2 min read

Doorways: the threshold of architecture in AlUla

A doorway in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, highlighting old building materials and techniques.

AlUla is a very old city in Saudi Arabia. It is located near the Nabatean necropolis of Hegra and was a part of the ancient incense trading route from the 3rd century BCE, and dates beyond that. Old town, AlUla was made from mud brick and was still occupied by residents until fairly recently—with parts of it peeking through all over the current city.

Elevated view of Old Town AlUla from 2020
A photo I took of old town AlUla in 2020
Madaʾin Salih, aka Hegra
A photo I took of Madaʾin Salih, aka Hegra, on a tour with some Desert X crew in 2020

Understanding this context helps to fully appreciate texturally rich charm of the architecture in this area. On our trip to AlUla in January of this year, I focused my camera more on the city than I had in prior years. I photographed a series of doorways that highlight the textures created by these materials and building techniques, and in some cases, centuries of use.

I'll share more in another post, but to me, these small slices of architecture are the perfect introduction to the city of AlUla.