Moda Living partners with Brighton Festival, the annual celebration of arts and culture that draws visitors from all over the world, on a key project at this year’s event. Minutes away from Moda Living’s Sackville Road development, the project will see a new performance space delivered on Hove’s seafront.
The new space – named Riwaq – will be a temporary structure built from reclaimed materials. This year’s Brighton Festival theme is Rebuilding and The Riwaq – with a stage in the centre – will be filled with people, art, and performers during the event as communities rebuild from the separation caused by Covid-19. After the event, The Riwaq will be dismantled with materials donated to community projects and otherwise recycled.
“The Riwaq project is an inspiring piece of work based on the importance of bringing communities together, and the value of interaction and experience to wellbeing.
“This is at the heart of what we do at Moda, where we’re dedicated to building sustainable neighbourhoods that have a positive impact and promote collaboration between communities.
“We’re proud to be a part of the festival and look forward to celebrating arts and humanity with people from all over the world.”
Lydia Whitaker, Director of Marketing and Wellbeing, Moda Living
The Riwaq has been designed by Syrian architect and author Marwa Al-Sabouni. Marwa lives and works in Homs, Syria’s third largest city and she will be a guest co-director of the Brighton Festival 2022.
Marwa’s work draws upon her experience of living in a war country, and it observes how the destruction of the built environment alters your perception of its role in society. It also explores the ways in which architecture mirrors the community that lives within it.
Riwaq is the Arabic word for colonnade – a semi-open space transitioning between open and enclosed spaces. Marwa’s design of The Riwaq was inspired by the community coming together in these spaces to interact and exchange with others. As a developer operator committed to building and nurturing communities within its neighbourhoods, these values resonate with Moda Living. The business will be working closely with Brighton Festival on the build and events at the festival, which is taking place from 7-29 May 2022.
“It is a joy to launch this year’s Festival with a return to the scale and ambition for which Brighton Festival is known. Marwa and Tristan have inspired a community of artists and partners to contribute to a programme of extraordinary richness and we really look forward to sharing these experiences with everyone in May.
“Thanks to the steadfast support from funders Brighton & Hove City Council, Arts Council England and DCMS’s Cultural Recovery Fund along with major sponsors, supporters and our audiences we can emerge from the pandemic to play our full role in Rebuilding the confidence and cohesion of our communities through arts and culture.”
Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival
Moda’s involvement in The Riwaq project is testament to its commitment to the Brighton & Hove community. Currently on site with its first Build to Rent neighbourhood in the city, Moda Living is delivering 536 new homes for rent accompanied by best-in-class amenities. The neighbourhood will also include extensive new public realm and a mix of commercial offerings, including retail and food and beverage outlets.
Brighton & Hove is renowned for its rich arts and culture scene. Moda Living is dedicated to supporting this heritage and its communities and employs a dedicated public art coordinator for the city.
Last year, Moda Living began demolition and called for local artists to submit mural proposals for a retained wall on the outside of its Sackville Road development. Three were selected and the first of three murals, which fill the wall until the neighbourhood opens in 2024, is due to be erected this spring for local residents to enjoy.
