NidalM Photography / Blog / Photoshoots / Architecture Shoot: Dammam Municipality Building

Architecture Shoot: Dammam Municipality Building

Posted by NidalM on Aug 26th, 2010 | 7 comments

Who says the Saudi government doesn’t have a sense for aesthetics?! (Rhetorical question, please make no attempts to answer) A recent shoot for an architecture firm took me to a REALLY good looking government building. Take a look!

Big Big BIG Pictures!
Make it small (No anatomical analogies shall me made if you choose this option… Do you mind if I call you teeny, sir? ;P)

The shoot was of the building atrium, located smack in the middle of all the other municipality offices.

I was told that initially, this area had no ceiling and was a courtyard in between the other offices. Given the Saudi weather, people tended to stay away. After a bit of renovation, the place is now the most occupied section of the Municipality. Saudi Govt: 0 for planning, 10 for improvisation!

Comfortable seats were added, as well as plants and air conditioning. My task though, was to highlight the 'space frame', which is the scaffolding you see at the top. It was done by the architecture firm I'm working with.

The triangular scaffolding, or 'space frames' are quite common and you've undoubtedly seen them around (but I bet you didn't know they were called 'space frames', heh!). What was unique here was the fabric 'pyramids' added to the top. The aesthetic improvements from this is immense.

Firstly, it just looks really cool! Definitely a step up from the drab scaffolding look.

But most importantly, the white fabric of the pyramids reflects light. Not only does this attenuate Saudi's glaring sun, but the light that does reach the space below is wonderfully diffused. Sitting in the atrium actually feels like sitting in a wide open, airy place.

Not just for show, the frame is actually holding the entire ceiling up as well.

+1 to the Saudi Government! Good Job! Now please let the women drive ;P

Tags: architecture, dammam, saudi arabia

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Aeishah Arshad

Well done Nidal!
http://www.chezchiara.com Chiara

Interesting shoot and architectural observations! I was thinking little “tents” rather than pyramids. [please see what I just edited out here, in your email] I admire the efforts, but I am glad you said it has a natural light, airy feel to being in it, because otherwise I would feel an anomic crisis coming on. And we all know how unpleasant existential angst can feel.

True, kudos to the government for contemporary architectural style and adding plants for we the subject to vertigo.

Kudos to you for highlighting those space frames so well! I see them in a whole new light!
thecrazyjogger

Love the pics!
What time were they taken btw?
http://twitter.com/Maria_Yousuf Maria Yousuf

kudos to the last line…wow the pix are really great, love the last one in b&w…thumbs up to the saudi govt
http://cabbages-and-roses.blogspot.com/ Falaxy

hate the seating though!
btw, facebook suggested i add you as a friend today because we have 5 friends in common! small world!
and thanks for following my blog : )
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ Anonymous

Agreed, its too airport like

I wholeheartedly recommend facebook’s suggestion as well ;P On the other hand, the add would cause much confusion on my end: “uhh.. who is this? :s”

Thanks for the warning, I’m on to you now! ;P
Soha F Khan

well here is the thing about Saudi Arabia, I would give them credit for having nice architectures, buildings, and skyscrapers, however I do wish that they could become pretty from inside as well, as they are from the outside. Meaning, I wish they could also get a sense for providing great customer service as they do for the architect.