Nabatean culture understood how to interact and become part of its surrounding. A sustainable approach that conceptualized architecture embedded in its context. It was not about adding new elements to the existing, but rather curating and sculpting the landscape. The site is a canyon sandstone rock formation. Learning from Nabatean ancestral culture, the house is an act of subtraction. A subtle gesture for a contemporary cave to remind us that we are part of nature.
It is organized around a central courtyard which is cut from the upper part of the formation. It is the heart of the house, protects the interior from extreme weather conditions and directs views towards the outside; a hidden domestic atmosphere embedded into AlUl´s landscape.
The cave has several pods nested into the cuts. Stainless steel elements contain the service areas of the house, creating a new vision for living; where the primitive meets the technological.
 

Location: Al-Ula, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Structure: Excavated limestone
Business Development: ABOVE THE FOLD
Year: 2022
Type: Invited competition, Residential
Team: Fernando Gomez, Benjamin Caballero, Isaac Michan Daniel,
Size: 500 sqm