The Al Baha region is full of historic villages with ancient stone houses, which over the centuries have formed a unique model of traditional architecture in the south of the Kingdom, and demonstrated the ability of man to adapt to the mountainous environment and skillfully exploit its natural resources.
Al Baha region is home to a number of historic villages.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) explained that these houses, built from local rocks, are characterized by their durability and design that takes into account the harsh climatic conditions, as their thick walls are constructed to provide natural thermal insulation to protect against summer heat and winter cold, supported by wooden roofs made of juniper and Sidr trees, with small window openings that keep the temperature inside the house moderate.
Historic villages such as **Dhi Ain, Al-Atawla, Al-Musa, Dar Awada and Al-Ayed Lodge** still retain a number of these buildings that have turned into prominent tourist and cultural landmarks, attracting visitors and those interested in heritage, in addition to being witnesses to the authentic handicrafts and architectural skills handed down from generation to generation by the people of the region.
Mohammed Saad Al-Zahrani, the supervisor of one of the heritage villages in Al-Baha, explained to SPA that these stone houses are not just ordinary dwellings, but a spatial and cultural memory of the local community, and carry stories and tales that reflect the nature of the social and economic life lived by their parents and grandparents, stressing that they highlight the depth of belonging to the land and express human creativity in using natural materials to build houses suitable for the terrain and mountainous climate of the region.
Al-Zahrani pointed out the importance of intensifying efforts to preserve and restore these historic buildings in ways that preserve their traditional architectural identity, stressing that protecting this urban heritage contributes to enhancing tourism development in the region and inspires contemporary architects to draw inspiration from traditional design elements in modern projects.
Al-Zahrani stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to preserve and restore these historic buildings.
