Dar Al-Nakhil

Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia · Private Dwelling & Retreat

Dar Al-Nakhil is a contemporary desert house rooted in the ecology of the oasis. Set among date palms and sandy ground, the architecture is composed as a series of low, stone volumes that open toward shaded courtyards, water, and the distant horizon.

The material language draws directly from the region: locally quarried limestone and sandstone form the primary mass, paired with lime-based plasters, palm-derived screens, and warm timber ceilings. Textiles, woven leather, and handcrafted rugs introduce softness and tactility, grounding the interiors in a culture of making. Every element is selected for durability, thermal performance, and a quiet aging over time.

Outwardly restrained, the house reveals a luminous interior landscape. Double-height spaces, filtered light, and layered thresholds create a sequence of retreat and gathering. The central stair becomes a spatial spine—connecting living, majlis, and private quarters while framing long views across the palms.

Outdoor life is treated as primary. Terraces, shaded verandas, and a low reflecting pool extend the living environment into the landscape, cooling the microclimate and reinforcing the rhythm of day and season. The built footprint remains compact, allowing the surrounding ground to remain permeable and alive.

Dar Al-Nakhil is conceived as a place of stillness and renewal, a contemporary bayt that balances privacy and hospitality, craft and clarity, offering its inhabitants a durable relationship with land, climate, and time.