Syn Architects: Saudi architecture revitalised

Syn Architects approaches architecture with a sensitivity that roots every project in the stories, materials, and landscapes that demarcate its context. Founded in 2019 by Saudi architects Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, the Riyadh-based practice redefines how cultural preservation and contemporary design coexist. Their work reflects a commitment to ecological awareness and creating spaces honouring their heritage. “We wanted to create a space that brings together different forms of thinking and making,” the Syn team explains to Dazed MENA. “Our practice is highly focussed on research-driven design that draws inspiration from the surrounding ecology, which we feel carries an essential narrative that deserves preservation and evolution.”

Recently named one of ArchDaily’s Best New Practices of 2024 and awarded Riyadh’s ‘Award for Architectural and Urban Creativity, Syn Architects balances innovation with reverence for their past. Their projects challenge the conventional confines of architecture by incorporating materials, forms and narratives drawn directly from the community they inhabit. “We aim to foster an architectural language that is sensitive to its context,” they assert. “By embedding shared values and ecologically sensitive practices in contemporary design, we hope to inspire a revival in cultural preservation and raise awareness of sustainable architecture in the region.”

This philosophy is exemplified by their offshoot initiative, Um Slaim Collective. Focused on the increasing displacement of vernacular Najdi architecture in central Riyadh, the collective documents at-risk typologies and highlights the importance of architectural preservation in a time of rapid urban expansion. “Um Slaim Collective pushed us to delve deeply into the architectural metamorphosis of our city, which broadened our understanding of our past, present, and future narratives of our built identity,” the duo explains. “It was both a learning journey and a responsibility that redefined our practice and commitment to cultural preservation.”

The Shalamat Cultural Center, for example, reinvisions a traditional mud house as a vibrant gallery and artist residency, inviting younger generations to view Najdi architecture in a new light. Similarly, their work for Desert X AlUla uses humble materials like local palm reads to create a structure that blurs the lines between object and environment. Each element of their designs becomes part of a larger conversation about time, memory, and place. “Our work is rooted in the culture and climate of Saudi Arabia, drawing from local materials, forms, and traditional techniques,” they affirm, explaining that their work also extends to documenting and preserving modernist and postmodernist architecture across Saudi Arabia through saudiarchitecture.org.“Architecture plays a pivotal role in expressing cultural identity. Buildings and public spaces serve as tangible symbols of a country’s values, traditions, and history, creating a strong sense of place, community, and belonging.” 

For Sara and Nojoud, architecture is inseparable from its cultural and ecological context, “We believe in listening to the land and the stories embedded within it,” says the Syn Architects team. “We share similar narratives with modernism in the MENA region, and we believe in pushing forward with our contemporary reflections.”

Beyond the excitement of technical innovation, Syn Architects is anchored in the understanding that architecture is integral in shaping the human experience. “We are driven by our commitment to creating better living experiences,” they reveal. “Architecture plays a powerful role in shaping our lives in ways that extend beyond simply providing shelter. Buildings, cities, and spaces influence how we feel, behave, and interact, impacting our sense of identity, community, and well-being.”

Currently, Syn is expanding its work with the Um Slaim Lab, deepening its research into Riyadh’s architectural heritage while seeking new ways to engage directly with the community. “The collective centres around themes of community participation, research, and the documentation of architectural typologies at risk of demolition and redevelopment in the area of central Riyadh,” the duo delineates. “Through this work, we aim to better understand the architectural heritage and cultural identity of the area as it faces significant change.”