Aziz House Edificio Residencial by Sara Harhash

Aziz House Edificio Residencial by Sara Harhash is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award de Plata in Diseño de Arquitectura, Edificación y Estructuras Competition Category.

PlataArquitectura· 2025

Aziz House Edificio Residencial

by Sara Harhash

Client: SHI Architecture

A' Design Award de Plata Winner in Arquitectura Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #170382

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Aziz House Edificio Residencial

La Casa Aziz es una casa familiar de descanso en Buraydah, Arabia Saudita. La residencia está diseñada para adaptarse a su entorno desértico, empleando enfriamiento pasivo, ventilación natural y sombreado para lograr confort. Su forma se inspira en la volumetría cicládica, los patrones geométricos najdíes y las tonalidades de arcilla marroquíes. Las fachadas están acabadas con Tadelakt, un revoco natural de cal aplicado a mano, comprimido y pulido hasta obtener un brillo impermeable, y sellado luego con jabón de aceite de oliva. Los bloques calados aportan privacidad y luz filtrada. La superficie del terreno es de 3740 metros cuadrados y la superficie construida total es de 1180 metros cuadrados.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Plata

Aziz House Edificio Residencial ha ganado el A' Design Award de Plata, un reconocimiento extraordinariamente prestigioso concedido a diseños de gama alta, magníficos e impresionantes. Los ganadores de Plata son obras tremendamente brillantes y sumamente creativas que ilustran la destacada experiencia, el talento y la agudeza de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Aziz House Edificio Residencial sea una obra maravillosa y emblemática, notablemente profesional y profundamente innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Plata es una invención muy notable y admirada que beneficia y hace avanzar las fronteras del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología. Aziz House Edificio Residencial es una creación enormemente envidiada que evoca deseos, aporta sentimientos positivos y despierta asombro y admiración.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
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.
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
Team Members: Sarah Harhash
Ahmed Nader
Mustafa Hussain
Abdulrahman Ahmed