Saudi Mapscape

This project began with my fascination with maps and a deep curiosity about the history of exploration. I’ve always longed to discover the world in the old-fashioned way—by unfolding a map and letting it guide me into the unknown. That spirit of discovery inspired me to create a kind of pseudo-map of Saudi Arabia, designed not to reveal physical landmarks, but rather its rich and diverse soundscapes.

Through this work, I wanted people to experience Saudi culture purely through sound. The project takes the form of an augmented reality (AR) experience. The map—either projected or printed—is paired with a QR code. When scanned, it leads users to a mobile interface that provides instructions for exploring the map.

Users are invited to tap on numbered regions to listen to the sounds associated with different parts of Saudi Arabia. The experience is dynamic and spatial: as users move around, the audio shifts accordingly. For instance, stepping away from the map lowers the volume, while moving to the right causes the sound to shift toward the left ear, and vice versa. It’s an immersive journey that transforms the simple act of looking at a map into a multi-sensory exploration of culture and place.