Riyadh - School of Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL BACKGROUNDMATERIALARCHITECTURES INFLUENCED BY RELIGIONMud and sun-dried bricksare widely used in thevenacular architecturebecause they can beeasily found in local andthey can provide insulationagainst heat and wind.1. Sun dried brick2. mud1 2Saudi Arabia is an islamic country. From many buildings, the religious ‘language’ can befound from the architecture in Riyadh. Mosque as the important religious building hassome common features of this kind of architecture:1. Minarets or towers2. A four-iwan plan with 1 major hall facing the holy Mecca and 3 minor halls3. Prayer niches are made on the inner wall facing Mecca4. Islamic geometric patterns,foliage and calligraphy are easily found5. Central fountain are made for prayers to clean themselvesVERNACULAR ARCHITECTUREMasmak fort was the most well-known traditional architecture in Riyadh, itwas built in the mid-17th century.The major materials are simple and local, which are clay and mudbrick. Thefoundation of the building is situated on the stone blocks.Moreover, the roof is covered withn painted palm-tree and ethel wood.It was a denfensive city wall of the kingdom and thus, only small windowand door were carved.1 53 4 3HISTORICAL EVOLUTION - MERGING OF RELIGION AND URBANCONTEXTThe Qasr al-Hokm District Development Programme was carried out in the 20thCentur to revitalize the central core of Riyadh. The project successfully strike abalance between old and new. The architects carefully consider the civic zoningand historical background and social traditions to recreate an appropriate spaceto fulfill all the requirements.