Genius of the Place: Khuzam Palace

An architectural and historical gem in the heart of Arabia

Genius of the Place: Khuzam Palace book series takes the reader on a compelling voyage to discover Khuzam Palace. Located in the southeast of Jeddah, this monument is one of the most important royal palaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: built between 1928 and 1932, the palace was central to the founding of the modern Saudi state.

Serving as the main residence of King Abdulaziz bin Saud and his son King Saud, the palace witnessed the rise of the Kingdom's diplomacy, as it used to receive foreign delegations, kings, heads of state, ministers, and ambassadors. It is in this emblematic palace, whose gates were represented on Saudi banknotes in the 1950s, that the Kingdom signed important agreements that would shape its future: it is here that the first oil concession deal between Saudi Arabia and Standard Oil of California was sealed in 1933, making Khuzam Palace a building block of the Kingdom's commercial and political relations.

Turned into a museum in 1983, this iconic building has gradually been abandoned. Once vibrant with life, it is now still; yet Khuzam Palace continues to exist through its spirit and character which seem to transcend the materiality of its empty physical space.

The Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia commissioned five artist photographers and five writers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab region, and Europe to capture the spirit and memory of Khuzam. This artistic book series exhibits the unique architectural style of Khuzam with its fortified gates, stunning mosaic-decorated windows, symmetrical staircases, large halls, and special mix of construction materials—stone bricks, reinforced concrete, iron, and wood; it sheds light on the cultural influences that inspired the palace's construction, from 19th century architecture to art deco.