Set in a palm oasis outside Riyadh, this project forms part of a larger residential compound commissioned by an extended family. Alongside eight private houses, the brief included three communal majlis, multifunctional spaces used to host events, receive guests and work.  

The design draws on the vernacular courtyard typology and local materials: rammed earth walls, terrazzo flooring incorporating stone scraps from a nearby quarry, and overhanging concrete slabs for shade. These material choices help embed the buildings into the landscape, while the layout reinforces a sense of privacy and retreat. Courtyard layouts were oriented to maintain visual privacy and emphasize independence. Visitors approach each majlis through a walled and shaded passage, entering from the volume of the garage into a planted hallway, a threshold that marks the passage from the landscape to the intimacy of the courtyard.