Silver Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
Aziz House Residential Building
by Sara Harhash
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: SHI Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 24,782
- Verification code AA9637084D · Verify this award
About Aziz House Residential Building
Aziz House is a family rest house in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The residence is designed to suit its desert setting, using passive cooling, natural ventilation and shading for comfort. The form draws on Cycladic massing, Najdi geometric patterns and Moroccan clay tones. Facades are finished with Tadelakt, a natural lime plaster that is hand applied, compressed and polished to a waterproof sheen, then sealed with olive oil soap. Breeze blocks provide privacy and filtered light. The site area is 3740 square meters and the total floor area is 1180 square meters.
Sarah Harhash's Aziz House Residential Building emerges from a rich lineage of desert dwelling traditions that have evolved across millennia to address the particular challenges and opportunities of arid climate habitation, here reinterpreted through a distinctly contemporary architectural sensibility that honors ancestral wisdom while embracing modern spatial and aesthetic aspirations. The composition demonstrates exceptional command of massing strategies wherein cubic and rectilinear volumes interlock in a manner that generates shaded outdoor spaces, controls solar gain, and creates visual interest through the interplay of solid and void, light and shadow. Particularly noteworthy appears the integration of traditional mashrabiya screen techniques, here rendered in a geometric triangular pattern that provides both functional environmental modulation and ornamental richness without recourse to applied decoration, exemplifying the principle that authentic ornament emerges from the articulation of structure and environmental response. The material palette exhibits admirable restraint and contextual appropriateness, the earth-toned stucco surfaces achieving visual continuity with the surrounding landscape while their textured finish demonstrates continued relevance of traditional hand-craft within contemporary construction practice. The landscaping strategy merits recognition for its ecological sensitivity, employing indigenous and drought-adapted species that require minimal irrigation while contributing sculptural presence and connection to regional botanical heritage. The solitary figure in traditional white garments introduces a temporal dimension, suggesting the building as setting for daily life rhythms and cultural continuity rather than merely abstract formal composition. One observes sophisticated attention to the entry sequence, wherein the pathway curves gently through the landscape, creating a measured processional approach that builds anticipation while allowing the architecture to reveal itself gradually rather than immediately. How might the experience of dwelling within these sun-warmed walls connect inhabitants to both ancient building wisdom and contemporary comfort expectations?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Aziz Rest House, a family retreat in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, seamlessly integrates with its desert surroundings while addressing environmental, social, and cultural needs. The design employs passive cooling, natural ventilation, and strategic shading to enhance comfort. Drawing inspiration from traditional architecture, it reinterprets construction methods and elements to ensure sustainability and privacy. This approach creates a harmonious connection to the local context, fostering a lifestyle
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area : 3740 m2
Total Floor Area: 1180 m2 - Tags
- Saudi Arabia, Rest house, Residential, Clay, Local,
- Production Technology
- The facades are treated with eco-friendly material Tadelakt, a Moroccan lime plaster finish. Crafted from natural lime, it’s hand-applied, compressed, and polished to a lustrous, waterproof sheen, sealed with olive oil soap for durability. Used across the exterior, it cloaks the walls in a seamless, organic texture that withstands weather while exuding tranquility. Its subtle elegance enhances the retreat’s aesthetic, harmonizing with the environment and offering a tactile connection to nature.
- Design Challenge
- Merging three distinct architectural styles Cycladic, Najdi, and Moroccan. While maintaining design harmony.
Ensuring that the fusion of these styles respects cultural traditions and remains aesthetically cohesive. - Project Duration
- The project is located in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The design was finished in April 2024 and The construction is still in process
- Operation Flow
- The Aziz Rest House is designed as a tranquil retreat, evoking warmth and inner peace. Its primary goal is to create a serene environment where visitors can relax and reconnect with themselves. Thoughtful spatial composition enhances comfort and fosters a sense of personal sanctuary. Every element is carefully integrated to promote relaxation, offering a harmonious haven that provides calm and respite from the demands of daily life
- Research
- We visited the site in Buraydah to study its desert environment and Saudi culture, the client’s needs were balanced between privacy and luxury. The research focused on eco-friendly materials available locally and innovative breeze block manufacturing. The 3D modeling phase was challenging, as it required multiple iterations using Max, Rhino, and Revit. The landscape incorporated a desert theme with cacti and a duck pond to enhance cooling.
- Inspiration
- This design is inspired by three key influences: Cycladic architecture, with its massed forms and shaded facades for climate adaptation; Najdi cultural patterns, reflecting Saudi heritage through geometric motifs and vibrant hues; and Moroccan clay, providing an earthy, tranquil aesthetic. Together, these elements create a harmonious retreat that balances tradition with sustainability, respecting the local environment while ensuring a serene and comfortable living experience.