Ibrahim Joharji
إبراهيم جوهرجي · Architect · Theorist · Visual Artist
Every project is a decision about what the built world should become.
| Practice | INJ Architects · Jameel Square, Office 109, Jeddah |
| Location | Jeddah, Makkah Region — Saudi Arabia |
| License | Saudi Council of Engineers — Member No. 33222 |
| Languages | Arabic, English |
Philosophy
INJ Architects is an architectural practice focused on ideas, context, and execution. We value meaning before form, clarity before excess, and quality over quantity. Our work is guided by the belief that architecture should respond to real conditions rather than repeat familiar formulas.
The office does not aim to serve every brief in the same way. Instead, it seeks projects that allow a thoughtful relationship between concept, function, and place.
A Practice Built on Four Foundations
Architecture, visual art, research, and theory operate as connected parts of one practice.
Architecture
- Indonesian ConsulateDiplomatic · Parametric
- NEOM Mountain ResortFuture City · Confidential
- Ministry of InteriorGovernmental · Madinah
- Border Guard CommandSecurity · Strategic
- AMA Infinity VillaLuxury Residential
- MFJ MansionsUltra-Luxury · Al-Marjan
- Umm Al-Qura HospitalHealthcare · 300 Beds
- Aquapower Visitor CentreCultural · Shuaiba
Visual Art
- TOPOARTICTopographic Visual Language
- IBRA ChairCubist Furniture Design
- Jeddah ArtStereoscopic Design
- Islamic Art & GeometryGeometric Visual Language
- INJ MaskDesign · Pandemic Era
Research
- Last MealDelivery Era Urbanism
- CeilographySpatial Reading Method · 2015
- Tawaf Movement StudySacred Space · Makkah
- Jeddah Heritage VisionPreservation · Al-Balad
- Luxury & LongevityArchitecture & Life Quality
- AC Water ReuseEnvironmental Sustainability
- Rock Cutting StudyCarbon Reduction
- TourbanityTourism + Urbanism
- Emergency HousingIDP Solutions
Theory
- ArchigeneticsOriginal Architectural Theory
- White Earth CompetitionFounder & Director · 2021
Archigenetics
Archigenetics is a framework developed by Ibrahim Joharji that treats architecture as more than a cultural or functional product. It proposes a deeper relationship between built form, identity, and inherited visual preference.
The idea asks how personal memory, family resemblance, and spatial taste may shape the way we design and inhabit space.
The theory grows from experience in computational design, parametric systems, and architectural visualization, combining technical practice with conceptual research.
Selected Work
A selection of executed projects spanning diplomatic, governmental, residential, and cultural work.
Indonesian Consulate — Jeddah
Design and construction of the new Consulate General of Indonesia in Jeddah. The facade combines Indonesian batik geometry with Islamic references in a culturally bilingual approach to diplomatic architecture.
Published: CNN Indonesia, Designboom, CCR Magazine, Republika, Metro TV
Portfolio: Divisare
International Presence & Design Engagement
Ibrahim Joharji has participated in international exhibitions, design summits, and professional forums across the United States, Europe, and the wider region, with a focus on design, materials, and the built environment.
Architectural Principal & Representative — INJ Architects
NEOM & Sovereign Development — Multiple Engagements
A series of design consultations across several national development initiatives — spanning mountain terrain, coastal development, immersive architectural visualization, and commissioned architectural projects within sovereign investment programmes.
Architectural Principal · Details Withheld by Agreement
Ministry of Interior — Madinah
Administrative buildings, warehouses, and workshop complexes completed through a three-year period of strategic engineering consultation.
Project Manager · Ministry of Interior
Project Index
A full record of work since 2011 — built projects, commissioned designs, competition entries, and research. Each project is labelled by its actual nature.
