Al Doho Quarter renewal in Riyadh historic center – Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mahmoud Bendakir was involved at different stages of this large-scale urban redevelopment project in historic Riyadh. He was invited by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) as a Mud-Brick Heritage Architect and Consultant to support the site management team for the supervision of the conservation and adaptive reuse work. 

Brief project description

Fifteen city blocks will become a center of traditional culture, heritage, and commerce – and a central link in the emerging Heritage Trail of Riyadh. The transformation of the district includes a vibrant mix of cultural, commercial, and tourist uses: a traditional hotel, shops, restaurants, mosques, an interpretive center and public spaces. Modern, flexible infrastructure is threaded throughout the site, yet invisible below the rebuilt historic streets.

Fifteen blocks of traditional mud houses have been the subject of a large-scale conservation and development project. The existing historic mud buildings have been restored and reused to celebrate local culture, earthen architectural heritage, and traditional trade. Once rehabilitated, this urban complex will be an important step in a historic tourist trail that will link the most important sites and monuments still preserved in old Riyadh