RIYADH: In traditional Najdi homes, doors were never merely entrances; they reflected the identity of a household, showcased the artistic taste of its owners, and carried the signature of craftsmen who spent countless hours transforming wood into intricate works of art designed to endure for generations.
Today, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, otherwise known as Wrth, is helping preserve that legacy by opening registration for a new cohort of its Najdi Woodworking and Door Arts Apprenticeship Program, which aims to pass down the skills and knowledge behind one of the Kingdom’s most distinctive architectural traditions.
The 18-month apprenticeship will be held at the institute’s campus in Unayzah, in the Qassim region, where participants will receive hands-on training in traditional woodworking, Najdi carving and ornamentation, and the construction of traditional doors using both heritage techniques and modern tools.
For Basmah Al-Muqbil, a former graduate of the program and a woodcraft artisan, the appeal of the apprenticeship was immediate.
“Najdi doors are heritage artworks that tell the story of the Najd region and its culture,” she told Arab News. “Learning the details of this rich legacy gives artisans a sense of pride and of responsibility to preserve it.”