| Project | Type |
|---|---|
| Ceilography | Research |
| Indonesian Consulate Jeddah | Built — Diplomatic |
| Last Meal | Research |
| Ghiras Al-Madina | Commissioned — Cultural |
| Archigenetics | Theory |
| Shuaibah Visitor Center | Commissioned — Public Infrastructure |
| TopoArtic | Art Initiative |
| The Art Pipe | Competition — Honorable Mention |
| Cannelloni | Commissioned — Residential |
| Twist Haven Chalet | Commissioned — Residential |
| Riyadh Vista | Competition |
| Al-Balad: The Electromechanical Intrusion | Research |
| Esnad Riyadh Office | Commissioned — Commercial Interior |
| Tourbanity | Research |
| MFJ Mansion | Built — Residential |
| Harmony Resort | Commissioned — Hospitality |
| JED Art | Public Art |
| 550 Street Design | Concept — Urban |
| Bespoke Architecture and Longevity | Research |
| Jadwa Al-Kahlil Tower | Commissioned — Tower |
| Villa 200 | Built — Residential |
| AMA Infinity Villa | Built — Residential |
| AC Water Sustainability | Research |
| The Artistic Curl | Competition |
| Niebe Arctic Hotel | Competition — Finalist |
| Islamic Geometric Chandelier | Product Design |
| YIN YANG Old Hanglas | Competition — Master Plan |
| Embrace Nature | Competition |
| Building Departments Complex Yanbu | Commissioned — Government |
| IMK Renovation Interior Design | Built — Interior Renovation |
| NNL Villa | Built — Residential |
| Podgorica Square | Competition — Urban |
| RockSability | Research |
| Al-Falak Mosque | Competition — Religious |
| Beirut Reconstruction | Competition — Urban Recovery |
| FITT Research and Exhibition Center | Competition — Honorable Mention |
| Mushroom Whale Port | Competition |
| Athe-LAB 2023 | Competition — Cultural |
| LAVA Restaurant | Competition — Hospitality Interior |
| Bahar Tower DWD | Competition — Honorable Mention |
| TOB Villa | Built — Residential |
| NEOM Cup | Product Design |
| The Curved Bridge | Competition — Infrastructure |
| ZTM Desert Chalet | Built — Hospitality |
| FIA Villa | Built — Residential |
| Tawaf In COVID-19 | Research |
| Fandelier | Product Design |
| RR Villa | Built — Residential |
| IBRA Chair | Product Design |
| INJ Mask | Product Design |
| Jeddah Chamber Main Entrance | Commissioned — Civic Interior |
| Bin Darwish Tower | Concept — Feasibility Study |
| Xi’An Train Station | Competition — Infrastructure |
| Al Hajlah Hotel | Commissioned — Hospitality |
| BarJeel Museum | Competition — Museum |
| Hadia Pavilion | Concept — Public Pavilion |
| Misk Pavilion | Competition — Cultural Pavilion |
| Al Gaza Markets | Concept — Urban Market |
| Plastic Arc | Competition — Environmental |
| MABK Villa | Built — Residential |
| ZH Office Building | Built — Commercial |
| Azizia Stores | Built — Commercial |
| Kinetic Landmark Silicon Valley | Competition — Landmark |
| # Artwork | Public Art |
| Deyar Al Assayla | Commissioned — Residential |
| Saudi Council of Engineers | Competition — Institutional |
| Border Guard Officers’ Club | Built — Government |
| AL Soud Plaza Mall | Built — Commercial |
| Opera House and Music School SF | Competition |
| Mansion Complex | Built — Residential |
| Azizia Tower | Commissioned — Residential |
| Design and Construction of Helipad | Built — Government |
| Chicago CTA Stations | Competition — Infrastructure |
| Sea Home | Concept — Residential |
| Engineering Supervision MOI Buildings | Built — Government |
| Bridge of Apollo | Competition — Infrastructure |
| Awali Hills | Built — Residential |
| Joharji Hotel | Built — Hospitality |
| Mecca Future Tower | Concept — Residential |
| Aldgate London | Competition |
| Mine the Gap — Chicago Architectural Club 2010 | Competition |
| Container Villa 2010 | Competition |
| Green Villa 2010 | Competition |
Independent Research
Published research projects that examine architecture’s relationship with behaviour, infrastructure, and spatial experience.
Last Meal — Designing Cities for the Delivery Era
The rise of motorbike food delivery is changing urban life. Last Meal asks how architecture and urban design can respond.
Published on Archinect, the research proposes a simple urban code: standardized pickup windows, waiting zones, and better infrastructure for delivery workers.
Ceilography — Reading Architecture from Above
An ongoing personal research initiated around 2015, exploring the ceiling as an overlooked but defining surface in architectural experience.
Ceilography proposes a method of reading space from above, where the ceiling becomes an expression of the life that happens below it.
Beyond Architecture
The artistic work extends the same conceptual language into visual form.
