Shamalat, a cultural space created by Saudi artist Maha Malluh, recently opened in the periphery of old Diriyah, a historic city located in the outskirts of Riyadh.
Consisting of an exhibition, artist residency and workshop space, Shamalat is housed within an old mud house renovated by Malluh in collaboration with syn architects. The renovation involved the preservation of parts of the mud house and the use of modern materials for others. A new addition, which falls within the original footprint of the building’s yard, was also introduced. Retaining the integrity of the building, the addition was built around the remnants of an existing adobe fence and clad with warm white Riyadh stone.
The house’s redesign symbolises the intersection of past and present through a column of concrete adjacent to a hollowed-out mud wall. This symbolism is also contained in the name Shamalat, a modification of the word shmam, derived from Jahili poetry and which refers to twin mountain peaks that stand as a witness to time.
Shamalat opened on 15 February with an exhibition entitled Shamalat: An Architecture of Continuity and which sheds light on the intricacies of the renovation process of the mud house. The exhibition runs until 15 May.
