphere. Attention to detailing extended to elements rarely encountered in regional construction, such as slim sink traps, specially developed copper panel mountings, and custom methods for anchoring functional components.
These refinements emerged through close on-site collaboration, an approach that has become a defining aspect of KIDZ’s work across Saudi Arabia. The team navigated construction constraints with a combination of flexibility and precision, refining the interior as it came to life and ensuring the built outcome aligned with the conceptual ambition.
Blu Pizzeria Riyadh positions itself as both a continuation and an evolution of the Blu chain. Its layered material palette, sculptural interventions, and calibrated spatial planning bring a distinct character to the brand’s expanding portfolio, reinforcing the idea that hospitality interiors can draw on nature in ways that are abstract, composed, and deeply rooted in craft.