Employment
| Institution | Duration | Role |
|---|---|---|
| INJ Architects | 2009 – Present | Founder and CEO — Jeddah & Makkah. |
| JRM Real Estate | 2007 – 2011 | Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. |
| Joharji Hotels | 2012 – 2024 | Owner’s Representative — Hajj & Umrah hospitality, Makkah. |
Academic Qualifications
- Bachelor of Architectural EngineeringUmm Al-Qura University, Makkah · 2006
- Diploma in Engineering Project ManagementPMI · 2012
- Diploma in International Commercial ArbitrationInternational Arbitration Organization
Professional Licenses
- Architectural ConsultantSaudi Council of Engineers
- Engineering Arbitrator — Category (A)FEIIC · SCE · Arab Center · AUCADS
- Civil Defense Systems InspectorNFPA, USA
- LEED Green AssociateUSGBC
- Safety SpecialistOSHAcademy
- International Real Estate EvaluatorLeague of Arab States
- SAP PractitionerApplied Technology Council, USA
- Wafi Off-Plan QualificationMinistry of Housing
Professional Training & Certifications
A technical base developed through continuous learning across design, sustainability, management, safety, and legal practice.
Architectural Design & Computational Technology
| Certification | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Visualization Diploma (50h) | ARTC Roma, Italy | 2012 |
| CTRL.SHIFT: Grasshopper & Processing (48h) | Co-de-iT, Vienna | 2013 |
| Responsive Skins: Parametric Design | d.NAT / Co-de-iT, Dubai | 2014 |
These foundations inform the technical side of the practice and the development of Archigenetics.
Sustainability & Green Building
| Certification | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies | USGBC | 2012 |
| LEED Green Associate Preparation (12h) | GBCI | 2018 |
| Energy Code: Commercial | Urban Green, NYC | 2017 |
| Energy Code: Residential | Urban Green, NYC | 2018 |
| Passive House Towering in NYC | BEEx, NYC | 2018 |
| Do No Harm: Net Zero Buildings | BEEx, NYC | 2019 |
| USGBC Organizational Membership | USGBC | 2021 |
Project Management
| Certification | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Diploma (100h) | SCE, Jeddah | 2012 |
| Saudi Building Code (15h · 4 Days) | NCTQ / SCE | 2015 |
| Saudi Building Code (12h · 6 Days) | NCTQ / SCE | 2015 |
| Air Pollution Modeling Workshop | SCE — Gulf Forum 16 | 2013 |
Safety & Occupational Health
| Certification | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| NFPA 13: Sprinkler Systems Seminar | NFPA, USA | 2014 |
| Workplace Safety Management (25h) | OSHAcademy | 2015 |
| 8-Hour Site Safety Manager | Big Apple Safety, NYC | 2017 |
| Safety Assessment Program (SAP) | AIA NY / ATC | 2017 |
Engineering Arbitration & Legal
| Certification | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Workshop in Construction Arbitration | SCE | 2010 |
| Arbitration & Dispute Resolution | SCE | 2013 |
| Real Estate Valuation — Int’l Standards | LAS / ADO, UAE | 2014 |
| Wafi Off-Plan Sales Program | SCE | 2015 |
| Int’l Commercial Arbitration Diploma | Equity College, London | 2018 |
| Int’l Commercial Arbitration Diploma | IAO / Arab Unity Council | 2018 |
| License to Practice Int’l Arbitration | General Bar, Egypt | 2018 |
| Registry — Arbitrators Cat. (A) No. 597 | FEIIC, Cairo | 2018 |
| Arbitrator & Expert Registration | Arab Center | 2018 |
Professional Diplomas
| Diploma | Institution | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Management System (60h · AFA50371) | AFA, USA | 2020 |
| Occupational Health & Safety (60h · AFA50372) | AFA, USA | 2020 |
| Business Administration (60h · AFA50373) | AFA, USA | 2020 |
| Harmony in Sound and Space | ICAA, New York | 2019 |
| Healthscape Summit GCC | IDE Consulting, Dubai | 2016 |
Recognition & Media
Selected awards, competition results, and published coverage documenting the work.
