INTRODUCTION

TODAY WHEN YOU THINK OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF

THE MIDDLE EAST, SOARING TOWERS, INDOOR SKI
SLOPES AND ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS OFTEN COME TO
MIND.
BUT BEYOND THE PERSIAN GULF, AND BEFORE OIL
MADE THE DESERT BLOOM, THERE WAS ANOTHER
ARCHITECTURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ONE THAT
MANAGED TO BRIDGE MODERNIST PRINCIPLES AND
VERNACULAR TRADITION, ONE THAT EXPRESSED
ITSELF IN CONCRETE AND STONE RATHER THAN
STEEL AND GLASS.
THE VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN MIDDLE EAST
IS THE PRODUCT OF LAND, THE LOCAL CLIMATE, AND
CULTURE.
THESE REGIONS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BY DIFFERENT
THE MAJOR DIVISIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST BASED ON
SOCIO-CULTURE AND MICROCLIMATES BUT HAVE REGION ARE :
MORE OR LESS THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS
EGYPT
. THE TRADITIONAL AND VERNACULAR TURKEY
ARCHITECTURE OF MIDDLE EAST INTRODUCED SYRIA
MANY REALISTIC SOLUTIONS AND DEVICES TO THE IRAQ
LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE IRAN
WIND-CATCHER AND COURTYARDS BECAME A SAUDI ARABIA
COMMON ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE IN BUILDINGS.
YEMEN
OMAN

OMAN
THE MOUNTAINOUS
AREAS: COASTAL REGION:
STONES, WHICH ARE HOT-HUMID CLIMATE
LOCALLY ABUNDANT PEOPLE: FARMERS AND FISHERMEN
USE OF THICK WALLS LAYOUT: EVAPORATIVE COOLING
WARM SUMMERS AND PROCESSES
COLD WINTERS WINTER COMPARTMENT: FLAT ROOF
SUMMER COMPARTMENT:KHAYMAH
(PITCHED ROOF).

MONSOON AREAS :
STONE COVERED , LAYER OF INTERIOR / DESERT OASIS:
LIMESTONE PLASTER. COMPACT LAYOUT, SMALL OPENINGS
THE CEILINGS FRAMES: COCONUT PEOPLE: FARMERS AND CRAFTSMEN
PALM FRONDS. BUILT FROM MUD/ BAKED BRICKS
ANGLED HOUSES: CATCH THE SEA THICK WALLS (MINIMIZE THE IMPACT
BREEZES OF SOLAR RADIATION)
SMALL CARVED WINDOWS. SMALL HOUSES: PITCHED PALM-FROND
THE PEOPLE :FARMERS, FISHERMEN (BARRISTI) ROOFS
AND TRADERS LARGER HOUSES: FLAT EARTH ROOFS
SUPPORTED BY PALM TRUNKS OR
MANGROVE POLES.

TURKEY
PEOPLE: MASONS AND CRAFTSMEN
TYPES OF HOUSES
- BLACKSEA SHORE HINTERLAND REGION
- ISTANBUL AND MARMARA REGION
- AEGEAN HINTERLAND REGION
- MEDITERRANEAN REGION
- CENTRAL ANATOLIA REGION
- EASTERN ANATOLIA REGION
- SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA REGION

MASONRY HOUSE:
CREATE INNER SPACES WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

TIMBER-FRAMED HOUSES
2-3 STOREYS HIGH
- GROUND FLOOR: MASONRY OR WOODEN
PILLARED STRUCTURES
- UPPER FLOORS: WOODEN FRAMES
- FILLING MATERIAL: ADOBE, CLAY, BRICK, STONE,
EARTH ETC.
IRAQ

