Saudi Arabian Embassy

NF Architects (Nabil Fanous) and Gerhard Bartels
2008




Beautiful calligraphy on the front gate

Calligraphy is one of the major forms of artistic expression in Islamic cultures.

Nabil Fanous, winner in 1998 for the Aga Khan Award, now practices in London, but his architecture combines traditional sources and late modern styles. Here a half rotunda is sited next to an orthogonal main building. Both buildings are glazed but sun blinds protect the rotunda.
 

Modernity combined with traditional architecture

Perforated metal panels as sun blinds illustrate the traditional love of decoration.
 


The entrance

Water elements are common in Islamic art. See, for example, The Patio of the Lions at the Alhambra in Granada Spain.




Works Consulted or Quoted:
Rainer Haubrich et al. Berlin: The Architecture Guide. Braun Publishing, 2016. (German first edition, 2001)


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© 2017 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site) and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.