Syn Architects is a Riyadh-based practice founded by the Saudi architects Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi. The firm emphasises ecologically sensitive design rooted in a deep awareness of nature and local materials. They seek to revive Najdi architectural values within modern contexts, blending tradition with contemporary practice. Syn Architects has collaborated with international organisations on projects involving design consultation, cultural heritage, and architectural research. Their work reflects a commitment to cultural preservation and sustainable architecture, aiming to bridge historical identity with current urban development through thoughtful, context-driven design. Syn Architects was selected as one of ArchDaily’s Best New Practices of 2024, recognised for its engagement with local architectural heritage and contemporary spatial practices.

Alongside Syn, Alissa and Alsudairi co-founded the Um Slaim Collective, dedicated to researching and preserving vernacular Najdi architecture in central Riyadh. Additionally, they helped establish SaudiArchitecture.org, an independent platform that archives and studies modernist and postmodernist architecture in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, the firm represented Saudi Arabia at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, with an exhibition titled The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection.

Website:

https://syn.sa

Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture