The courtyard house responds to Riyadh's hot, arid climate in a number of ways. The concrete structure is dug into the ground so that the earth acts as insulation for the major spaces, which are below street level. The boundary wall has a special detail allowing for the planting of a continuous line of shade trees on the west side. The stairwell also serves as a wind tunnel circulating cool air (from the evaporation of the pool). The symbolic references in the design are 'too numerous to mention, but with a knowledge of Islamic philosophy they are discernable in the photos and drawings'.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture