Azaz Architects

A journey of discovery: A hidden gem in plain sight. Our latest project, Kimyona , a speakeasy tucked away amongst the monumental skyline of Riyadh. This intervention is an ode to Saudi-modernity. A push of hope, to breathe new life into the looked over architecture of the city. 📸: Mansour Alsofi

يعتبر تصميم مقر شركة سلة الجديد تحية لمجتمع مكة المكرمة، موطن الشركة التقنية الرائدة. بينما تتوافد الشركات الناشئة في المملكة إلى العاصمة، حيث تتنافس على مكان وسط ازدحام، يملك مؤسس سلة رؤية مختلفة. أثناء مقابلة فريق التصميم مع رئيس الشركة، اتضح بسرعة أن هذا المبنى يجب أن يروي قصة. يجب أن يدافع التصميم، في الواقع، عن رغبة سلة في البقاء بمكة المكرمة. بل، يجب أن يكون تصميم المبنى الجديد شاملاً وملهمًا وممكنًا. لذلك صُمم المبنى كمركز لسكان مكة ورواد الأعمال. هو مركز مصدِرًا للإلهام، ومركز لتنمية المبدعين والرواد الطموحين على حد سواء. يستلهم التصميم -القائم على اعادة الاستخدام لمنشأة قائمة - من هوية سلة، وقيمها، وقصتها. تتجلى “سلة” في شكلها الصندوقي في الهيكل الزجاجي. ومن ثم، تلتف طبقة ثانية حول الهيكل لتلين انطباع المبنى، مع خلق شكل فريد لنفسها. تموجات ذلك الغلاف، تخلق فرصًا لتضمين الضوء والظل في الفضاءات الداخلية، مما يرفع تجربة المستخدم. The design for the new Salla Company HQ is an a ode to the community of Mecca, the birthplace of the tech powerhouse. While startups in the Kingdom are flocking to the capital, where companies compete for a place, Salla’s founder has a different vision. As the design team interviewed the head of the company, it quickly became evident that this building needs to tell a story. The design must, in fact, defend Salla’s wish to stay in Mecca. In fact, the new building design should be inclusive, inspiring and enabling. It is a center for Mecca residents and entrepreneurs. It is a dwelling for inspiration, a hub to cultivate creatives and aspiring pioneers alike. The design for this #adaptivereuse, borrows inspiration from Salla’s identity, values and story. Salla - basket in Arabic - is manifested in its’ box-like shape in the glazed structure. A second skin, wrapping around the structure softens the building's impression, while establishing a unique form for itself. The waving skin, creates opportunities to include light and shade to the interior spaces, elevating the user experience. Salla E-Commerce Platform #architecture #adaptivereusearchitecture #design

The home of many doors is an Istiraha prototype that focuses on creating a unique architectural presence for the sub-urban context it sits within. Inspired by the wooden doors that once braced Najdi architecture, this concept hopes to serve a similar demography. A unique circulation path, featuring privacy walls and pocket windows creates a playful journey of travel, discovery, and interaction with local materials and patterns for the getaway house.

Striking the balance that gives a space a sense of character while protecting it’s contemporary identity.

We are looking for talented architects and interior architects to join our Riyadh office. If you are interested in joining, please submit your portfolios for review before March 6th, 2024. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dMa3fShd *Applications with no portfolio attachments/links will automatically be disqualified.

This proposal aims to create a vibrant public realm. A prototype for what we hope to become the average neighborhood park, connecting residents through shared activities, events, and interactions. It explores a space that is accessible with diverse functions and interactive elements that generate opportunities for visitors to interact with the public domain. The pattern of the master plan is defined by fluid pathways that lead to the greenhouse which acts as a hub area that is surrounded by dine-in and cafe gathering spaces.

Turning the mundane to the extraordinary. FOR THE LOVE OF BRICK: We seek to explore the use of natural, accessible, and more importantly, sustainable materials to answer for design demands. The clay bricks, often overlooked as an architectural material, are embraced in this design. We create screens to protect the interiors from excessive solar gains while offering privacy to the residents. The shadows, cast to the spaces, breathe life into the home as we experience the movement of light throughout the day. 📸: Mansour Alsofi #architecture #claybrick #design

We’re honored to be listed in @admiddleeast #AD100 amongst great talents in the region. Since our founding, Azaz Architects has been devoted to contributing to the local creative and design industries. With a unique approach coupled with a capable team, we have been lucky enough to work with great clients to put forward sustainable, locally designed and internationally-recognized dwellings. To us, #architecture offers hope to touch lives through space. We aspire to continue shaping our futures by #design. Thank you to our team, partners and clients for believing in our ideas. Photo: Abdullah AlShehri

Preview from site to one of our special projects in the outskirts of Riyadh!

Diriyah, the Saudi Kingdom's symbolic city of its prosperity. This city of unique vernacular architectural identity is created by historical events, that can be traced back and identified through its architecture. Once established as the first Saudi State capital, the small-town trajectory changed forever. As the Saudi state expanded, so did Diriyah's architecture. Palaces, defensive fortresses, and walls were built during that time period, mostly consisting of sun-baked adobe bricks and tamarix wood built on top of a stone base. These structures were not left blank rather their exterior and interior were both decorated with the “Naqsh Alnajdi”. Throughout its history, it has seen its share of attempted invasions, sieges, destruction, and rehabilitation. Today these events eco through Diriyah’s old city and neighborhoods. The most apparent aspect of the old city is its silhouette. This captivating outline is created through the different elevations and positioning of the rehabilitated ruins. We can literally trace its history by way of its architecture, the timeline of its expansion, ruins of the palace, fortresses, homes, and defensive walls. Today, we aim to celebrate Diriyah's historical triumph and its vibrance, through this pavilion design that stands as a site-specific token of memory. #diriyah #saudiarabia #paviliondesign