ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical and contemporary development of Riyadh with an emphasis on the evolution of its housing. The site of Riyadh dates back to the pre-Islamic town of Hager, then the capital of Al-Yamamah. Riyadh itself was founded on the ruins of several communities about 1740. By building Al-Murabba, King Abd Al-Aziz established a precedent for Riyadh. People now felt they could live and build outside the city walls, thereby expanding the size of Riyadh and establishing the direction of its physical growth. In 1953, when the government decided to move its agencies from Makkah to Riyadh and to build its ministries, the need arose for housing for the transferred government employees. The project covers an area of about 500 hectares, and in fact is a city in itself, as the name “New Riyadh” implies. The evolution of Riyadh low-rise housing includes the traditional dwelling, the transitional dwelling, and the contemporary villa-type dwelling.
