Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has the mind of a great architect 
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched on March 17 the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, encompassing 19 distinct architectural designs that reflect the geographical, cultural and natural identity of the country’s regions and cities.
The initiative celebrates architectural heritage, enhances quality of life and revitalizes urban landscapes by innovatively reinterpreting traditional designs. It is expected to boost the economy by more than SR8 billion ($2.13 billion) and generate 34,000 jobs by 2030, primarily in the engineering, construction and urban development sectors. This marks a significant economic shift, transforming architecture into a viable economic asset.
The project will roll out in phases, starting with Taif, Al-Ahsa, Abha and Makkah. Initial efforts will focus on the facades of existing buildings, alongside major projects, government structures and commercial properties. The designs will serve as a form of soft power, transcending mere cultural or architectural significance. Buildings will become part of a unique visitor experience, aiming to increase tourism spending.
The guide introduces 19 geographical zones for architectural styles, expanding beyond the Kingdom’s 13 administrative regions. The initiative is timely and pivotal, reinforcing regional identities through urban fabric, building densities, heights, materials and terrain adaptation. For instance, constructions in plains will differ from those in mountains, oases, coastal areas and deserts.
Riyadh stands out as a leading city in adopting the Saudi architectural identity, particularly during the tenure of King Salman bin Abdulaziz as its administrative governor. This is evident in the Qasr Al-Hukm area, Tuwaiq Palace and other locations, positioning Riyadh as a reference point for this architectural map.
Complementing this is the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism, approved in late 2021, which serves as a guiding framework providing a national methodology and strategy for urban design based on specific values. The charter also includes an award for the best creative institutional and student architectural designs.
Throughout history, architecture has served as a significant barometer of civilizational distinction. Notable examples include the grandeur of Greek temples and the enduring presence of Roman theaters.
During Germany’s reunification in the 1990s, it undertook the reconstruction of its former parliament building, the Reichstag, originally erected in 1894. This act symbolized the renewed unity between its eastern and western halves. The redesign principles emphasized the building’s importance as a democratic institution and its historical role in German life. A glass dome was incorporated to represent the transparency of the parliament, allowing visitors to observe lawmakers during debates and the passage of legislation. The Reichstag has since become a prominent landmark and tourist attraction in Berlin, drawing about 4,000 visitors a day.
Another transformative approach was witnessed in Azerbaijan in 1991. Following its decision to shed the Soviet architectural style that dominated 33 percent of the buildings in its capital, Baku, the nation embarked on replacing it with structures that reflected its own history and culture. This resulted in iconic developments such as the Flame Towers, completed in 2013. Their name alludes to Azerbaijan’s historical identity as the Land of Fire, a designation stemming from its rich natural gas reserves.
A 2016 study published in the journal Omran explored the symptoms of what it termed “urbanization disease,” particularly within the context of the modern Arab city. The study argued that this condition afflicts the subjugated individual in contemporary urban environments, where life has become a sphere of exploitation, noise and visual pollution and economic distress. From the study’s perspective, the inhabitants of today’s Arab cities are akin to caged predators in zoos.
French sociologist and anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, in his seminal work “Tristes Tropiques” (“Sad Tropics”), posits that humans inhabit urban environments to fulfill their material and aesthetic needs, much like they use language to secure their communicative and symbolic requirements. He believed that language preserves ideas and beliefs, while architecture provides tangible forms to people’s experiences and knowledge, intersecting with their cultural heritage and aligning with their historical priorities.
In his five-volume novel, “Cities of Salt,” the late Saudi novelist Abdulrahman Munif recounts the state of a small coastal village in the Gulf, once a haven for fishermen and returning travelers. It was transformed into an industrial oil city that no longer served anyone and its people became identical and lacked distinctive features.
It is hoped that the Saudi architectural map will break these pessimistic stereotypes, especially about the Gulf oil city, and restore it to its humanity, ancient scents and intimate, open spaces.
This is consistent with the vision of the ancient Roman architect Marco Vitruvius, who believed that architecture was based on three main things: strength that protects its inhabitants, utility that gives the building a function that people need and beauty that is distinctive.
- Dr. Bader bin Saud is a columnist for Al-Riyadh newspaper, a media and knowledge management researcher, an expert and university professor in crowd management and strategic planning and the former deputy commander of the special forces for Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. X: @BaderbinSaud
