Saudi Al Qaid Co. for transportation, the leading bus transportation company in the western
region of Saudi Arabia, commissioned In Detail Design Center to create the interior and exterior
design for its new headquarters. Located at the outskirts of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the plot is
surrounded by sand dunes of the Arabian dessert. In Detail Design Center envisioned an
artificial oasis with water features, palm trees and natural light. The result is a one-story
building with interior gardens and glass panels, filled with natural light and accented by a stark
blue hue that contrasts the greenery surrounding the building. The style leans towards
industrialist contemporary interior with plain exposed ceilings and a cool color palette. The
flooring in the office area is covered in grey porcelain tiles and the walls in white painted bricks.
The space includes a large lobby with a private gallery that showcased the company’s
milestones since its inception. The reception area is designed to project the esteemed status of
the company with open-book marble and an 8-meter-wide statement modern steel chandelier
with LED lighting. The space also includes two auditoriums, a mosque, a recreation space, five
meeting rooms, an external operations control room to monitor the bus fleet’s operations and
open space as well as closed offices. The C-suite includes a resting area with private bedroom
and seating area.
In order to overcome the main challenge of the space, which is extreme heat in the summer
months, the design team leveraged the natural shading from the gardens and structure as well
as incorporating water features to elevate the heat and assist in controlling the space’s climate
while also benefiting from the natural sunlight.
The space is designed to project agility, excellence, technology, and modernism as well as
promote collaboration across different departments, keeping in mind the intensity of the work
load especially during Hajj season, when services are online 24 hours. The space is functional
yet comfortable at the same time.