Al-Madi Mosque, Riyadh

The Al‑Madi Mosque is a fusion of traditional design and sustainable innovation. Originally constructed in 1943 and demolished in 1998, it was faithfully restored in 2004 using compressed earth block technology, lending both cultural authenticity and environmental sensitivity to its architectural form.

The mosque covers roughly 457 m², accommodates about 500 worshippers, and is topped by four domes with a single 18‑meter high minaret rising above its vaulted structure. Using around 160,000 compressed stabilised earth blocks and 49 days of coordinated construction by local workers, the building exemplifies the potential of traditional materials executed at modern scale.

Recognized internationally, the mosque was a finalist for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007 and received the Prince Sultan Bin Salman Award for Urban Heritage in 2010. Intended as a showcase for earth-based building techniques adapted to a contemporary context, it offers insight into Saudi Arabia’s architectural heritage and evolving urban landscape.