IRAQ TRADITIONAL COURTYARD HOUSE FROM

- MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF ISLAMIC HOUSE
MORE THAN 5000 YEARS AGO. FOCUS ON SIMPLICITY -REPRESENTED IN THE FORM OF
. THE SUMERIAN COURTYARD HOUSE- FAMOUS EXAMPLE TRADITIONAL MUSLIMS HOUSE.{ HOUSE OF GOD (KAABA)},
CONCEPT OF SEGREGATION AND THE ISLAM REPRESENTS THE HOUSE AS MACHINE OR TOOL THAT SEEKS
HOUSE PRIVACY IMPORTANTANCE FOR IRAQIANS SATISFACTION OF RESIDENTS.
IRAQIS SOCIO-CULTURAL BEHAVIOR INSIDE ENTRANCE ENCLOSED
THE TRADITIONAL COURTYARD HOUSE REFLECTS THE SHOULD NOT OPEN DIRECTLY ON HOUSE COMPONENTS
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS. ENCLOSED GARDEN CONTAINING A POND IN THE MIDDLE
IT CREATES PRIVATE AND COMFORTABLE SPACE REPRESENTING PARADISE
TWO-STORY LOW RISE BUILDINGS RECTANGLE OR SQUARE IN SHAPE.
THE COMMERCIAL AREAS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE COURTYARD COVERED WITH VEGETATION AND FOUNTAINS.
RESIDENTIAL ONE. IT ACTS AS A SHELTER.
CITY DIVISION - ALLEYS, PUBLIC SPACES, PRIVATE AND
PRAYING ZONE.

IRAN
BUILDING MATERIAL : SUN-DRIED
BRICK AND RAMMED EARTH.

BUILDING TYPES: WIND TOWERS

CISTERNS

ICE HOUSES WITH WALLS BEHIND

WHICH WATER IN SHALLOW
CHANNELS FRIEZES AT NIGHT; ETC
SPACES - ACTIVITIES
FACING THE HOLY KAABA. (SOUTH-
WEST).
ENTRANCE: NARROW AND COVERED AN OLD IRANIAN DOOR. MEN USED THE
LANE. RIG DOORKNOCKER AND WOMEN THE
STREETS: FACING WIND DIRECTION LEFT.
AND ARE NARROWER OCTAGONAL SPACES.

THEN STAIRS, LEADING TO ANOTHER

OCTAGONAL SPACE.

THE CENTER :FIVE-DOOR SALOON,

GUESTHOUSE

WIND CATCHER :SOUTHERN

CORNER
BASEMENT WAS USED IN SUMMERS
AS A LIVING PLACE OR TO STORE
FOODSTUFF

BUILDING MATERIALS
MUD BRICKS: IN THE COLD SEASON THE
ABSORBED TEMPERATURE SERVE AS AN
INSULATION WHICH PROTECT THE INSIDE
AIR FROM BEING EFFECTED BY THE
CHILLY WINTER DESERT CLIMATE.
DURING HOT SEASON THE ABSORBED
TEMPERATURE, MUD AND UN BACKED
BRICKS STRONGLY RESIST THE
INCESSANT SUN RAYS.
 DWELLINGS
EGYPT HOUSING

CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMPACT WITH A CLOSED OUTER FACE.

RELIGION AND ARCHITECTURE PLANS ARE ABOUT 5-6 M WIDTH, UPPER
EGYPTIAN WESTERN DESERT (TO THE ONE USUALLY SMALLER, UNLESS IT
WEST OF THE NILE VALLEY), EXTENDS OVER A STREET BELOW.

THESE SETTLEMENTS ARE CHARACTERISED A ROOM SPANNING THE STREET.

BY A ITS LONG ENOUGH TO CREATE AN
ADEQUATE ROOM;
COMPACT STRUCTURE OF MUD-WALLED
SUCCESSION OF ROOMS CREATES
ALLEYWAYS
CONTINUOUS COVERAGE AND TUNNEL
NARROWLY SEPARATING HOUSES
EFFECT OVER THE STREET
ELABORATELY-CARVED WOODEN
PEDESTRIAN REQUIREMENT FOR
SUPPORT BEAMS
COVERAGE AND PROTECTION FROM
REPRESENT AND TECHNIQUES TO COPE
THE SUN.
WITH THE HARSH ENVIRONMENT
PREVAILING IN THE REGION. TWO STOREYS

SIMPLE BUILDING PROCESSES, THE TERRACE CONNECTED BY A CENTRAL

STAIRCASE - ALSO SERVING AS A
TECHNIQUES AND THE LOCAL MATERIALS
VENTILATION SHAFT THOUGH THE
EMPLOYED (EARTH AND WOOD).
CONSTRUCTION OF PERFORATED
WOODEN STEPS.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS SUN DRIED MUD BRICK, SOMETIMES MIXED

WITH STRAW
THE OPEN SPACES DURING THE
NIGHT IN SUMMER, WHILE THE THIS MATERIAL KEPT HOUSES INTERNALLY
AREAS UNDER COVER WERE COOL IN SUMMER AND WARM IN WINTER.
SHIELDED AGAINST DIRECT SUNRAYS MUD AND STRAW PLASTERING WERE
AND NATURALLY VENTILATED. APPLIED BY HAND ON THE WALL SURFACE
THE TERRACE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
THE OUTER COAT OF PLASTER PROTECTS THE
GAVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BRICKWORK
SLEEP OUTSIDE DURING THE HOT
SUMMER NIGHTS. DECORATED THE EXTERIOR WITH
WHITEWASH AND DECORATIVE BRICKWORK.

SYRIA
COURTYARD HOUSING
ARAB NOMADS MADE USE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
MUSHRABIYA IS A WOODEN
CONCEPT OF A COURTYARD DURING
BALCONY LOCATED ON THE OUTER
THEIR TRAVELS FAADE OF THE HOUSE - .
TENTS AROUND A CENTRAL SPACE, SUPPORTED BY TWO CANTILEVERED
PROVIDED SHELTER AND SECURITY TO WOODEN BEAMS, WHICH ARE
THEIR CATTLE ANCHORED IN THE EXTERNAL WALL.
THE TRADITIONAL COURTYARD HOUSE CLIMATIC FACTORS
IN SYRIA IS COMPOSED OF THREE THICK LOAD-BEARING STONE
MASONRY CONSTRUCTION ,
PARTS:
PROVIDES ADEQUATE THERMAL
A BASEMENT FLOOR; MASS.
A GROUND FLOOR COMPRISING THE COOLING TOWERS GIVES GOOD
SUMMER VENTILATION AS HOT AIR IS
MAIN LIVING
FUNNELED DOWN INTO THE
FIRST FLOOR COMPRISING THE PRIVATE BASEMENT, WHERE IT IS COOLED
AREAS AND LET OUT INTO THE COURTYARD
SPACE.
 SAUDI ARABIA WESTERN REGION: HOT HUMID (HIJA)

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE FOUR CENTRAL AND NORTHERN (NAJD): HOT DRY
REGIONS IS DIFFERENT. PLATEAU

THE FOUR VERNACULAR STYLES WERE EVOLVED EASTERN: HOT HUMID

OVER TIME TO CREATE A COMFORTABLE LIVING SOUTHERN (ASIR): HIGH MOUNTAINOUS
ENVIRONMENT IN RESPONSE TO FACTORS SUCH PROVINCE
AS
HIJAZ: CONCEPT OF MASHRABIYYAH
i. HARSH CLIMATE
TO PROVIDE PRIVACY TO THE RESIDENTS,
ii. CULTURE NATURALLY VENTILATE THE INTERIOR.
iii. ECONOMY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: CORAL STONES
iv. AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS VOLCANIC STONES WOOD AND GYPSUM.
SHIBAM , YZEMEN
THE CITIZENS OF SHIBAM HAD TO RESORT TO
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOSE KNIT , NARROW
BUT HGH BUILDINGS,RISING UPTO SEVEN OR
EIGHT STOREYS , WITH CEILING HEIGHTS
RANGING FROM 2 TO 6 METRES
HOT CLIMATE HAS MADE THE HOUSES TO BE
CLOSE PACKED , AND THE STREETS ARE TO BE
AVOIDED THE SCORCHING HEAT OF THE SUN
THE TRADITIONAL PLANNING OF THE TOWN
IS CHARACTERIZED BY:
NARROW ZIGZAG ROADS
VAST OPEN SQUARES
THE NARROW ZIGZAG ROADS , WHICH ARE STONE STRUCTURES IN FOUNDATION: PROTECTION FROM FLOOD
OPEN INTO VISTAS WITH CLOSED END DO
THE SAME FUNCTION OF THE SUN. STABLE STRONG AND DURABLE STRUCTURE
THEY STORES THE MODERATE COLD AIR AT DIG DEEP : FIRM SOIL,AT THE BOTTOM LAYER OF ANIMAL
NIGHT AND DO NOT LET IT LEAK AT THE FIRST DROPPINGS AND SALT.
BLOW OF THE AIR
TRADITIONAL LAYOUT AND CLIMATE IN THEN TIMBERS PARALLEL TO WALLS WITH STONE PACKED IN THE
SHIBAM CITY INTERSTICES.
IN DESIGINING AND PLANNING DRY,WET
AND HOT REGIONS ,ARCHITECTURE SUN DRIED BRICKS UP TO 6TH FLOOR EXTERNAL PROFILE TAPERED
ENCOUNTERS TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS
OUTSIDE SURFACE :PAINTED WITH LIME(HIGH SECURING PROTECTION FROM HEAT
REFLECTIVE PROPERTY)

