Client: Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Services Provided: Design Competition
Total Built-up Area: 50,000 m²
Construction Cost: US $40,000,000
Starting Date: 1996
Completion Date: 1996
Challenge:
Located along one of Makkah’s busiest commercial streets, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry building needed a design that harmonized traditional architectural heritage with contemporary functionality. The challenge was to create a visually striking, yet contextually sensitive landmark, ensuring modern operational efficiency while reflecting the cultural and architectural identity of the region.
Approach:
The design embraced a contemporary interpretation of Hijazi architecture, utilizing a blend of traditional elements such as wooden mashrabiyas, geometric motifs, and natural materials, ensuring a strong connection to Makkah’s architectural heritage. The composition consists of six interconnected buildings, arranged around a central piazza covered with a tensile structure, serving as a shaded public space that fosters interaction and engagement.
Five of the buildings rise nine floors high, accommodating various administrative and operational functions of the Chamber. The façade treatment incorporates traditional wooden mashrabiyas, not only as decorative elements but also as functional features enhancing shading, ventilation, and privacy—a crucial aspect of regional architectural vernacular.
The integration of modern construction techniques with heritage-inspired forms ensures a timeless presence, allowing the building to serve as a civic and economic hub while honoring the cultural fabric of Makkah.
Impact:
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry building stands as a symbol of Makkah’s economic progress, merging heritage and innovation in a way that is both visually compelling and functionally efficient. By reinterpreting traditional architectural elements in a modern context, the project not only reinforces the city’s historical identity but also sets a precedent for future commercial and institutional developments that respect and celebrate the rich legacy of Islamic architecture.
Sketches
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