Gallery
Description
Property Name: King Abdulaziz Palace in Al-Kharj
Inventory No: 966-1-4
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2010-05-22
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province: Riyadh
Town: Al Kharj
Geographic coordinates: 24° 9′ 7″ N
47° 17′ 51″ E
Historic Period: 19th century, 1st half
Year of Construction:
Style: Najdi
Original Use: Palace
Current Use: Touristic
Architect: Unknown
Significance
King Abdul Aziz Palace, Al Kharj, was constructed in 1359 AH (1940 AD), and is considered the historical gateway to the province of Al-Kharj. The mansion consists of two sections or palaces, separated by a road: the eastern wing is exclusive to the king’s family, while the western wing is devoted to visitors. The square-shaped palace is composed of two floors. Its entrance is located on its northern aspect, opposite the outer wall. The palace’s design is predominantly of an Arab architectural style and its balconies are decorated with various ornamental units, mostly of brick.
The palace was built by King ABDULAZIZ IBN ABDULRAHMAN ALSAUD in 1359 AH. ALKHARJ is located at (81km) south-east of capital ARRIYADH at a height of (1.360) feet above sea level. The town of ALKHARJ is an ancient settlement evident by its archaeological finds suggesting human presence in the area from the Paleolithic period. The name ALKHARJ was been taken either from the ALKHARJ valley, or from the meaning of grain production from earth (Kharaj). It suits this town well as it is an agricultural area producing some of the countries of agricultural products. It is a very fertile land in ALYAMAMAH with plenty of water, it is why the area is inhabited since times unknown. LOCATION OF KING ABDULAZIZ PALACE King Abdulaziz Palace is located in the northwest of ALKHARJ town with an area of (29.545m) square. It is the first building that visitors see as they come in.
Historians have described it as the historical gate of Al-Kharj Governorate, and it is considered one of the most important landmarks of Al-Kharj, and it was built in 1359 AH, where it was restored to receive visitors, and this palace is considered an architectural masterpiece that preceded its era, with an area of 1494 square meters, the palace consists of five identical units with a unit length of 30 m, which is Square in shape, the palace consists of two floors, and has rectangular openings on its outer walls to provide lighting and ventilation. The door is three meters wide, with a corridor leading to the top, and in the center of the palace there is a square-shaped square, and near the palace there is the modern emirate building, the King Abdul Aziz Mosque and the Kharj water tower .
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
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
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References
Agency of Antiquities and Museums: Palace of King Abdulaziz Al-Kharj, Riyadh, 1424H.