Promoting Cultural Identity Through Interior Design: Designing a Saudi Cultural Center as a Third Place

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to create an opportunity for Saudi students living in the US to increase their sense of belonging while being far away from their home country and introduce the Saudi culture to the visitors. By using the third-place theory (Oldenburg,1989), I designed a shared communal place for Saudi students in which they have the opportunity to showcase their cultural identity. In addition, this project plays an important role for designers which will promote their efforts to enhance the concept of third place and cultural identity together in their design approach. I used an online survey as the main method for data collection and precedent studies for data analysis in addition to the participants’ responses. The analysis goal is to measure the need for a Saudi cultural center in the U.S. along with the design needs for the center which displays cultural identity elements.