Architectural Design for Villas and Buildings.
Architectural design turns your brief and the realities of your plot into a complete building: a clear layout, suited to the Eastern Province climate and to the budget you have set.
We start from the site itself — the path of the sun, the prevailing wind, the views and the orientation of the building — and design to the Saudi Building Code (SBC), the national building code whose 2024 edition has been mandatory since mid-2025, and to the plot conditions approved on Balady. The aim is to make good use of every square metre.
The design file is the basis of the building-permit application. The design office submits it through Balady, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing's e-services platform, where it is checked against the SBC; the municipality then reviews it and issues a design approval certificate before the supervising office and the contractor are assigned. That is why we draw to the plot regulations — setbacks, building coverage and heights — from the first sketch, so the file does not come back for changes.
How it runs
The stages.
- Site study and brief. We analyse the plot's levels, the sun path and the planning constraints, and set out the spaces you need and what the project has to achieve.
- Concept and space planning. We develop the layout, organise circulation and connect the indoor spaces with courtyards and gardens. You approve each stage in writing before the next one starts.
- 3D model and facades. We model the building, choose materials and colours, and test light and shadow before the facades are approved.
- Construction drawings. We issue the construction drawing package with finishes schedules, door and window schedules and insulation details.
- Coordination and building permit. We coordinate the architecture with the structural and MEP drawings, then submit the file through Balady for the code check and the municipal review through to approval.
Deliverables
What you receive.
- Site plan and massing. Analysis of the plot dimensions, statutory setbacks and building coverage, with the massing study and the first space plan.
- Detailed floor plans. Complete plans of every floor showing room dimensions, circulation and furniture layout.
- Elevations and sections. Scaled drawings of all four elevations and the building sections, showing levels and external cladding materials.
- 3D model and renders. Realistic day and night views showing facade materials, shadows and lighting before construction starts.
- Construction details. Detailed drawings of thermal insulation and waterproofing, doors and windows, and cladding, so the contractor builds to the drawing rather than improvising.
- Building-permit file on Balady. The complete engineering file, checked against the SBC and the plot conditions, submitted through Balady for the technical code check and the municipal review through to design approval.
Before we start
What we need from you.
- Your current electronic title deed from Najiz, the Ministry of Justice platform, or other proof of ownership.
- A valid survey report for building purposes, or an existing AutoCAD survey file if you have one.
- A soil investigation report. This can be commissioned while the design starts, so it does not hold up the permit.
- Recent photographs of the plot and its surroundings.
- Authorisation for our office on Balady, given from your own account through Nafath, the national single sign-on.
- Your brief: the number of floors and rooms and how they will be used, an approximate budget, and examples of designs you like.
Fees
What sets the fee.
- Total built-up area, and the number of floors and annexes.
- Project type: private villa, apartment building, or commercial or mixed-use building.
- Scope: architecture only, or the full package with structural, MEP and quantity take-off.
- The number of initial options and revision rounds before approval; changes after approval are handled as change orders.
- The level of visualisation: the number of 3D views, and a physical model or animation if you want one.
- The licensing authority and the plot conditions, for example land within the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu area.
Frequently asked questions.
Why is a properly worked-out design worth it before building?
A well-planned design uses every square metre efficiently, avoids the cost of changes and demolition during construction, and adds to the value and appeal of the property over the long term.
How does architectural design comply with the Saudi Building Code?
The drawings are prepared to the Saudi Building Code (SBC) — including its requirements for residential buildings, energy conservation, fire protection, natural lighting and ventilation — and to the plot conditions: setbacks, building coverage and heights. The file is checked against the code before the municipality reviews it, so a drawing that complies from the start goes through fewer rounds of comments. The current edition is the 2024 SBC, mandatory since mid-2025.
Is the architecture coordinated with the structural and MEP drawings?
Yes. Our architects work directly with the structural and MEP engineers, so columns and beams do not end up in the wrong places, and air-conditioning and drainage routes are matched to the architecture before handover rather than on site.
Can I get a building permit in Saudi Arabia without an engineering office?
No. The building-permit service on Balady requires a contract with an engineering office for the design. The design office submits the application and prepares the drawings, which are checked against the Saudi Building Code before the municipality reviews them. The permit requirements also include a valid survey report, a soil investigation report, contracts with a supervising engineering office and a contractor, and latent-defects insurance — insurance against hidden defects in the building, which the contractor arranges through Balady.
How long does architectural design take?
A full set of drawings usually takes 4–8 weeks, depending on the size of the project and how many times the initial layout is revised. The duration is set in the contract for each project. It starts once we have your documents and the advance payment, and it excludes the time taken for reviews and approvals by you or by government bodies.
What if I want to change the design after it is approved?
Each stage is approved in writing before the next begins, so the best time for changes is before you approve a stage. A change after approval is treated as a change order, with its fee agreed before the work is done. If it affects what the building permit was issued for, you may need to apply to the relevant authority to amend the permit.
Do you take on projects outside the Eastern Province?
Yes. We provide architectural design and engineering consultancy in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities across the Kingdom, working digitally with scheduled site visits.
Official sources
- Issuing a building permit — Balady — Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
- Building permit requirements and conditions — Balady — Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
- Requirements for residential buildings (1446 AH) — Balady — Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
- Saudi Building Code — editions and parts — Saudi Building Code National Center
Contact
Talk to an engineer.
Send us the plot location and what you want to build. We reply with the scope, the route through the permit, and a written quote.