Mudbrick balconies in Qassim highlight traditional architecture

The balconies built atop the walls of mudbrick houses in Qassim are among the most prominent features of the region’s traditional architecture, with their shapes and details varying from one house to another and lending a unique aesthetic character to the buildings.

Constructed from sun-dried mud bricks, the balconies take on pyramid, serrated, or triangular forms, as well as designs inspired by plant and geometric motifs. Some sections are coated with plaster to highlight decorative details on the facades.

Mohammed Al-Suwaji, an expert in mudbrick architecture with more than 40 years’ experience building and restoring balconies, said the craft is a skill passed down among Qassim’s builders, requiring precision and careful consideration of the wall’s structure and the properties of the materials used.

Saud Al-Humaid, a specialist in traditional architecture, explained that the protruding balconies help prevent rainwater from reaching the upper parts of the walls, reducing erosion and damage, while also giving the facades their distinctive appearance.

These balconies reflect how Qassim’s mudbrick architecture has adapted to the local environment, underscoring the importance of preserving their details and documenting construction and restoration techniques as part of the region’s architectural heritage.