Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia: Diversity within Unity (Cottbus, Germany, May 2015)

Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia: Diversity within Unity

Hisham MortadaDept of Architecture

King Abdul Aziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Ancient History

Regions: Culture & Environment

• Eastern Province

Regions: Culture & Environment

• Read Sea Coast & Tihama Plain

• Najd

• South-western Heights &

Najran

1. Read Sea Coast & Tihama Plain

JeddahYanbu

DubaAl-Wajh

Umluj

• Costal Cities:

Jeddah

City Wall

City Gates: Mecca Gate, 1930

Jeddah

Urban Fabric

Jeddah

Jeddah Dwellings

Jeddah

Coral Reefs

Jeddah

Woodwork: Rowshans & Mashrabias

Jeddah

Jeddah

Woodwork: Doors with floral patterns

Jeddah

Yanbu

History, economic fame, & importance

Yanbu

Building Materials: limestone, coral reef and wood

Yanbu

Woodwork

Yanbu

Space and Façade Treatment

Yanbu

Urban compactness

Umluj

Simple low rise buildings

Umluj

Spatial distribution of a typical house

G. Floor Up. Floor

Umluj

Building materials: limestone and coral reef

Umluj

Roofing material: mangrove & palm tree trunks and leafs

Umluj

Façade and woodwork

Duba

Coral reef Dwellings

Duba

Woodwork

Al-Wajh

Façades and Materials

Al-Wajh

Functional Plan of Two Domains

Read Sea Coast & Tihama Plain

MedinaMecca

Al-’Ula

Taif

Inland Cities:

• The Quran

• The Bible“Blessed is he the one passing through the Valley

of Bacca making it a well; and the rain will filleth the pool” (Psalm 84:6)

“The first house (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bacca, full of blessings and guidance for all kinds of beings”

Origin of Mecca/Becca

Mecca during Prophet Abraham, 2000 BC

Plan of Mecca by Bokheart, 1814

Mecca City, 1888

Mecca Mosque toward the end of 19th Century

Traditional Architecture of Mecca

Medina

Medina

Prophet’s Mosque, 7th century AD

Medina, 18th Century Medina, 1950s

Medina

Medina

Urban Fabric

Medina

Houses

Medina

Woodwork

Al-‘Ula

Urban Fabric

Al-‘Ula

Upper urban layer: Female circulation

Al-‘Ula

Dwelling SetupG. Floor

1st FloorRoof

Elv. Sec.

Al-‘Ula

Building Materials

Taif

Walled city

Taif

Inside the wall houses

Taif

Outside the wall houses

Taif

Outside the wall houses: Shobra Palace

2. South-Western Highlands & Najran

Albaha

Asir

Najran

Jazan

Al-Baha

Al-Baha

Zee Ein Village

Al-Baha

Zee Ein Village

AnimalsStore

Living

Sleeping SleepingKitchen

Al-Baha

Building materials

Al-Baha

Building materials: Massive stones

Al-Baha

Building materials: Wood for ceiling elements (tar layered)

Al-Baha

Building materials: Wood for columns, beams & windows

Al-Baha

Building materials: Wood for doors

Asir

Topography

Asir

Stone Buildings Mud Buildings

Asir

Stone village Mud village

Asir

Spatial Arrangement

Asir

Mixed materials

Asir

Mud buildings

Asir

Wall Maintenance

Asir

Stone Buildings

Asir

Color for Distinction

Asir

Woman’s role

Jazan

Island and Costal Type: Farasan Island and Sabia

Jazan

Osha buildings: Gizan city

Jazan

Gizan 1950s

Jazan

Hut clusters

Jazan

Hut structure

Jazan

Hut interior

Jazan

Mountain building style: Bani Malek and Fifa

Najran

Harmony between building material and surrounding environment

Najran

Dwelling Height

Najran

Najran

Color for Emphasis

Color for Emphasis

Najran

Roof for living

Najran

3. Najd

Dari’ah

Riyadh

Symphony of Sand

Najd

Desert Oases

Najd

Temperature

Rainfall

Najd

Climatic Conditions

Dari’ah

Integrated Compact Urban Form

Dari’ah

City Wall

Building Materials

Dari’ah

Airvents

Dari’ah

Dari’ah

courtyard

Inwardness

Dari’ah

Inwardness

Riyadh

Urban Form

1919 1932

Riyadh

City Gates

Riyadh

City Center: Al-Dera (market place)

