Deep Surfaces. Architecture to enhance the visitor experience of UNESCO sites

UNESCO, within its partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, is organising an exhibition to showcase the experiences and good practices of selected visitor centres from UNESCO designated sites across the globe. Hosted by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe at Palazzo Zorzi, the exhibition will be open to the public from 10 May until 23 November 2025 with free admission.

Deep Surfaces. Architecture to enhance the visitor experience of UNESCO sites 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) selected through a call for participation, including new constructions, converted historical buildings, small-scale interventions and centres in the making, 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. It offers an opportunity to reflect on how architecture, when designed with purpose and sustainable values as part of a site management vision, can foster heritage stewardship, improve and regulate accessibility, support local economies, and promote social inclusion. Ultimately, the exhibition seeks to enhance UNESCO sites as learning environments for sustainable development and global citizenship, helping to address the complexity of today’s global challenges.

Deep Surfaces will also spotlight the World Heritage site of Hegra in AlUla (Saudi Arabia), a landscape of profound ancient history and nature, showcasing its range of interpretative initiatives designed to engage the public and protect this precious site. The exhibition will explore how the RCU and UNESCO have been working together towards an interpretation plan designed to be a new benchmark of best practice for peers, as part of their broader partnership for heritage conservation and sustainable development. 

At the entrance of Palazzo Zorzi, visitors will walk through a layered tapestry that contextualises the exhibition within UNESCO’s global mission, values, and objectives. Proceeding to the main exhibition area on the upper floor, they will encounter detailed content on how visitor centres in UNESCO sites adopt context-specific solutions. The participating visitor centres and their respective sites will be presented mainly through physical boards combining images and texts, each complemented by an online extension with additional information accessible via a QR code. 

Boards presenting the participating facilities are accompanied by the Cloud installation, a three-dimensional, modular structure that creates a dynamic and immersive exhibition experience. Serving as a display for quantitative and qualitative data, its lightweight modules symbolise layers of inquiry, using a colour-coded system to guide the exploration of these multifunctional centres along four thematic areas: interpreting heritage; supporting site management; promoting access, inclusion and sustainability; and, working with and for communities. The design emphasises innovative production techniques, sustainable materials, and eco-friendly practices, aligning with the exhibition’s commitment to thoughtful and responsible design. 

The journey through the exhibition will be enriched by audiovisual content and a Material Library that will display samples of construction materials used in the interior or exterior of the participating visitor centres, which are especially illustrative of the respective buildings or sites.

The exhibition is offered in cooperation with RIMOND, and with contributions by Giò Forma (exhibit design), Black srl, Politecnico di Milano and Krill Design.