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Saudi Arabia‘s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced an initiative that aims to encourage incorporating traditional architecture in the country’s urban developments.

The Saudi government recently launched an online platform outlining the initiative’s goals, which include identifying local architecture styles to inform the design of new urban developments.

The initiative was set by the government to help form modern districts that blend in with existing traditional buildings and natural landscapes.

“Saudi architecture represents a blend of ancient heritage and contemporary design as we work to improve the urban landscape and enhance quality of life, achieving a balance between the past and the present and serving as a global source of inspiration for innovation in architectural design,” said Bin Salman.

Part of the initiative is the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, which identifies 19 regions in the country and gives descriptions of their natural landscape, indigenous architecture and traditional building methods.

The distinct styles set out in the map include those of northern Najdi, Tabuk coastal, Medina, Medina countryside, Hijazi coastal, Taif, Sarawat Mountains, Asir Asir, Tihama foothills, Tihama coastal, Abha highlands, Farasan Islands, Bisha desert, Najran, Al-Ahsa oases, Qatif, Eastern Najdi and the eastern coast.

Design guidelines for new urban developments will accompany the map, with the aim of encouraging the creation of consistent architectural languages in each of the regions.

The initiative will first be implemented for government and commercial buildings in the Al-Ahsa region and the cities of Taif, Makkah and Abha.

Initiative aims to “preserve the rich cultural and urban heritage of Saudi Arabia”

According to the Saudi government, once the initiative has been fully rolled out, it will be a mandatory requirement for new projects to comply in order to gain construction permits.

“The design guidelines for Saudi architecture were carefully prepared to preserve the rich cultural and urban heritage of cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the government said on the online platform.

“These guidelines focus on preserving the distinctive architectural style of each geographic area by integrating modern architectural elements with architectural heritage that reflects the history and culture of the Kingdom.”

The government claims the initiative was created to encourage developments to align with the aims of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which focuses on building tourism to reduce the economy’s reliance on oil.

“Saudi architecture contributes to indirect economic development by increasing the attractiveness of cities, which increases the number of visitors and tourists, and supports the growth of sectors related to tourism, hospitality, and construction,” said Bin Salman.

“It also aims to build a future in which our cities and communities thrive.”

Human rights concerns over high-profile Saudi projects

A number of controversial, large-scale projects are under development in Saudi Arabia despite outspoken concerns from human rights groups.

A Pakistani foreman recently died while working on the Aramco stadium for Saudi Arabia’s 2034 FIFA World Cup. He was reportedly the first known death of a migrant worker to be directly linked to the upcoming tournament.

The ITV documentary Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia stated that 21,000 migrant workers from Nepal, Bangladesh and India have died in Saudi Arabia since 2016, which was when the country launched its Vision 2030 plan.

One of the country’s most high-profile projects is Neom’s The Line megacity, the first segment of which began construction this year. Last year, the BBC reported that Saudi Arabia authorised “lethal force” to remove people from the Al-Khurayba village who resisted eviction to make way for the megacity.

Following growing human rights concerns about Neom, Dezeen recently asked if it was time for architecture studios to walk away from involvement with the controversial project.

Top photo by Abdulrhman Alkhnaifer via Unsplash.

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