Riyadh

City Center: Governor Palace

Riyadh

Simple Windowless Facades

Riyadh

Central Courtyard

courtyardcourtyard

Riyadh

Doors

Riyadh

Mosmak Palace

QatifHafouf

4. Eastern Province (Hassa)

Eastern Province (Hassa)

Qatif

Qatif, 1955

Qatif

Urban Fabric

Qatif

Courtyard Dwellings

courtyard

Qatif

Arcade

Qatif

Building Materials: Mud & Limestone

Qatif

Building Materials: Palm & Mangrove Trees

Hafouf

City Urban Form & Wall

Kut

Hafouf

City Gates & Towers

Hafouf

The Kut’s Plan

Hafouf

The Kut from Outside

Hafouf

Ibrahim Palace

Hafouf

Saad bin Jiluwi House

Documentation & Analysis of Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia

Documentation & Analysis of Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia (DATASA)

• In 2009, KAU signed a scientific exchange agreement with Technical University of Vienna (TUV) to jointly conduct a research to document traditional architecture of Saudi Arabia.

• Aims:• Technology transfer• Documenting traditional architecture of Saudi Arabia

(space distribution, external treatment, construction materials and techniques, influencing factors, etc.)

Documentation & Analysis of Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia (DATASA)

• VUT’s Responsibility: Training KAU’s students and faculty members on the use of the latest technologies (i.e. 3D laser scanning) of documenting historic buildings in Jeddah.

• KAU Team’s Responsibility: Documenting traditional architecture throughout Saudi Arabia (except Jeddah)

• Project Period: 36 months, starting May 2011

• Number of Participants: 25 faculty members and more than 60 students.

• Achievement: Surveying the traditional architecture and urbanism of 104 cities, towns, villages and settlements in Saudi Arabia.

DATASA

1

5

43

2

R1. Red Sea Coast• Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Taif, Yanbu, Ummluj, al-Wajeh, Duba, al-Ula, al-Qunfudah, Bani Hareth, al-

Sa’ad, and Besan (13)

R2. Southern Region• Al-Baha, Zee Ein, al-Malad, Rejal al-Ma’a, al-Khalaf, Khames Moshait, Sarat Obedah, al-Qara’ah, al-

Harja, al-Shat, al-Salem, Ahad Rofaidah, Dhahran al-Janoub, Abha, al-Hoza, Najran, al-Ojam, al-Hedhen, Fefa, Bani Malik, Manef, Farasan Isalnds, Sabya, and Gezan (25)

R3. Central Region• Riyadh, Dariyah, al-Hair, Sados, Oshaiqer, Shaqra, al-Kharj, Wadi al-Dawaser, al-Faow, Aslamyah,

Horemla, Qasab, Raghbah, Hotat Bani Tamem, al-Ghat, al-Dawadmi, al-Majma’h, al-Dakhlah, al-Kharjah, Odet Sodair, Hotat Sodair, Rodat Sodair, Jalajel, al-Zolfi, Samnan, Alaqah, Layla, al-Bade’ al-Shamali, al-Bade’ al-Janobi, al-Seikh, Oyon al-Aflaj, Onayzah, Boraidah, Oyon al-Jewah, al-Mothnab, al-Khabrah, Maqsorat al-Soaylem, al-Rass, al-Bokeriayh, al-Badae’a, Hail, Jobah, al-Mostajadah, al-

Ghazalah, al-Haet, and Fed (47)

R4. Eastern Province• Dammam, al-Hafouf, al-Qatief, Taroot Island, Dareen, al-Oqair, al-Jobail, al-Mobaraz (8)

R5. Northern Region• Sekakah, Domat al-Jandal, al-Qourayat, Kaf, al-Raslanyah, Eian al-Hawas, Ethrah, Manwah, Tabouk,

Taima, and Rafha (11)

DATASA

Surveyed Cities & Settlements

DATASA

Scales:• Urban• Architecture

Techniques:• 3D laser scanning• City analysis• Conventional means (measurement, drawing, sketching)• Photography• Video taping• GPS & thermal assessment• Interpretation• Oral history• Local resources

JEDDAH

TRABASA: 3D Laser Scanning

• Traditional Architecture Recorded by Means of Building Archaeology in Saudi Arabia (2011) 3D laser scanning (Historic Jeddah)

TRABASA: 3D Laser Scanning

• Urban configuration, city wall and gates, street network, land uses, etc.

