A critical assessment of Saudi Arabia's modern architectural environment, cebebrating elements of heritage and development in conjunction with practicality, but also highlighting lessons to be learnt from mistakes of the past. A highly iinformative and practical companion to the modern architectural traditions of Arabia.
Khaled Al-Tayyash traces architectural through from the basic principles of the Roman architect Vitruvius (first century BCE) through to the great 12th century Arab scholar, Ibn Khaldoun, and on to the tradition as it has evolved in Saudi Arabia today.
Al-Tayyash highlights some of the threats that Saudi architecture faces and points out that – as elsewhere in the modern world – there is a real danger of the loss of identify and individuality. In this authoritative assessment, Al Tayyash advocates clear identification of heritage themes, establishing Independnet character and ensuring implementation in modern built communities.
Intrinsic in this his, he points out, is the furniture and general interior design, quite separately from the building construction, but often overlooked by architects and developers. There is no better example than the Majlis, the traditional discussion chamber of a Saudi village or community. It is a room which, stripped of its contents, is often little more than an empty and fairly characterless hall, but it becomes a dedicated hub of life once it has its seats, cushions, carpets and decorations.
Through all of this, practicality is vital. Al-Tayyash assesses where we have come today and maps an approach that learns for this and projects the key elements to be born in mind going forward.
Contents Introduction § The urbanization of modern Saudi cities and the loss of identity § Architectural heritage § Standards and basic requirements for an ideal neighbourhood § Migration to cities § Neighbourhood security § The mental image of the city of Riyadh § Movement within neighbourhoods § Pollution in Riyadh - Tampering with facilities and installations § Premature aging § Traffic jams in Riyadh § Visual pollution in the city § Slums _ architecture and security § Heritage preservation § Gaps in building regulations and codes § inner neighborhood streets § Public transport and traffic in Riyadh § The role of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture in the development of Traditional Architecture § Sample Gardens § Hotel design § iyadh Electric Trains § Children's Museum in Riyadh § Service Stations on Highways § Women's service centres § Real Estate Exhibitions and Real Estate Development § Commercial centres § How design failure leads families to abandon gardening § Women and Design § Architectural Competitions § Restaurants, Shops and Sidewalks § Academic Curriculum and the Labor Market § Urban Research Center § Public School Buildings
About the Authors Dr Khaled Al Tayyash received his PhD in Architecture from Heriot-Watt University of Edinburgh, UK. He holds a Masters in Architecture (Public Facilities Design) from King Saud University. Separately, he works in the Presidency of the National Guard and is Assistant Undersecretary of the National Guard for Projects Affairs, formerly at the 15th rank. He is Assistant Professor at the College of Architecture and Planning at King Saud University, and author of a number of books related to architecture and heritage.