Echoes of Tradition

FINALIST of Re-Draw.07: The Line

+ FINALIST

Re-Draw.07: The Line

[15812]

Echoes of Tradition

Team

Name: Talah Siraj

Nationality: Saudi Arabia

Institution / Company: University of Westminster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talahsiraj.architecture/

https://www.instagram.com/talahsiraj.art/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talah-siraj/

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This proposal draws inspiration from the traditional Hejazi houses of Saudi Arabia’s western region, particularly in Jeddah’s old town of Al-Balad. The key design element is mangour, a traditional wooden lattice work used to craft roshan or mashrabiyah screens, which serve as semi-permeable architectural elements.

The intricately crafted mangour screens, built using four-fold geometric wood joinery, add both functional and aesthetic value to the building. Their pattern of small openings allows natural sunlight to enter the building while softening direct rays to prevent overheating—a vital feature for exposed sites. These screens also enable natural ventilation while creating a balance of shelter, openness, and privacy for occupants.

Aesthetically, mangour brings the art of Islamic motifs to life, displaying geometric patterns that infuse both exterior and interior spaces with cultural beauty and unique character.

Dividing the facade are structural columns made of Mangabi stone, a resilient local coral stone that withstands the intense regional climate, resisting heat, humidity, sea salinity, and sandstorms.

The facade’s design integrates a thick structural frame, with gaps filled with layers of mangour screens at varying depths. These layers create a play of shadows that evolves throughout the day, revealing complex patterns within and reflecting the charm of the local heritage.

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