Morphing Sands is a climate-responsive mixed-use architectural system developed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, addressing urban densification in a hot–humid coastal environment. Inspired by the historic fabric of Al-Balad, the project reinterprets Hijazi principles—such as courtyards, shaded streets, and layered façades—through a modular and computational design approach.
The project organizes commercial functions horizontally at the lower levels and residential units vertically above, forming a courtyard-based typology that promotes social interaction, ventilation, and daylight control. Environmental performance drives the design logic: building orientation, massing, and height are parametrically defined using solar and wind data to maximize shading, cross-ventilation, and thermal comfort.
A rule-based aggregation system using modular pods generates adaptable spatial configurations across different site sizes and densities. Structurally, precast pods integrate load transfer, self-shading, and thermal mass. Combined with passive ventilation and façade-integrated energy strategies, Morphing Sands proposes a scalable architectural system rooted in vernacular intelligence and optimized through computation.
site analysis
Design Concept :
People with shops and restaurants usually lives upstairs of their commercial part. To reuse this case we’re proposing a 30 to 70 rule. So for each 5 persons that lives in the project there’s a shop. Where also considered, environmental analysis and used vernacular solutions to make design considerations accordingly..
Workflow Chart
Process :
- Small Plot
Aggregation starts from West
Commercial :Horizontal
Residential :Vertical
Building Height :Defined by sun vectors to cast shadow on the farthest horizontal point - Actual Plot :
- Width Increase
- Population Increase
- Cores :Each 30m a new core appear at the south direction (for fire safety reasons)
Cores :In case the plot increase in the V direction then cores will be automatically added at the non-casted point (70m) east direction
Circulation: Main access and pathways
Bridges connecting different parts of the project
Different Inputs, One Site
Typology – Residential Rules
Different Inputs, 5 Sites
Results on 2 Jeddah Sites
Target vs Results
Structure System
Mass / Cost Study
1- WALLS (perimeter walls)
Perimeter = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24 m
Wall area = height × perimeter
= 4 m × 24 m
= 96 m²
Concrete wall volume = wall area × thickness
= 96 × 0.20
= 19.2 m³
2- FLOOR SLAB (6×6 + thickness)
Area = 6 × 6 = 36 m²
Volume = 36 × 0.20
= 7.2 m³
3- ROOF SLAB (same as floor)
Area = 36 m²
Volume = 36 × 0.20
= 7.2 m³
Total concrete volume
Wall volume + floor slab + roof slab
= 19.2 + 7.2 + 7.2
= 33.6 m³ of concrete / Studio
Cost : SAR 214.98 (65$) per m³
Environmental resilience
Final Result
Ventilation System
Comparison, Jeddah – Different city
