Reimagining architecture for sustainability and culture 

Among Vision 2030’s key strategic themes, Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen its heritage through historic sustainable architectural practices.

The past has become especially relevant as we encounter the worst of climate change. Buildings account for 28 percent of the total primary energy consumption in the Kingdom, and generate more than one third of the domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

Saudi Arabia hosted COP16, a group of 190 nations, to collectively address climate issues and seek green solutions. We believe the Kingdom has strong roots in traditional architecture, which offers solutions and a way forward, not only climatically but also functionally and culturally across the Gulf Cooperation Council and beyond. Therefore, why should we not learn from the past to live sustainably?  

Across the Kingdom, traditional homes were constructed with careful consideration of their surroundings and environment. These homes were built from local materials and characterized by features such as the fina, or courtyard. The fina provides privacy, natural light, air, and shade as well as a space for social interaction and greenery. By the end of the 19th century, cities in Hijaz such as Makkah Jeddah, Taif, and Madinah began constructing multi-story homes, replacing courtyards with rowshins and transitioning from horizontal to vertical architecture. This shift did not cause much disruption, climatically or culturally speaking. Such an altered model of multi-story houses was still built by locals using local materials such as coral stones and sea mud and wood.

The discovery of oil in the 1940s resulted in an economic boom that fueled rapid urbanization in Saudi Arabia; new cities emerged overnight and city officials could not keep pace. Such drastic changes led to reliance on foreign builders and materials, stripping architectural practices of their local identity, and cultural environmental consideration. Since then, modern villas have dominated the landscape. The evolution of houses reflects a profound transformation from mud houses to courtyard homes and, subsequently, to modern villas. This transformation has not only shaped physical structures but also impacted the socio-cultural values and architectural practices. 

One salient feature of modern villas is the sala — an enclosed area that detaches inhabitants from both the community and the environment. Such a detachment also has a resemblance in the architectural value chain, from the foreign materials acquired to the American-styled villa. The sala is often built in the middle without natural light or air. In essence, modern villas often lack elements like aesthetic touches, natural light, ventilation, and local materials. This led to increased energy consumption and a diminished quality of life. The cultural identity and architectural heritage that once defined these communities began to erode, giving way to buildings that are dependent on erratic electrical grids and networks of production, commerce and transportation that are alien and unsustainable.

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a real estate development boom and understanding the role of the building sector in decarbonization is important. Hence, our architectural past is rich enough to solve not only the climate issue but also to help foster a stronger communal cohesion. One solution to consider is integrating natural elements like natural light, wind, and ventilation. Such passive techniques would be integrated into buildings via numerous local designs, including rowshins, balconies, courtyards, or riwaqs. Equally important, builders should be encouraged to use local, less energy-intensive materials. 

The traditional architecture that is not being widely used is not just functional, sustainable, and uniquely local; it is beautiful. Functionally, a rowshin, for example, catches the breeze and provides privacy and space for social interactions. The rowshin placement in a building, its design, and material makeup will position it to reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions, and waste in construction, among others. Culturally and aesthetically, rowshins are decorated with Islamic inscriptions and earthy colors. With the introduction of traditional architecture, we can create buildings that satisfy modern needs and honor their rich heritage. Embracing such practices also affords additional indirect or induced benefits from affordability to attracting tourists who are interested in authenticity, heritage, and having a unique experience.

Policymakers need not implement such sustainable architectural practices wholesale on residential buildings. However, such practices can be rolled out gradually on select public buildings such as museums and community centers. In fact, we have seen this implemented in the House of Suhaymi, a museum in Cairo, Egypt. Additionally, the government may also make it attractive to profit-driven developers by creating financial and non-financial incentive schemes, encouraging developers to embrace such practices. Such a scheme should also be extended to citizens who voluntarily embed any of these practices into their homes.

As we face pressing environmental challenges, it is imperative to draw lessons from our traditional architecture, a tradition harmonized with the local climate and cultural context. These lessons can guide us toward sustainable building methods that resonate with the concepts of sukna, or comfort, and sakan, meaning dwelling. 

By embracing and modernizing these practices, the Kingdom can pave the way for an architectural paradigm that integrates cultural elements and addresses the realities of our modern world. Through implementing this approach, we can transform our cities into sustainable environments that reflect cultural heritage, promote environmental awareness, and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

• Mohammed Alotaibi is a literary and cultural critic with a strong interest in international affairs and conflict resolution. He has taught as an adjunct professor in the US, where he earned his doctorate in literary studies.
• Meshal Alotaibi is a strategy consultant at EY-Parthenon’s public sector practice. He advises leaders, policy makers, and governments on wide-scale transformations with specific focus on social policy development and geopolitical risks.