Within the Oasis
My name is Khoos. I was born and raised under the towering palm trees of AlUla. My roots are here, where the fronds dance with the warm desert breeze. My hands know the palm tree as if it were a part of me; I choose the palm fronds with care, each strand tells a story.
My inspiration is drawn from every corner of the nature that surrounds me. From the clear blue skies to the golden hues of sunset, from the green of the oases to the shimmering desert sands. But my story would not be complete without the majestic mountains of AlUla. Their harmonious rock formations, like Elephant Rock, inspire me with unique shapes and lines.
In them, I see designs yet to be woven, and colors that exist only in my imagination.
My inspiration is drawn from every corner of the nature that surrounds me. From the clear blue skies to the golden hues of sunset, from the green of the oases to the shimmering desert sands. But my story would not be complete without the majestic mountains of AlUla. Their harmonious rock formations, like Elephant Rock, inspire me with unique shapes and lines.
In them, I see designs yet to be woven, and colors that exist only in my imagination.
At the heart of this breathtaking nature, Madrasat Addeera became my second home. I began my journey there as a young girl learning the ABCs of life, then returned as a teacher sharing knowledge, and today I work as a trainer, passing on my passion and love for handicrafts to a new generation. This school has shaped a large part of my identity and instilled in me a love for giving and creativity.
These colors, those forms, and the spirit of Madrasat Addeera, all are woven into my creations. They whisper to the observer the story of the land that carried me, the story of the mountains that stood beside me, and the story of the place that refined my soul. Every piece I design is an echo of my spirit, a reflection of the beauty of the universe I live and breathe, and a tribute to the hands that grew, learned, and taught at Madrasat Addeera. This is my world, and this is what I offer through my art.
These colors, those forms, and the spirit of Madrasat Addeera, all are woven into my creations. They whisper to the observer the story of the land that carried me, the story of the mountains that stood beside me, and the story of the place that refined my soul. Every piece I design is an echo of my spirit, a reflection of the beauty of the universe I live and breathe, and a tribute to the hands that grew, learned, and taught at Madrasat Addeera. This is my world, and this is what I offer through my art.
Rahaf Aladwan & Amal Alamri Prince Sultan University
This intensive exchange, bridging Prince Sultan University (PSU) and leading French institutions, profoundly expanded our architectural and urban design horizons. As a team from PSU, we explored AlUla’s stratigraphy, reading manuscripts at King Fahad Library until dawn and linking ancient layers to modern urban challenges. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ola Jarrar and Dr. Jane Handal, we learned to think beyond conventions as we addressed the fragmented central district, referred to as the “zone without a postcard”.
Collaborating with peers from ENSA Paris-Malaquais and Val-de-Seine, we collectively developed PALIMPSEST: At the AlUla Railway Station site, our sketches and concepts, tracing Nabatean shadows, demonstrated how overlapping histories can create immersive narratives. We imagined visitors touching Dadanite inscriptions and contributing their own marks, empowering locals to reclaim their story.
Presenting our work to Pritzker laureates Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal in Paris was a humbling validation. This exchange taught us to listen deeply, adapt, and co-create with purpose. It reaffirmed our belief that meaningful architecture emerges when cultures, histories, and collaborators truly engage with a place’s unwritten stories.
Presenting our work to Pritzker laureates Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal in Paris was a humbling validation. This exchange taught us to listen deeply, adapt, and co-create with purpose. It reaffirmed our belief that meaningful architecture emerges when cultures, histories, and collaborators truly engage with a place’s unwritten stories.
Matias Botero and Chérie Macbeth Paris-Malaquais—PSL Architecture School
Working in AlUla, in the middle of the desert and among ancient ruins, brought us to face situations we had never encountered before. It was the first time we explored a non-Western context, and it moved many of our habits.
The exchange with ENSA Paris-Val de Seine and Prince Sultan University was a valuable experience. The support from our professors and the conversations with Saudi students and teachers helped us better understand the place and adjust our approach. It gave us a chance to step back and rethink how we engage with architecture.
The exchange with ENSA Paris-Val de Seine and Prince Sultan University was a valuable experience. The support from our professors and the conversations with Saudi students and teachers helped us better understand the place and adjust our approach. It gave us a chance to step back and rethink how we engage with architecture.
Nour Ayad and Sacha Garenne ENSA Paris-Val-de-Seine
The exchange with Prince Sultan University and Paris-Malaquais was a strong human and cultural experience. The stay in Saudi Arabia was enriching and stimulating. The analysis work done upstream by the different schools was an interesting way to understand the site through complementary points of view.
The week of onsite workshops was an opportunity to cross the approaches of each school to develop interesting projects related to AlUla’s urban typologies. This immersion allowed us to better understand Saudi Arabia and to feed our architectural reflection.
The week of onsite workshops was an opportunity to cross the approaches of each school to develop interesting projects related to AlUla’s urban typologies. This immersion allowed us to better understand Saudi Arabia and to feed our architectural reflection.
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