open planted courtyard organizes a cafe carved directly into rock in saudi arabia

"Peacock Ha'il is a project by Movs Studio located in Ha'il, Saudi Arabia, within an evolving urban context shaped by new construction and prominent geological formations. The site originally consisted of an unfinished structure positioned directly beside a tall formation, which became a defining condition for the project and a central design constraint. Rather than treating the rock as a backdrop or decorative feature, the design integrates it into the architectural logic of the café."

"Part of the rock was carefully removed during construction to create a small interior courtyard planted with trees. This intervention required close coordination between structural requirements and design intent, ensuring that the natural formation remained integral to the spatial organization rather than a superficial focal point. The courtyard functions as the core of the project. Large panoramic openings establish visual continuity between the interior and the rock, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the café and softening the boundary between enclosed and open spaces."

"Material continuity between architecture and landscape is further reinforced through the reuse of stones extracted during the rock excavation. Selected pieces were refined by polishing their horizontal surfaces and were reintroduced as sculptural elements that also function as standing-height tables. These elements operate at the intersection of furniture and architecture, extending the presence of the site's geology into the interior environment."

Peacock Ha'il occupies a site in Ha'il, Saudi Arabia, constrained by an unfinished structure adjacent to a tall rock formation. The design treats the rock as an integral architectural condition by removing part of the formation to create a planted interior courtyard. The courtyard becomes the spatial core, with large panoramic openings that connect interior spaces to the rock and bring daylight deep into the café. Stones extracted during excavation are polished and reused as standing-height sculptural tables, reinforcing material continuity between landscape and interior. Interior fittings favor utilitarian furniture and restrained detailing to emphasize calm and orientation around the central void.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine