Between practice and material  —  The disappering remnants of Najdi architecture

Area of Investegation:                                                                                                          Um Slaim lab:

At the threshold of accelerated development, and faced with the potentially devastating impacts of climate change and the end of the ‘oil age’, questions are increasingly being asked on what types of buildings will be most resilient in the face of such challenges.
We will look into existing structural conditions and identify opportunities for repair, restoration or intervention. We are working towards a number of on-site activations and workshops that will potentially provide more insight on the non-physical aspects of this analysis. It is also critical to engage with this site in various modes of art, research, and restoration practices in the realm of both architecture and urbanism.

The research lab is situated between the Almurabba area and the Futah neighbourhood, which are connected to the remaining vernacular spine in Aldirah and Um Slaim. The space used to be a cafeteria two years ago and has been vacant ever since due to the pre-gentrification of the surrounding area. The space retains its current character but has undergone an interior refurbishment that is open to collaborators and community members as a physical archive and research space.





The space, Um Slaim
Um Slaim lab is a space devoted to the research into Najdi architecture and its morphology into our current contemporary practice. A meeting point for individuals, practitioners and thinkers from various fields and disciplines. The lab hosts different activations that include material experimentations, screenings and talks around the city’s past, present, and future.