D’Appolonia, an independent engineering consulting company of RINA Group, has been appointed as lead consultant for the design of a new 5-star heritage hotel in the historical Samhan District of Ad’Diriyah, Riyadh.
The appointment has been made by Nuzul Saudi Heritage Hospitality Company, established as an initiative led by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTNH) to maintain national heritage through utilization of some historical sites and buildings across the Kingdom as hotels specialized in heritage hospitality. 
This project, which aims to bring together the historical look and feel of approximately 40 historic mud buildings in the Samhan District with a modern 5-star hotel, is under the supervision of the SCTNH, and is the first hospitality related renovation project in the country.
Following D’Appolonia’s appointment in November 2015, work on the hotel design is under way.
D’Appolonia will provide engineering services up to detailed design development, and support Nuzul Hospitality with technical supervision and recommendations for construction according to the BREEAM International 2013 scheme and D’Appolonia’s quality management system.
The project area stated to be within the UNESCO buffer zone, so all techniques used to restore buildings also need to be compliant with UNESCO protocols.
Andrea Tomarchio, project manager, D’Appolonia, said: "We are pleased to be able to preserve the integrity and heritage of these historic buildings. The design being environmentally friendly and energy efficient has been a key consideration in making the site available for modern use in a sustainable way, which will mean it lasts for years to come.”
Alessandro Odasso, infrastructure and transport business development manager, D’Appolonia, said: “Our long-standing expertise in heritage requalification engineering lent itself perfectly to this project. We have carried out many similar design and supervision projects in historic sites of Italy and in the hospitality industry, providing us with extensive experience for this design project.”

Source: Arab News