Wallpaper* Design Awards recognize AlUla's construction material use
Beit Bin Nouh, designed by Shahira
Fahmy, is a remarkable revival of a traditional mud-brick house in AlUla,
Saudi Arabia. The project has earned a place among the winners of the Wallpaper* Design
Awards 2026 for Best Use of Material, celebrating its sensitive and deeply
contextual approach to earth construction.
Once home to more than 1,000
residents, AlUla’s old town was abandoned in the 1980s when a new centre was
built nearby. The historic settlement, clustered around a 10th-century
fortress, lies in a valley rich with archaeological significance, close to
landmarks such as Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, the
ancient capital of Dadan and the rock inscriptions of Jabal Ikmah.
Today, the district is at the heart
of a heritage-led regeneration programme by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), which is
restoring the area through careful conservation and cultural initiatives.
Within its dense network of 12th-century alleyways stands Dar Tantora, a hotel
restored in 2021 by Fahmy using traditional building techniques and
passive-cooling strategies. It was during this project that Fahmy was invited
by a long-standing client to reimagine a ruin nearby as a private home.
Read More
AlUla:
Mud House restoration projects launched to preserve cultural heritage
The site, locally known as Beit Bin
Nouh, was formed from the remains of two former houses and had long served as
an open courtyard for community gatherings. Fahmy approached the project
through an intensive study of the terrain, uncovering original floor levels,
thresholds and circulation routes to ensure that the new structure followed the
logic of the historic homes.
The original houses of AlUla were
shaped by climate and necessity: thick stone foundations protected against
flash floods, mud bricks made from local soil, clay and straw provided
insulation, small windows moderated heat, narrow alleys offered shade and
internal courtyards encouraged airflow. These principles guided the
reconstruction.
All materials were sourced and
treated with the same sensitivity. Mud bricks were made locally in AlUla, stone
came from RCU-approved quarries, and tamarisk wood beams and doors were
finished with natural oils. Ceilings were lined with woven palm fronds to
create a breathable layer, while modern services were discreetly routed outside
the historic walls. Even the ancient qanat water system was partially revived
to improve drainage and reduce water use.
Read More
“Diriyah
Tan” to define Saudi City of Earth
For Fahmy, the project was as much
philosophical as it was technical. By listening to the site and respecting its
lessons in sustainability, Beit Bin Nouh demonstrates how traditional materials
and building wisdom can be reinterpreted for contemporary living without
erasing the past. It stands as a powerful example of how architecture rooted in
place can bridge history and modernity.
Source: www.wallpaper.com
0 Comments