How did the discovery of oil transform Saudi Arabia’s cities and its architecture? How can art and architecture come together to capture the spirit of modernism in a nation known more for tradition? Join this conversation with Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz, two architect brothers, to discover how their curiosity to understand their home city of Jeddah led to the rise of “Saudi Modern,” a project to discover, record and capture modernist architecture and urbanism across the country.
In 2015, Abdulrahman and Turki Gazzaz, established Bricklab which quickly became of one of the most dynamic current design practices in Saudi Arabia. Bricklab explores the boundaries between artistic practice, material/civic research, and the built environment. Their projects span installations, interiors, architecture, and furniture. In 2018, they curated the inaugural Pavilion of Saudi Arabia titled Spaces in Between at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale; curated the first summer edition of 21,39 Jeddah Arts titled, Public/Private; and have exhibited works at the British Museum.
Their project to understand modern architecture in Saudi Arabia, captured in a book and then a collaborative exhibition held in Dar Tamer, a modernist 1950’s Jeddah villa.
This podcast is part of Converging Paths, kindly supported by the Altajir Trust and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Education Programme.
