Diriyah Narrated By its Built Environment: the Story of the First Saudi Capital (1744-1818)
As Diriyah swiftly went from a mere parched settlement in the arid deserts of Central Arabia, to assuming the role of a beacon capital controlling Arabia almost in its entirety, this project examined the effect of that transformation in shaping its inimitable urban model. Between a dire need to fortify at one point, and an eager desire to show grandeur at another, Diriyah’s built environment became a shimmering pond reflecting the ever-shifting political status of the State at any given time. By relying on historical textual accounts, infused with visual means of analysis, this research projectcreatively explores the urban development history of Diriyah during the timeframe of the First Saudi State (1744-1818) by the use of its built environment as a main examination tool.
