JEDDAH: The carved wooden balconies of Jeddah Historic District, known as Rawashin, have long defined the skyline of the Red Sea city.
Projecting gracefully from coral-stone facades, these intricate wooden screens are more than decorative elements; they are ingenious climate solutions designed for ventilation, privacy and social life in the hot and humid coastal environment.
Some of these homes date back more than 300 years. Restored and renewed, others still stand as they did centuries ago, quiet witnesses to Jeddah’s transformation from a historic trading hub into a modern metropolis.
For Noel Cabacungan, a Filipino resident of Jeddah who has worked outside the Philippines since 2007, the Rawashin are “the essence of Jeddah city and its beauty.” And through nearly 5,000 LEGO bricks, he is determined to share that beauty with the world.
Cabacungan’s “Roshan House” is his submission to LEGO Ideas, a platform where fans can turn original builds into potential official LEGO sets.
“LEGO Ideas is where you have the power to turn your dream LEGO builds into real-life, 100 percent official LEGO sets,” he told Arab News. “It’s the place to upload your own set ideas, browse hundreds of others, and vote for your favorites.”
His model is anything but modest. The Roshan House is composed of three floors, four including the rooftop, and seven if mezzanines are counted. Each floor and mezzanine is detachable, allowing detailed observation of the interiors inspired by traditional Hijazi homes.
To be specific, he said: “The design uses 4,998 pieces, including nine minifigures, three animals, and numerous utensils and accessories.”
“I may be biased for being a Jeddah resident,” Cabacungan added. “But I believe if there is one thing that one would easily recognize as historic Saudi Arabian architecture, it would be the Rawashin houses in Jeddah.”
Inspired by a city he calls home
Cabacungan works in quality assurance at Saudi Airconditioning Manufacturing Co., but says his profession did not directly shape his creativity.
“What really inspired my LEGO creations are the people I meet at work,” he said, noting that colleagues encouraged him to explore traditional architecture in the south of the Kingdom.
His relationship with LEGO began in 2019, when the brand opened a store in Jeddah. He purchased a cargo train set and later became interested in modular buildings, particularly the multi-floor designs that can be detached and reassembled.
Eventually, he began designing his own structures using digital software and ordering parts from BrickLink. After joining a marathon in Al-Balad in 2025, he knew his next major project would be the Rawashin houses.
A turning point came in 2025, when he had a private guided tour of Al-Balad, filled with personal anecdotes about the homes’ social and architectural significance.
“I was both amazed and somewhat afraid after the tour,” he said. “The interiors of the buildings are not simple. It was like an anthill with a staircase leading to so many rooms.”
While the exterior took roughly two weeks to complete, the interior required more than three months of meticulous work.
Cabacungan drew inspiration from the novel “The Architect’s Apprentice” by Elif Shafak, quoting a line that resonated with him: “Forza, utilita, belleza. If you give up one, you may end up losing all three.”
“Force, utility, and beauty,” he explained. “These are the three fundamentals of architecture, and the Rawashin houses embodied them all.”
The coral limestone and sea-mud concrete structures were designed to withstand Jeddah’s climate. The wooden screens provided privacy while allowing air circulation, long before air conditioning was invented. The majlis and layered room designs reflect the socio-economic needs of the time.
Going inside the historic homes deeply influenced his model’s interior layout. The ground-floor majlis and staircase placement were inspired by Beit Al-Matbouli, where staircases allowed fathers seated in the majlis to monitor their children leaving the house, a detail shared during his guided tour.
Not every feature could be perfectly translated into LEGO form due to parts and color limitations, but Cabacungan remained faithful to the spirit of the design.
“As a LEGO enthusiast living in Saudi Arabia, I have always wanted to have a LEGO set that will be easily recognized as Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Cabacungan speaks warmly of his adopted home: “Jeddah is such a welcoming city. And the longer you stay here, the more you feel at home.”
Reflecting on Al-Balad’s transformation, he added: “I travel to places to see traditions and heritage. And without realizing it, Al-Balad is just that right next to my home.”
His gratitude is deeply personal. “I am not Saudi, but I cannot deny the fact that the country has helped me professionally, financially, and personally. As a Filipino expat in Saudi Arabia, I wanted this to be my legacy.”
He describes the project as a collective achievement for overseas Filipino workers.
“The success of this project is a success for all OFWs (Overseas Filipino Worker) in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world,” he said. “It is a reflection of our versatility and adaptive minds to any adversities.”
Cabacungan reached his first 100 supporters in less than two days, a milestone he described as both “expected and surprising” due to the speed of response.
He credits social media engagement and culturally resonant content for the rapid traction.
“The local community in Jeddah are very much appreciative about this project,” he said. “They are claiming it as their own, which is exactly what it is. A representation of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and the world.”
Whenever someone supports his submission, they receive a message: “Each vote counts towards the preservation of history.”
If the model becomes an official LEGO set, it will include an instruction manual and an educational page explaining the architectural features of Rawashin houses, the significance of coral limestone in Red Sea cities, and the ventilation benefits of mashrabiya-style balconies.
“Most importantly, LEGO is a global brand,” he said. “If the LEGO Group approves The Roshan House for mass production, it will give Saudi tourism another step forward.”
Regardless of the outcome, Cabacungan plans to continue expanding his Saudi-themed LEGO city, incorporating local brands and cultural elements.
“Whether this LEGO submission reach all the milestones or not, I am still planning to do other creations with the same theme,” he said.
His advice to aspiring builders is simple: “In planning for designing models for LEGO Ideas submission, always go for what you strongly identify with. Do not go to what is popular if you lack significant interest with.”
Cabacungan’s Roshan House is more than a hobby project. “It is not just a LEGO creation, it is a tangible representation of heritage and creativity,” he said.