International Awards & Competitions
- International Property Award — ArchitectureSaudi Arabia · 2025
- Luxury Lifestyle Awards — Residential Architecture2025
- Le Havre Port Competition — Art PipeFrance · 2024
- FITT Italy Research Center CompetitionItaly · 2021
- Iceland Hotel Architecture CompetitionIceland · 2021
- Detroit Tower Design CompetitionUSA · 2020
- Luxury Lifestyle Awards — Architecture2020
Media Publications
- CNN IndonesiaIndonesian Consulate Jeddah — Batik & Rawshan Design
- DesignboomParametric Batik Patterns — Indonesian Consulate Facade
- CCR MagazineIndonesian Consulate: Design Process & Narrative
- ArchinectDiplomatic Architecture and the Constraints of Sovereignty
- Global Design NewsIBRA Chair — Cubist-Inspired Design Language
- Sky Rye DesignArchigenetics: A New Theory Linking Architecture and Identity
- Art House Online GalleryTOPOARTIC — Innovative Art Initiative
- Sina Jiaju — ChinaCrafting Bespoke Luxury Residences with INJ Architects
- Archina — ChinaINJ Architects — Chinese Architectural Platform
- Gooood — ChinaThe Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah
- ArchelloIndonesian Consulate Jeddah — Project Documentation
- ArchUpCrafting Bespoke Mansions with Precision and Elegance
- ArchUpCeilography — Economics of Architectural Ceilings
- Art DailyTOPOARTIC — When Architectural Excavation Becomes Visual Language
- Pop Art MagazineThe Graphic Earth: TopoArtic and the Art of the Cut
- e-ArchitectureIbrahim Joharji — Architect Profile
- BritonianINJ Architecture — Organic Architecture in Saudi Arabia
- RepublikaSaudi Architect Redesigns Indonesian Identity in Jeddah
- Metro TV NewsIndonesian Consulate — Nusantara Cultural Design
- ArchcodThe ART Pipe — Le Havre Competition
- Perla RicoIbrahim Joharji — Architecture and Saudi Design
- Art InsiderINJ Architects — International Design Arenas
- Nabd NewsIbrahim Joharji — Le Havre Port Competition
- Digital WeekdayINJ Architecture — Sustainability Through Organic Architecture
- ArchotIbrahim Joharji — Crafting Distinctive Homes
Memberships
| Saudi Council of Engineers | Member No. 33222 |
| NFPA | Authorized Member |
| USGBC — LEED | Active Member |
| Urban Green Council | Active Member |
| Arab Federation of Arbitration Centers | Member No. 170 |
| FEIIC — Islamic Countries | Expert Member · Cat. (A) · No. 597 |
| Arab Center for Arbitration | Expert Member · Cat. (A) · No. 597 |
| American Society of Arab Architects | Active Member |
| Chicago Architecture Center | Member |
| Institute of Classical Architecture & Art | Member |
| AIA — New York Chapter | Active Member |
| Applied Technology Council | Active Member |
Legal Background & Advisory Roles
Key Legal Cases
| Case Value (SAR) | Judgment | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| +100 Million | In favour of JRM clients | 38116698 — Makkah |
| +100 Million | In favour of Masterpieces Auctions Co. | 38116695 — Makkah |
| +20 Million | Against the defendant | 36284669 — Makkah |
Advisory Roles
- Ministry of InteriorContracted consultant · 3 years · Strategic engineering guidance
- NEOMProject consultant · Urban and regional development
- Joharji HotelsHotel management expertise since 2012
- Feasibility StudiesReal estate, hospitality, SME projects
- White Earth Competition 2021Founder & Director — Sacred sites housing solutions
Archive
A documented record spanning two decades — sites, workshops, international engagements, and projects that shaped the practice.
2006–2008 — Abraj Al-Bait, Makkah
King Abdulaziz Endowment Project. On-site supervision of construction and fit-out across the commercial zone, restaurant areas, and interior corridors — documented prior to the addition of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower.
International Credentials — UN · Vienna · SCE
Attendance at the UN Sustainability Conference on Carbon-Free Cities (New York), Project Management Diploma with the Saudi Council of Engineers (Jeddah), and classical architecture fellowships in Vienna and New York.
Seminars & Panel Discussions
Participation in specialist panel discussions focused on construction technology, contemporary urban architecture, and carbon-reduction strategies in the built environment.
Technical Workshops & Applied Training
Hands-on training in energy code compliance (New York), environmental air pollution modelling, and computational simulation of green building performance (Dubai).
2014 — Ministry of Interior, Saudi Arabia
On-site documentation during a consulting engagement for administrative facilities — part of a three-year contracted advisory role with the Ministry of Interior.
Makkah — Joharji Gold & Jewellery
The Joharji family establishment in Makkah — one of the city’s oldest and largest gold and jewellery businesses. Ibrahim Joharji worked here during his youth before studying architecture. The fourth-generation heritage that later inspired the founding of Dhbna.
2009–2026 — INJ Architects, Jeddah
Principal office at Jameel Square — professional certificates and licences on display, alongside conference credentials from international engagements: Cersaie Bologna, THE LINE NEOM, UN Carbon Free Cities Forum, BIG 5 Jeddah Construct, and Türkiye Architectural Trade Mission.
Connect
Available for architectural consulting, engineering arbitration, and design projects.
إبراهيم جوهرجي — Ibrahim Joharji · Jeddah, Saudi Arabia