Red Sea Apartment

Red Sea Apartment — IADA 2026 award

Red Sea Apartment received Honorable Mention recognition at the International Architecture & Design Awards 2026 in Interior. Project status, design team and credits are listed alongside the presentation.

About the project

This project is a full renovation of a private apartment overlooking the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The original layout was enclosed and fragmented, limiting both spatial flow and the apartment’s relationship to its surroundings. The renovation sought to reimagine the interior as an open, grounded, and comfortable living environment, capable of adapting to the evolving needs of its inhabitants.

The primary objective was to open up the space and introduce a sense of expansion without sacrificing intimacy. Through the strategic removal and reconfiguration of walls, the apartment was transformed into a fluid spatial sequence that allows natural light, movement, and views to extend across the interior. Flexibility and continuity became key design drivers, enabling the space to feel both generous and composed.

The conceptual framework is inspired by the formation of sedimentary rocks—materials shaped gradually through time, pressure, and accumulation. This idea informed the project’s spatial layering, visual hierarchy, and overall atmosphere. Rather than relying on strong contrasts, the design emphasizes subtle transitions and a quiet sense of depth, reflecting the natural logic of geological formations.

The material and color palette is intentionally restrained, consisting exclusively of earthy tones derived from natural landscapes. These tones create a cohesive and calming environment, allowing texture, proportion, and materiality to define the space. The absence of artificial or contrasting colors reinforces a grounded, timeless quality and strengthens the connection to the Red Sea context.

The result is an interior that balances openness with a strong sense of rootedness. By translating natural processes into spatial design, the project demonstrates how interior architecture can create environments that are not only visually refined, but emotionally and physically supportive.

Ola Abid Design

Ola Abid Designs was established in 2015 after many years of experience in The US and Saudi Arabia. The studio is now based in jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Our philosophy revolves around the human psychological and emotional experiences through the space. Creating stories with each interior that leave a long lasting memory for its users.