Gallery
Description
Property Name: Al Bassam Heritage House – Bayt Al Bassam (Alqaseem)
Inventory No: 966-7-1
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2010-05-22
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province: Al Qasim
Town: Unayzah
Geographic coordinates: 26° 5′ 21.85″ N
43° 58′ 2.13″ E
Historic Period: 20th century, 2nd half
Year of Construction: 1955
Style: Najdi
Original Use: Residential
Current Use: Museum
Architect: Unknown
Significance
One of the most important features in the Qassim region, this palace made of mud has an area of over 3,500 square meters, built in accordance with Najdi style. Al Bassam House represents an era of architectural evolution in the province of Unaizah. The house is located on the western side of the Old City, near a gate called Bab Al Khala. The building dates back to 1374 AH (1955 AD) and has been renovated, furnished and decorated with relevant folkloric pieces.
It is classified as a unique style of the traditional architecture in the central region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It represents the distinguished Najdi house with diversified designs. It was built with adobe that insulates and mitigate the effects of the harsh heat during summer season.
It is a large mud house located in the western side of Unaizah governorate, its location is close to the west of the city center. The house is distinguished by its unique architectural style, which is represented in the way it was built, such as the high height of the ceilings, the strength of the construction and the accuracy of the division, as each section specializes in a specific role. The men’s section contains two summer and spring councils and an old coffee, as well as a special section for family housing and other sections for guests, and the house is now under restoration and in the future the house will be invested by furnishing it so that it represents the ideal home for the region and is now considered a tourist landmark in the city and can be invested through the Supreme Commission for Tourism.
Selection Criteria
i. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
• Cleaning the roof.
• Cleaning beams.
• Clean floors.
• Repair bathrooms.
• Restoration of drainage channels rainwater.
• Treatment furniture.
• Maintenance of electrical wiring.
References
Commission of Tourism and Heritage