Visual and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Saudi Architecture: A Cultural Sustainability Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35560/jcofarts1816Keywords:
Visual Identity Cultural Sustainability Saudi Architecture Ontological Sustainability Heritage and ModernityAbstract
The rapid urban transformation in Saudi Arabia has intensified debate over visual identity in contemporary architecture and its relationship to cultural context. Despite a rich architectural heritage, its integration into contemporary practice often remains superficial, weakening connections to place and diluting cultural sustainability, which extends beyond environmental and technical concerns to encompass cultural expression and the human–place relationship. This study examines visual identity and cultural sustainability in contemporary Saudi architecture, focusing on the relationship between heritage and modern design. Employing a qualitative approach, it critically reviews literature published between 2021 and 2025 to explore how sustainability is framed culturally. Findings indicate that visual identity arises from an ongoing interaction between cultural memory and contemporary design, rather than the superficial application of traditional motifs. Three interconnected dimensions are proposed: continuity with cultural memory, meaning and symbolism, and aesthetic ethics and spatial experience. As a conceptual study, its findings remain interpretive, inviting further applied and analytical research.
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