A new 'architectural openness' is transforming Saudi Arabia - in pictures

Spurred in part by revised building codes, Saudis are embracing homes and businesses that are inviting rather than imposing

Haitham al-Madini opens the door to his recently renovated villa in the Saudi capital, Riyadh on June 22, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

But two years ago, confined during a pandemic lockdown, Madini decided to open things up, adding a street-facing patio, redoing the exterior walls in limestone and installing soft lighting in the entryway.

In recent years 'there have been manifestations of an architectural openness', said Abdullah al-Jasser, owner of the AF Group design company that worked on Madini's house. 'People have become more accepting of change, and of different patterns of decoration and design.'

Traditional designs still prevail on residential streets in Riyadh.

Window sizes are a result of the desire not to let in the sunlight, especially when temperatures for much of the day are above 40°C.

They also provide 'greater privacy for the family', said Saudi architect Ali Alluhidan, owner of Alluhidan Engineering in Riyadh.

But he and other champions of new, more modern architecture are critical of the old approach, and not just because it can result in living spaces that are poorly lit and ventilated. It also carries 'great social impact ... it contributes to a culture of closing in on oneself', Alluhidan said.

In 2018, the Saudi national building code committee updated guidelines for new buildings – mandating bigger windows, for example, in part to promote public health.

While in the past most houses had separate reception areas with different entrances for men and women, newer floor plans envision everyone mingling in a single area, allowing for a more efficient use of space, Alluhidan said.

The new preferences are not limited to residential properties. They are also reshaping commercial complexes and other public spaces.

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