A Personal Encounter with Traditional Desert Built Environment of Qassim, Saudi Arabia

A Personal Encounter with Traditional Desert Built Environment of Qassim, Saudi Arabia Hisham MortadaDept of ArchitectureKing Abdul Aziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia

Documentation & Analysis of Traditional Architecture of Saudi Arabia(2010-2014)

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

Aim: Documenting traditional architecture of Saudi Arabia (space distribution, external treatment, construction materials and techniques, influencing factors, etc.)

DATASA

15432

Surveyed Cities & Settlements (108)

5

TRABASA: 3D Laser Scanning

Historic Jeddah

TRABASA: 3D Laser Scanning

Urban configuration, city wall and gates, street network, land uses, etc.Al-UlaDhahran al-Janoub

City Analysis

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

Conventional Means

Note taking, observation, measuring, sketching, and drawing

Conventional Means

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

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

Al-UlaBani Malik, JazanTaif

Photographic Survey

Al-ZulfiWadi al-Dawaser

Video Taping

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

Thermal Analysis

A surveyed dwelling, al-Dariayh

GPS

Location definition using MotionX

Added floor, UmlojIntegrated structure, Hail

Interpretation

Architectural 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.)

AsirAflajUmlojTaif

Oral History

DammamAl-GhatOshaigerGezan

Local Resources

Libraries & museums

26.2 - 1.3.2013Al-Qassim

Maqsorat al-SewalemAl-Khobara

A look back

1999-2000: Arizona (Tucson, Tubac, etc.), US, high tech modern buildings constructed out of mud. Public and Private Trent

2002: Riyadh

2002: Dariah

2003: Chile, Santiago, PLEA

2003: Atacama Desert, Chile

2005: Peru, Indies Villages

2006: Wadi Douan, Yemen

2007: Harar, Ethiopia

2008: Santa Fe, USA

2009: Segou, Mali

2011

2010: Wadi Mezab, Algeria

20112011: Rajastan, India

2013

Qassim Earthen Built Environment: Values & Distinctions (Urban & Architectural Scales)

Environmental

Social

Economical

Al-Khobara: Growing out of Earth

Al-Khobara: Old Islamic Urban Form

Al-Khobara: Hierarchy of Defense Walls

Al-Khobara:, Public spatial Hierarchy (streets & open spaces)

Al-Khobara: Out of human scale open spaces (the Souq saha/Majlis)

Al-Khobara: Out of human scale open spaces (the Souq saha)

Al-KhobaraAl-Khobara

Al-Midhhnab

Expected use

Al-Khobara, Restricted Building Heights, Cultural Aspect

Al-Khobara, Windowless Facades

Al-Khobara, Earth Color

Al-Khobara, texture, more shading more cooling of external

Al-Khobara: Strong Contrast

Al-Khobara, flooring, smooth mud layer

Al-Khobara, Dramatic Lights

Al-Midhnab, Deep Spaces

Al-Midhnab, darkened walls

Al-Midhnab, Highly decorated doors

Al-Khobara, Palm Tree Wood Door Frame

Al-Khobara, Door Lock Technique

Al-Midhnab, Highly Decorated Majlis

Al-Midhnab, Internal partitions

Al-Khobara, Kharaza, cyldnderical columns

The Hangers

Al-Jassah, purpose & durability

Summary & ConclusionsThe traditional built environment of Qassim represents the most elegant type of desert architecture. Its features reflect socio-cultural aspects of residents in a manner that differentiates it from any other type of traditional desert architecture.

Thank you for listening!Hmortada@kau.edu.sa