Begin of the New Era
Jeddah is a modern city despite its very old tradition. This is expressed in numerous modern buildings, most of which are high-rises and some of which are subject to mixed uses, i.e. business by companies and private for residential purposes.
The question naturally arises as to what is considered “modern” architecture. The answer might depend on the first use of modern building materials. In this case, the Khuzam Palace, built between 1928 and 1932 and now used as the “Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography” (although temporarily closed), would have to be considered modern because it was the first building to use steel and concrete as building materials.
NCB Tower
However, one could use it as an approach to assess when the existing development in Jeddah first featured high-rise buildings. In this case, one would use the NCB Tower, which was built in 1983 and is said to have been the tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s with a height of about 126 m. The National Commercial Bank was Saudi Arabia’s first high-rise building.
The NCB skyscraper has lost none of its stand-alone architectural appearance despite being built several decades ago now. The building is located close to the Red Sea. The 27-storey office tower has a triangular (V-shaped) geometry. In contrast to the windowless exterior, the building has a likewise triangular-shaped inner courtyard with window fronts arranged over all floors. The exterior of the building conveys an elementary, simple impression in its basic structure, which is, however, softened by colossal, again triangular-shaped openings.
Address: King Abdulaziz Street / Ha’il Street intersection, Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah, Jeddah 22233،
IDB Tower
Jeddah’s skyscraper “classics” include the IDB Tower of the Islamic Development Bank, built adjacent to the King Saud Grand Mosque between 1990 and 1993. The exterior façade is characterised by slit-like fenestrations of minimal width in order to block direct sunlight whereas in the shaded central patios ceiling height glass covers the internal façades of the tower to obtain indirect natural light and a view of the nearby Red Sea.
Address: 8111 King Khalid St., Al Nuzlah Al Yamania Dist., Unit No. 1, Jeddah 2332 – 2444
Al Jawharah Tower
Al Jawharah Tower is a high-rise residential building in a privileged location on the Northern Corniche with breathtaking views of the Red Sea. When it was completed in 2014, it was the fourth tallest building in Jeddah with a height of 187 meters. Its design exhibits a kind of asymmetry, as the arrangement of floors changes continuously as the building rises. In this context, a particularly striking design feature and complex structural element is the façade, which gives the impression of a concave curvature. Combined with a special lighting concept at night, this design device is said to transfer the harmony of gentle ocean waves to the structure of the building.
Address: North Corniche, Al Kurnaysh Branch Road, Junction Said Ibn Amir Ash Shati St, Jeddah 23415
Jeddah Flagpole
In the context of modern architecture Jeddah’s Flagpole is also mentioned – one of the tallest flagpoles in the world. It is 171 m (561 ft) tall and the Saudi flag at the top weighs about 570 kg (1,260 lb) and is 49.5 m by 33 m (162 ft by 108 ft) – but available data varies considerably. 13 lights – representing the 13 governates of the kingdom – illuminate the flagpole.
Address: King Abdullah Square at the intersection of Andalus Road with King Abdullah Road.
Jeddah Lighthouse
Another example in this context is the Jeddah Lighthouse, which opened in 1990 and which is in operation ever since then. It is claimed to be the world’s tallest lighthouse.
The lighthouse is located at the end of the outer pier on the north side of the entrance to Jeddah Seaport; however, this is an access controlled port. Visitors who would like to see the tower can do this best from the Central Fish Market.
Jeddah Tower
The Jeddah Tower (Kingdom Tower), a hyper-tall skyscraper, which with a height of over 1,000 meters should surpass the world’s tallest building of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, has been at a standstill for some time. And it doesn’t seem clear how things will continue.
If you want to know more examples of Jeddah’s modern architecture, you can do so in my ebook “Dr.Hans-F. Loth – Travel Guide Riyadh and Jeddah”.
