Foundation Day... Saudi Architecture: Modesty and Privacy

Eng. Badr bin Ghaith

Foundation Day is a special day with a history spanning more than three centuries, on which the people of this great nation take pride and embody the highest ideals of belonging, pride, and appreciation for the values, achievements, and developments that this blessed country has enjoyed, by the grace of God and then thanks to our wise leadership. Saudi society is distinguished by strong family and social ties, rooted in the principles of Islamic law. Architecture in the early Saudi state was characterized by its preservation of modesty and privacy, which were integral to traditional buildings—from the entrance of the house and the screened windows to the solid exterior walls. This architecture featured numerous aesthetic elements that distinguished most buildings, such as the hadayir, al-qahaf, al-lahuj, al-zaraniq, and al-sharaf.

Architect