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UOB Hosts Snøhetta’s Eli Synnevåg, Key Architect Behind Saudi Arabia’s Ithra Center
“Designing for People: Shaping Spaces, Inspiring Futures”
UOB Hosts Snøhetta’s Eli Synnevåg, Key Architect Behind Saudi Arabia’s Ithra Center
The University of Bahrain hosted renowned architect Eli Synnevåg, a key figure behind the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
Synnevåg, a Director of Acquistion and Business Development at Snøhetta at the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, delivered a lecture titled “Designing for People: Shaping Spaces, Inspiring Futures- Lessons from Ithra and Beyond.” She highlighted Snøhetta’s signature human-centered design approach, emphasizing the role of people and the creative process in transforming ideas into inspiring spaces. He also stressed that inclusive collaboration and sensitivity to local context are key to achieving sustainable and impactful architecture.
The lecture featured notable examples from Snøhetta’s global portfolio, including the Library of Alexandria, the Oslo Opera House, and Ithra, underscoring how architecture can shape cultural identity and spark creativity.
The event drew wide engagement from students, faculty, and administrators, and included an open discussion session where attendees exchanged questions and insights with the guest speaker.
This initiative is part of the University of Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to connect its community with global expertise and open new horizons for creativity and innovation in design and architecture.
As the event concluded, Eli Synnevåg expressed her delight at visiting the University of Bahrain and experiencing its academic environment, reaffirming the importance of exchanging architectural knowledge and experiences on a global scale.
