A Saudi Arabian Architectural Patternbook?

Christopher Alexander and others describe, in their 1977 book A Pattern Language, timeless entities called “patterns” which relate to town planning or architectural problems; and then offer ready-made solutions.

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“…each pattern,” they say, “represents our current best guess as to what arrangement of the physical environment will work to solve the problem presented.”

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Pattern books are nothing new. The Georgians and Victorians made extensive use of pre-prepared designs at various scales to deliver cities, buildings and parts for buildings.

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In Australia, the New South Wales Government Architect – acknowledging that there is no need to reinvent the wheel each time we design within a standard typology – maintains a Housing Pattern Book relating to apartment design. Designers are free to pick and choose from a catalogue of components which they deem relevant to their projects’ particular conditions.

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Is it time to do the same thing in Riyadh?

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Social and climatic conditions in Riyadh are, of course, very different to Alexander’s California, or to Sydney. So, would a location-specific “pattern book” make sense? And what would it cover?

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My suggestions relating to urban planning are: development densities around public transport nodes, strategies for “integrated” (mixed-use) development, shaded and landscaped civic space and design for “manageable walkability”.

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In terms of building design: the “deep” and shaded façade (evoking the “Salmani style”), screening for privacy, strategies for “integrated” and mixed-use building design, parking and pedestrianisation.

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It’s all about identifying the things which are important – and the solutions which are most successful – and inviting designers to replicate them.

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If buildings can follow intelligent “patterns” then we, as builders, will have instigated regenerative strategies for automatic improvement, driving better outcomes for people and for the planet.