Architectural Identity in Modern Saudi Cities

Abstract

The architectural identity in Saudi Arabia witnessed a significant disruption after the development that followed the oil discovery period in the 1960s. The rapid economic growth and housing development have changed the urban scene from vernacular villages to modern cities. The oil industry along with foreign planning practices influenced the modernization of Saudi society. The emergence of the modern Saudi villa was at the expense of the traditional courtyard house in the Eastern Region. This rapid transformation happened with no concern to the Scio-cultural values of Saudi society. These events resulted in an evident contradiction between the modern built environment and the pattern of social life. This study's methodology comprises tracing and documenting the evolution of the Saudi dwellings and utilizing urban planning tools represented in the Form-Based Code as a tool for adapting traditions and social qualities within the contemporary built environment. The study investigates the value of social qualities in the spatial organization of dwellings through case studies from the traditional built environment of Al Ahsa city and the modern built environment of Khobar city in the Eastern Region in Saudi Arabia. Heads of households were surveyed to explain the reason behind spatial and physical changes to Saudi dwellings and evaluated the importance of traditions within the home environment. The findings of this study demonstrate the significance of some traditions and architectural elements that illustrate the architectural identity of Saudi dwellings in the Eastern Region. The proposed Form-Based Code tills a gap in the literature as it provides a guide for developers, local housing programs, and local municipalities to produce a built environment that is compatible with the social life of the Saudi family.