Al Nakheel Villas

Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al Nakheel Villas comprises five contemporary townhouses ranging from 400 to 425 sqm, each with a private landscaped garden and swimming pool. The project explores how a standardized construction system can achieve architectural diversity and individual identity through minimal variations in plan and massing.

Each townhouse begins with a simple volume that is progressively shaped through a series of projections and recesses. These shifts create an interplay between solid and void, generating variation across the development while maintaining a coherent architectural language.

At ground level, the living and dining spaces are organized around an internal courtyard and extend toward the garden and swimming pool. The courtyard draws natural light deep into the house and establishes a visual connection between the different living areas. A strategically positioned waterfall provides an additional layer of privacy while introducing water as an integral element of the spatial experience.

Bedrooms and private family spaces occupy the first floor, while service areas and a multipurpose room are located on the upper level. Subtle variations in the upper-floor plans generate shifting volumes and terraces, giving each townhouse a distinct expression within the overall composition.

The façades reinforce this strategy through a restrained palette of contrasting stone and perforated aluminum screens. Beyond their visual role, the screens provide privacy and solar protection appropriate to Riyadh’s climate. Together, variations in massing, material and enclosure transform a repeated residential typology into a cohesive yet diverse development shaped by climate, privacy and contemporary living.