The Story
A1Architects is an architecture firm based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 2018 by Arch. Abdulaziz Khalid Al Tayyash. Since its establishment, the firm has grown into one of the leading architectural practices in the Kingdom, with a portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.
At A1Architects, the name is the standard. A1 is not a label — it is a commitment embedded in every decision we make, from the earliest sketch to the final detail. For us, architecture is not merely about constructing buildings; it is about design that shapes the essence of the human experience, that reflects culture, carries meaning, and leaves something worth inheriting.
We are deliberate in what we take on. Every project is held to the same standard, one that goes beyond aesthetics to touch how people feel in a space, how a place reaches the full potential of its context, and how design endures long after it is built.
A1Architects is rooted in a legacy that spans over four decades. The firm traces its origins to Dr. Khalid Al Tayyash, a pioneering figure who dedicated his career to architectural philosophy, Saudi heritage, and the study of the Kingdom's built culture. His work laid the intellectual foundation for what A1Architects stands for today.
His son, Arch. Abdulaziz Khalid Al Tayyash, grew up immersed in that philosophy. After years of learning under his father’s guidance, he took the practice forward transforming it into a formally registered company committed to those same values, while expanding its reach to a global scale.
The broader group, anchored by Qana'a Company, has operated across both public and private sectors for over 40 years, spanning design, engineering consulting, and contracting. In 2018, A1Architects separated from Qana'a to sharpen its focus on design depth and international-caliber projects, while Qana’a continued its comprehensive contracting role. Dr. Khalid Al Tayyash serves as Head Consultant across both entities, ensuring that the group's founding vision remains at the heart of every project.
What began as a design studio has since evolved into a global firm, family-run, well-organized, and built on generations of expertise.
Our mission is to elevate the way people live through meaningful design experiences, unlocking the full potential of each place within the language of refined luxury.
To be a world leading firm that translates a deep understanding of art and culture into meaningful architecture across the world.
The A1 standard is our measure for everything. It is the commitment that a space should not only function and impress, but elevate; that the people who inhabit it should feel the difference without needing to explain it. A standard you live in means that quality is not reserved for the façade or the first impression; it runs through every layer, every detail, every decision.
This is what drives every project we take on, not the scale of it, not the spectacle, but whether it meets that standard. Whether the person walking through the door, sitting in the room, or looking out the window feels something they cannot quite put into words, but would never want to live without.
