Sami Angawi, a pioneering Saudi Arabian architect, designed his house in Jeddah in the traditional Hejazi style, featuring an over 300-year-old wooden door. The house’s exterior consists of coral stones and wooden windows carved into traditional lattice formations called Roshan. While designing the interior parts, Angawi used the Al-Mizan (balance) concept. Therefore, he focused on the needs of the body, the soul, and the spirit by designing a structure that is part home, part sanctuary, and part museum.
The Angawi house is built around a naturally lit courtyard with a gorgeous pool with a mosaic floor mimicking a Persian carpet. The stained glass windows, carved wood details, Arabic calligraphy, Morrocan-style lamps, and some antique pieces also catch the eye. The ample use of greenery further creates a mesmerizing atmosphere in the house, bringing the outdoors indoors.
The house consists of two floors; the ground floor is open to the public while the second one is for the Angawi family. Hence, the family still can have privacy despite having hundreds of visitors in their house every month. The carved wooden screens called “mashrabiya” also help provide privacy while creating a nice interaction of light and shadow.
