Makkiya (Angawi) House

On the outskirts of Jeddah, on a regular looking street of white high-walled villas, Sami Angawi’s house cuts a distinctive figure. Built and designed in traditional Hejaz style, Al Makkiya has more in common with the dilapidated coral houses of Jeddah’s old town than the affluent whitewashed suburbs. Angawi’s family home was designed and built around his al mizan philosophy, and uses a mixture of modern and traditional materials and techniques. The house is wider in the north than the south to catch the northerly wind in every room. The wind is drawn in through the roshan (wooden window boxes), which also act as screens to provide privacy. The exterior is made of stone and wood, utilizing traditional woodwork and local builders, but at the same time the structure is reinforced by concrete beams and columns. Access to natural light is another important factor in the house, and Angawi designed the structure so that every room receives sunlight. But it is not just a mix of old and new that is epitomized by Angawi’s home, it is a mixture of architectural styles and techniques which, like Sami Angawi’s family home, is one of the finest examples of modern Hejazi architecture. For Visit Booking contact The Jeddah Cultural Exchange Center.