Al-Ula Dhahran al-Janoub

City Analysis

Yanbu

City Analysis

Al-Alaga Village


Wadi al-Dawaser

City Analysis


Domat al-Jandal

City Analysis


Domat al-Jandal

Farasan Island

Conventional Means

• Note taking, observation, measuring, sketching, and drawing

Spatial distribution, al-Aflaj

Construction materials, Asir

Construction technique, Oyon al-Jewa

Conventional Means


Conventional Means


Al-Ghat

Asir

Yanbu

Conventional Means


Conventional Means

• Resulted drawings (floor plans and sections for 2 houses of each settlement)

A house GF, Farasan Island A house elevation, Al-Qunfodah

Conventional Means

• Resulted drawings (floor plans and sections for 2 houses of each settlement)Yanbu Najran

Conventional Means

• Resulted drawings (floor plans and sections for 2 houses of each settlement)Al-Zafier, Baha Wadi al-Dawasir

Conventional Means


Kaf Palace, JoufA House GF, Horaimla

Conventional Means


A House GF, Manwah, JoufA House GF, Old Tabouk

Conventional Means


Al-Nawar House, Historic Jeddah

Al-Ula Bani Malik, Jazan

Taif

Photographic Survey

Al-Zulfi Wadi al-Dawaser

Video Taping

Al-Dariya (30 vs. 46°c) Al-Hair (30 vs. 62°c)

Thermal Analysis

A surveyed dwelling, al-Dariayh

GPS

• Location definition using MotionX

Anad al-Ghoraidh House, Tabouk

GPS


Wall remains, Hotat Bani Tamim

GPS


Added floor, Umloj Integrated structure, Hail

Interpretation

• Architectural Scale

Half building, Hafuf

Missing space, Duba

Undefined courtyard, Hail

Interpretation


Collapsed column, Hail

Misplaced column, Oyon al-Jewa Unrecognized space use, Bani Malik, Jazan

Cut beam, Umloj

Interpretation


Cemented mud wall, al-Khobra

Missing boundaries, Hail

Lower openings, Maqsorat al-Swelem

Interpretation


Original colour? Taif Incomplete Rowshan, Yanbu Foreign figures, Hail

Interpretation


Ruined district, Alaga

Unidentified commercial street, Dhahran al-Janob

Interpretation

• Urban Scale

Ruined district, Yanbu

Unidentified urban layout and foreign style, Sabya

Deserted settlement, Zulfi

Unrecognizable urban layout, Aflaj

Winding sabat, Qatif

Interpretation

• Urban Scale

• Urban aspects (wall, gates, major streets, land uses, etc.)

• Architectural aspects (space usage, style, construction materials & techniques, master builders, source of construction materials, etc.)

• Influencing factors (i.e. history, environment, economy, culture, etc.)

Asir Aflaj Umloj Taif

Oral History

Jazan

Najran

Dhahran al-JanobYanbu

Oral History

Fed Al-Mothnab Al-Wajh

Oral History

Kaf, Jouf Zolfi Al-Mostajedah

Oral History

Dammam

Al-GhatOshaiger

Gezan

Local Resources

• Libraries & museums

Summary & Conclusions

• DATASA is the first attempt in the history of Saudi Arabia to scientifically record and survey the traditional architecture of the country.

• The results of the project will be delivered in the form of reports and published papers and books. Various internet media and documentary productions might be considered in future.

• The members of the project team have painfully witnessed the vanishing of very precious buildings and entire settlements that are significant to the regional history and identity of Saudi Arabia.

• Local communities have a fundamental responsibility in protecting the heritage they produced. Authority should raise public awareness to maintain local heritage.

Thank you for listening!

[email protected]

Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia: Diversity within Unity (Cottbus, Germany, May 2015)

Design

Transcript of Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia: Diversity within Unity (Cottbus, Germany, May 2015)