Philippine electrical engineer Noel Cabacungan has transformed his passion for heritage and architecture into a unique creative project, recreating a traditional house from Jeddah’s historic Al Balad district using nearly 5,000 LEGO bricks.
By day, Cabacungan works inspecting air-conditioning units at a manufacturing plant in Jeddah. By night, he devotes his time to his passion for literature, art and architecture, with LEGO becoming the medium through which he brings those interests together.
From the Philippines to Jeddah
Cabacungan moved from the Philippines to Jeddah in 2011 to work as an electrical engineer. Over time, the city became more than just a place where he worked and lived, eventually becoming a major source of inspiration for his creative projects.
He first encountered the historic Al Balad district out of necessity, visiting the area to send money to his family in the Philippines. His perspective changed over the years, particularly after the district was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
The historic streets and traditional buildings gradually caught his attention, encouraging him to look more closely at their architectural details and heritage value.
The Roshan House
Cabacungan named his LEGO creation The Roshan House, drawing inspiration from the traditional architecture of Al Balad.
Built with almost 5,000 LEGO pieces, the model reflects the distinctive character of Jeddah’s historic homes and demonstrates how traditional architecture can be reinterpreted through a contemporary creative medium.
His interest in heritage extends beyond Jeddah. Every year, Cabacungan visits other parts of the Kingdom, including Al Bahah and Abha, where he explores traditional mud houses and stone structures for inspiration.
“I love heritage sites and old architecture,” Cabacungan says, describing the passion that has influenced his work and encouraged him to explore the Kingdom’s architectural heritage.
Calls for an official LEGO set
The Roshan House has attracted growing attention, with a petition calling for the design to become an official LEGO set representing Saudi culture and architecture on the global stage.
If adopted, the project could offer an innovative way to introduce one of Jeddah’s most distinctive architectural traditions to an international audience through a globally recognized creative platform.
Cabacungan’s story also highlights a different kind of connection between residents and the cities they call home. What began as an ordinary part of his daily life in Jeddah eventually became a source of inspiration, leading him to reinterpret a piece of the city’s architectural heritage through art and LEGO.
