Al-Madini spruced up his garden with tropical almond trees imported from Thailand and added a swimming pool to his recently renovated villa in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Photos: Fayez Nureldine/AFP
For years, Haitham al-Madini's house was like all the others on his block: a beige, nearly windowless facade sealed off from the outside world – as Saudi Arabia itself largely was.
But two years ago, confined during a pandemic lockdown, al-Madini decided to open things up, adding a street-facing patio, redoing the exterior walls in limestone and installing soft lighting in the entryway.
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Al-Madini spruced up his garden with tropical almond trees imported from Thailand and added a swimming pool to his recently renovated villa in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Photos: Fayez Nureldine/AFP
Al-Madini (right) with al-Jasser, owner of the AF Group design firm that worked on al-Madini's house, at his villa.
Two years ago, confined during a pandemic lockdown, al-Madini decided to open things up, adding a street-facing patio, redoing the exterior walls in limestone and installing soft lighting in the entryway to his house.
A picture showing the old approach to buildings in Riyadh.
A picture showing the modern approach to buildings in Riyadh. In 2018, the Saudi national building code committee updated guidelines for new buildings – mandating bigger windows, for example, in part to promote public health.
The entrance to the recently renovated villa of al-Madini in Riyadh.
The modern approach to buildings in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
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