Designed as a contemporary interpretation of Najdi courtyard architecture, Al-Bustan is a masterplan project by LAHIM, located on the edge of a valley near Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia’s Qassim region. Once a modest agricultural settlement, the site had long stood dormant, its natural terraces, stone walls, and palm groves slowly receding into the landscape. The ambition for Al-Bustan is to reawaken this cultural terrain, transforming it into a vibrant public destination that celebrates the heritage of central Saudi Arabia while opening new social, ecological, and economic opportunities for the future.

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Led by LAHIM’s design team, the project began with a deep investigation into the spatial logic of Najdi town-making. The resulting masterplan introduces a central pedestrian spine that recalls the communal heart of historic settlements, anchored by a series of reactivated spaces and new interventions, including open courtyards, cultural pavilions, shaded gardens, and community-focused amenities. The architectural language draws from the rhythmic geometry of local crafts and the earthy materiality of mud brick and stone, reinterpreted through contemporary forms and low-impact construction techniques.

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Respecting the site’s topography and microclimate, LAHIM restored the original agricultural terraces to support native vegetation and integrate passive cooling strategies. A network of stepped walkways and shaded paths connects the various zones, while new gathering spaces such as majlises, outdoor classrooms, cafés, and terraces are nestled into the landscape, offering moments of rest, interaction, and discovery.

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Circulation throughout the site is redefined through a layered sequence of movement, culminating at the cliff-edge overlook, a spatial threshold where built form recedes and the valley opens in full view. Designed to foster continuity between past and present, Al-Bustan reflects LAHIM’s broader commitment to culturally grounded innovation, offering a place where heritage, community, and nature converge.