Al Bassam Heritage House

Al Bassam Heritage House is a museum in Unayzah, in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, housed in a traditional Najdi family home. People come to see how a well-built household in central Arabia was planned and lived in, and to understand the building methods of the region at close quarters. It suits all ages, and there is no minimum age for entry. Inside, the house is divided into four parts: a reception area for men, a family section, a garden and pens for animals. You can also look at the majlis, an open yard and a dining hall. Tamarisk wood is used for ceilings, doors and windows, and the foundations are stone. Interior walls carry Al-Qatt decoration, and the museum presents everyday domestic life in Qassim. It is open Saturday to Thursday from 09:00 to 21:00, and on Friday from 16:00 to 22:00. The house stands near the western gate of Unayzah and covers about 3,500 square metres. Its builders used local materials and Najdi techniques, which is much of what makes it worth studying. After restoration, it was turned into a heritage centre, so it now serves as a record of Unayzah's past and of how towns in Najd developed. A visit gives useful background to the wider Qassim region.