Some media rooms announce themselves. Every screen is visible, every speaker is on display. Then there are rooms like this — a James Bond-worthy, Moroccan-inspired luxury space in Riyadh where the technology is completely invisible until the moment you need it. This is what a truly integrated, interior-led media room looks like at the highest level.
The Design Brief: Technology Disappears
The guiding principle of this media room is concealment. Every piece of technology — projection, screens, speakers, cabling — is hidden behind fabric, within walls, or behind furniture. Walking into the room, you see an opulent Moroccan-styled interior. What you don't see, until the system is activated, is a £100,000 dual AV installation.
"When I walked in, my immediate thought was: if Bond were to come and relax and entertain his friends — if he has any — this would be the room to do it in."
The L-shaped layout creates two independent viewing zones, each with its own complete audio-visual system. The arrangement means guests seated on one side of the room may not even notice the larger cinema system on the other.
Dual Independent AV Systems
The most technically unusual aspect of this installation is the presence of two completely separate, independent audio-visual systems within a single room. Each serves a distinct part of the L-shaped space and operates independently.
System One: Cinema Projection
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Projector | Sim2 Crystal Super Hybrid (4K laser) |
| Screen | Motorised projection screen |
| Audio | Speaker system hidden behind acoustic fabric ceiling |
The Sim2 Crystal Super Hybrid is one of the most sophisticated laser projectors available — a DLP platform with exceptional brightness, colour accuracy, and HDR performance. In a room of this specification, it is the natural choice.
System Two: OLED Display
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | Lerv (hidden OLED television) |
| Audio | Independent speaker system |
The OLED television is a Lerv — a hidden TV system that conceals the display behind an artwork or mirror when not in use, revealing the screen only when activated. In a room where the aesthetic is paramount, a conventional TV frame would be unacceptable.
Solving the Centre Channel Problem
One of the perennial challenges in combined projection/television rooms is the centre channel speaker. In a traditional setup, when the projection screen descends in front of the television, there is no clean position for the centre channel — it ends up above or below the screen, compromising dialogue intelligibility.
This installation solves the problem elegantly through fabric:
"We've hidden speakers behind fabric, and the beauty of having that on the ceiling — you can have multiple speakers and you can't see them. We've been able to have two independent systems at different levels."
With acoustic fabric on both the ceiling and strategic wall sections, speakers can be positioned precisely without any visual compromise. The fabric absorbs no meaningful audio energy while hiding all hardware completely.
The Aesthetic: Moroccan-Inspired Luxury
The room's interior design draws on Moroccan architectural references — layered textiles, warm tones, intricate detailing — combined with high-quality furnishings appropriate to Riyadh's luxury residential market. The technology integration follows the design, not the other way around.
"People want a serious media room with opulence and really, really lovely decor, comfortable living. This is how you do a media room. This is the ultimate media room."
The entire design ethos mirrors the Zebra Home Cinema approach: start with the client's vision for how the room should look and feel, then engineer the technology to serve that vision invisibly.
Key Takeaways
- ▪This Riyadh luxury media room features two independent AV systems within a single L-shaped room — a Sim2 Crystal Super Hybrid 4K laser projector and a hidden Lerv OLED television
- ▪All speakers are concealed behind acoustic fabric on walls and ceiling — no visible speaker grilles or cabinets anywhere in the room
- ▪The Lerv hidden television reveals the display on demand, maintaining the Moroccan-inspired interior aesthetic when not in use
- ▪The dual-system approach solves the traditional projection/TV compromise: both systems work independently, with no screen blocking the other
- ▪Total installation value: approximately £100,000
- ▪The design principle: technology follows the interior, not the other way around
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hidden television system in a luxury media room?
A hidden television — such as the Lerv system used in this installation — conceals a large-format display behind an artwork, mirror, or decorative panel. When activated, the panel lifts or slides to reveal the screen. When not in use, the room appears to contain no television at all, maintaining the interior design aesthetic completely. Hidden TV systems are increasingly popular in ultra-high-end residential installations where the TV is a functional tool rather than a decorative feature.
What is the Sim2 Crystal Super Hybrid projector?
The Sim2 Crystal Super Hybrid is a professional-grade 4K laser DLP projector from Italian manufacturer Sim2, designed for high-end dedicated cinema and media room installations. It delivers exceptional brightness, HDR performance, and colour accuracy — making it suitable for rooms with challenging lighting conditions or large screen sizes where cheaper consumer projectors cannot maintain adequate image quality.
How do you hide speakers in a media room?
Speakers can be hidden using several techniques: in-wall installation (speakers mounted flush with the wall surface, covered by a fabric grille or acoustic cloth panel), in-ceiling installation (speakers recessed into the ceiling), and acoustic fabric stretched over frames in front of speaker positions. All three methods allow speakers to project sound without any visible hardware, as used in this Riyadh installation.
How much does a luxury media room cost?
A luxury media room at this specification level — dual independent AV systems, 4K laser projection, hidden OLED television, concealed speaker system with acoustic fabric, professional control and automation — typically costs between £60,000 and £150,000+ fully installed. This installation is valued at approximately £100,000. Budget scales with the size of the room, the quality of the projection and audio equipment, and the complexity of the concealment and integration work.
What is the benefit of dual AV systems in a media room?
A dual AV system allows two separate groups to use different parts of the room simultaneously without interference, or gives the entire room two independent capabilities — for example, a large cinema screen for film viewing and a separate display for everyday television use. In an L-shaped room, dual systems allow each orientation to have optimally positioned screens and speakers rather than compromising with a single system that serves both orientations poorly.
