Study of the domestic open spaces in low-rise dwelling units in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In the last four decades, Saudi Arabia has undergone rapid urban development. One consequence of this is the emergence of the villa-type dwelling unit as a standard contemporary house design. The domestic open space of each unit is the space surrounding the form of the house. This contemporary domestic open space has failed to meet the basic cultural need for privacy and the demands of the local climate. The aim of this study is to describe the need for privacy as a determining cultural aspect, and climatic comfort in the contemporary domestic open space within the existing cultural and environmental context. The study analyzes the traditional domestic open space to provide clues to direct and improve the existing situation. Design options or guidelines based on the analysis of the contemporary and traditional domestic open spaces are proposed to improve the domestic open space within the villa house pattern.