HEAVY MASSED WALLS AND ROOFS OF HIGH

THERMAL INSULATION STORAGE CAPACITY

FLAT ROOFS, RAMAD (LIME+WOOD ASHES AND

SAND) FOR WATERPROOFING

ANALYSIS
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
THE MUSLIM-ARAB ARCHITECTURE WAS SHAPED BY ANCIENT CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORKS, WHICH THEY RESPONDED TO CLIMATIC, URBAN AND SOCIAL
CONDITIONS OF SOCEITY .
THE MIDDLE EASTERN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE WAS INFLUENCED BY
IMPORTANCE OF PRIVACY IN DAY TO DAY LIFE AND CLIMATE.
CURRENT SCENARIO
AS THE TIMES PROGRESSED THE VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE STARTED ALTERING OR
COMPLETELY CHANGING . THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
DECREASE IN FAMILY SIZE, WITH MORE WOMEN WORKING OUTSIDE THE
HOME.CHANGE FROM THE EXTENDED FAMILY STRUCTURE TO THE NUCLEAR
HOUSEHOLD TYPE.

THE MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES USED WERE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE LOCAL MAN ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNIQUES FOR BETTER LIVING.
TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM.
INFLUENCE BY MODERN LIFESTYLES
THE SOCIAL STATUSES OF DIFFERENT TIERS WERE REPRESENTED BY FACADE OF A
HIGH RENOVATION COSTS
HOUSE AT THE TIME.FOR EXAMPLE : IRAN
UNAVAILABILITY OF SKILLED CRAFTSMEN AND MASONS
THERE WAS A DISTINCT SEGREGATION BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE AND
THE OUTSIDE WORLD EVEN VISITORS SPACE AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

THE HOUSE SPACES ARE ALSO DIVIDED BASED ON THE GENDER OF THE FAMILY MULTI-STOREY APARTMENTS NOW BEING AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTION AS
MEMBER , SEEN IN IRAQ HOUSE. CANNOT AFFORD LARGE COURTYARD HOUSES.

SINCE THERE WERE NO WINDOWS IN THE OUTSIDE FACADE THE COURTYARD WAS A COURTYARDS, WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIAL ELEMENT IN THE VERNACULAR HOUSES SOCIALLY
WAY TO VENTILATE THE HOUSE AS WELL AS ENHANCE FAMILY TIES AND SEPARATION AND CLIMATICALLY, ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEMPORARY HOUSE
FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. EXCEPT YEMEN. DESIGN.ALTHOUGH USE OF WIND TOWERS STILL PREVAILS IN SOME AREAS

SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS, PROGRAMMING AND ZONING OF IMPORTANT SPACES THE COMPACT LAYOUT IS DEEMED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR AIR CONDITIONED
LINKED TO THE COURTYARD SPACES. BUILDINGS.

USE OF WIND CATCHERS WAS PREVALANT ALONGSIDE COURTYARDS SOME SOCIO-CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS LIKE SEGREGATION OF GENDER HAVE BEEN
RETAINED.