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Al-Balad - Jeddah Historic District

Project Type

City Photography

Date

March 2025

Link

Book a Tour with Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Ahdal

Discover the enchanting beauty of Al-Balad - Jeddah Historic District through the lens of Heba Shouman. Join us on a captivating trip to Jeddah with the expert guidance of Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Ahdal, the founder of Laffa Jeddawi Tours, as we capture the essence of this historic gem through photography.
Rawashin
Nestled within the heart of Al-Balad, Jeddah’s historic district, are the iconic Rawashin intricately carved wooden balconies that speak of the city’s legacy as a cultural and trading hub. The Rawashin not only served as a practical solution for shade and ventilation in the scorching climate, but also offered privacy in keeping with the traditions of the time. Wandering through the narrow, winding alleyways of Old Jeddah, one discovers stories carved into the wood, whispers of merchants, pilgrims, and generations who made this vibrant city their home. This project captures that timeless spirit, preserving a visual memory of what once was and what continues to endure.

The Sleeping Palace of Al-Balad

Tucked within the winding alleys of old Jeddah, this weathered building stands like a forgotten palace its wooden Rawashin whispering stories of merchants, moonlit nights, and memories that never left. A place where time dozes, but magic lingers.

Silent Signature of Al-Balad

Etched by hand and worn by time, this carved wall holds the quiet signature of the artist who shaped it. Each line, with its varying depth and rhythm, is a testament to a human touch that still lingers in the silence of Al-Balad’s wall.

Layers of Light and History

A testament to Al-Balad's enduring spirit, this building's facade showcases the harmonious blend of strength and artistry. The diverse Rawashin patterns and uniquely designed doors narrate stories of a rich cultural heritage, standing resilient through the sands of time.

The Hidden City

As sunset settles over Al-Balad, colorful Ramadan lights sway above shuttered shops. Just moments before iftar, the alley holds its breath quiet, glowing, alive in stillness. In this pause, the spirit of the hidden city is revealed

A Window to Yesterday

A single Rawashin, worn and weathered, stands like a timekeeper. Its delicate carvings and aged wood invite us to peer into the lives once lived behind it a quiet reminder that history often speaks in whispers.

Balconies of Memory

Three neighboring facades, each with its own Rawashin design and carved doors, stand united by the embrace of a dried vine. Though the vine's life has faded, its presence lingers, intertwining the buildings in a shared narrative of time, tradition, and enduring memory.

Fragments of a Golden Era

Time has etched its mark on this Al-Balad facade, where weathered Rawashin and faded hues whisper tales of a bygone golden era. Each detail stands as a testament to the district's enduring legacy and the artisanship of generations past.

Framed by Rawashin

Within the carved frame of a weathered Rawashin, a delicate glass lamp hangs in stillness a quiet witness to generations of light, prayer, and evening stories. This close-up reveals how even the smallest spaces in Al-Balad hold grace, detail, and memory.

Wooden Wings of the Hejaz

Peeking through the leaves of a quiet tree, a façade of Rawashin unfolds like wings. These carved wooden balconies symbols of Hejazi craftsmanship stretch wide and proud, blending with the rhythm of nature and the heartbeat of history.

Echoes Behind the Rawashin

Bathed in the amber glow of a streetlight, this Rawashin holds more than craftsmanship it holds memory. Behind its carved lattice, the echoes of quiet conversations and fading laughter still linger, whispering through wood softened by time.

Doors That Remember

An intimate look at Al-Balad’s textured legacy: four distinct layers of carved design unfold across a single façade. A strong door, a delicate Rawashin window each element built at a different time, yet all holding the same silent memory of a life once lived behind them.

Worn Walls, Living Soul

Under the quiet glow of night, this timeworn wall leans with age cracked, uneven, and full of grace. Its Rawashin still hold shape, its surface etched with memory. Though weathered, it breathes with spirit a living soul wrapped in stone

The Heartbeat of Old Jeddah

In the heart of Al-Balad, the pulse of the night hums through shadowed alleyways. Beneath Rawashin that have watched centuries unfold, people still gather, stroll, and breathe life into these ancient streets reminding us that history never sleeps

Carved by Time

The weathered Rawashin of Al-Balad, their intricate carvings softened by time, stand as enduring symbols of Jeddah's rich history and the artisanship of generations past.

The Spirit of the Souq

In the heart of Al-Balad, narrow alleyways weave between timeworn facades, their Rawashin and aged doors whispering tales of generations past. Beneath them, small shops glow in the night, where history and daily life still meet and in the center, the Saudi flag stands tall, anchoring memory, pride, and the enduring spirit of the souq.

Where the Light Peeks In

From the outside, the Rawashin whisper of the life within each carved panel a passage for light, air, and unseen stories to flow through. A glimpse of warmth in every opening.

Tales Between the Walls

Framed by two timeworn buildings, the Saudi flag rises between them alive in the wind, rooted in the past. A symbol of pride woven into the very fabric of Al-Balad’s historic soul

Breathing Through Wood

The Rawashin of Al-Balad, with their intricate designs, serve as the lungs of the old city allowing it to breathe and live on through generations.

Guardians of the Past

A testament to Al-Balad's enduring spirit, these architectural elements stand as silent guardians, preserving the stories and traditions of generations past.