This Jeddah home is a living manifesto of harmony between past and present
Also read: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Unveils Innovative Saudi Architecture Characters Map to Celebrate Heritage and Drive Urban Growth
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In Jeddah, on the shores of the Red Sea, architect and architectural historian Sami Angawi has brought to life one of the kingdom's most ambitious residential projects. Located in one of the Ash Shati district's residential streets lined with white villas, stands an atypical coral stone house. After 15 years of titanic work, architect Angawi's holistic haven of peace has become a home, a sanctuary and a museum. Discover this meticulously detailed, sculpted residence, which aptly links the threads of time between history and modernity.
As soon as you cross the threshold, you're transported into a richly ornate world, where every element tells a story. Push open the wide, 300-year-old carved wooden door to enter a unique architectural universe. Colourful stained glass windows, ornamental arches, original mosaics and finely sculpted ceramics... the mansion reveals semi-open spaces surrounding the patio and interior fountain. Conceived as a tribute to Hijazi heritage, this architectural masterpiece infuses every floor with an oriental art of living. Every element has been designed with preservation and transmission in mind. Traditional coffered ceilings coexist with natural ventilation systems inspired by the ancient wind towers of the Arabian Peninsula. Light filters through wooden moucharabiehs, creating a poetic play of shadows that change with the passing day. Everything here evokes the quest for harmony between man, nature and the divine.
Surrounded by a magnificent landscaped garden, the light-filled property features a majestic Persian-carpet-style mosaic pool. Immersed under branches and foliage, nature's abundance creates an enchanting atmosphere that connects the indoors to the outdoors. Bamboos, jasmine, bougainvillaea and palm trees create a green setting in which the sounds of the city seem to fade away. The different species planted in the garden are chosen for their symbolism and resilience. Here, the tree becomes the living memory of the place, and every corner of the garden is designed as a space for contemplation. Finely engraved stone benches line the paths, inviting you to rest and meditate.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the house embodies the philosophy of Sami Angawi, an ardent defender of intercultural dialogue and the preservation of Islamic heritage. Founder of the Amar Centre for Traditional Architecture, he advocates architecture that is rooted in local identity, yet open to modernity. His home is the best illustration of this: a living, constantly evolving work, where past and present interact seamlessly. Over the years, Angawi's Jeddah home has become a true place of pilgrimage for architecture enthusiasts, but also a place of transmission, where artists, students, researchers and travellers in search of meaning meet... A spiritual and cultural manifesto.
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