Architecture in the United Arab Emirates
Architecture and Socio-Cultural
Changes
Architecture in the UAE was influenced by rapid and drastic
economic, social and cultural changes that took place in the Gulf region
during the second half of this century. The discovery of oil with commercial
quantities caused an instant growth of national income. Large size projects
and developments were launched in an effort to upgrade the standard of
living of the citizens.
The following is a comparison between architecture before
and after the discovery of oil and its relationship to social and cultural
changes.
Vernacular
Architecture in the UAE
Vernacular architecture in the UAE had special characters
similar to other parts of the Gulf area. It was influenced by the natural
environment as well as economic, social and cultural factors.
Settlements found before the discovery of oil were small
and primitive. They were usually located close to intersections of trading
routes or strategic coastal areas. Abu Dhabi was a small village where
coastal tribes settled. Al Ain was an oasis village rich with water and
palm trees. Its dry weather attracted coastal settlers during the hot humid
summer season. Because of its location on the entrance of the curving creek
(Khoor), Dubai acquired an important position and was able to develop
an outstanding trading center with India for pearl and goods. Other small
villages were located in the routes of trading or near significant coastal
areas.
Citadels and forts were built for defense purposes. They
were large in size and built using thick walls made of stone with rounded
or square defense towers at each corner. They signified territories and
provided refugees during tribal wars. Mosques were moderate in size, much
smaller than the forts, and located near houses and farms. They were usually
rectangular in shape using thick stone walls.
Al Hisn Fort tower at Abu Dhabi
Al Hisn Fort at Abu Dhabi
Al Murabaa Fort at Al Ain
The Vernacular Houses
Residential areas containing houses were spread apart allowing
different tribal clans to cluster together and expand their territory as
needed. Public areas were available amidst each cluster allowing social
activities to take place.
There were several types of houses:
The tent
The traditional tent was home and shelter for the Bedouins
during the winter season. It was carried over camels during traveling.
Made of animals’ skin and hair, it was easy to fold, unfold and move around.
The tent was divided into two parts; one for men and the other for women.
Another tent was used for cooking and storage. The tents were arranged
around the herding area or the oasis forming a circle or square with the
Sheikh’s (the head of the tribe) tent in the middle so that guests
could recognize it. During winter season, the tribe spread over the area
wherever food and water were available sometimes half an hour apart.
Al Arish
During the summer season, the Bedouins used to live in shelters
called Al Arish which were made of palm tree leaves. Al Arish
was made of two parts: 1) the main area 2x4 meters used for sitting and
sleeping, 2) a small area, 2x2 meters used for cooking, storage and raising
of animals. The Bedouins considered Al Arish their second home after
the tent.
Al Arish at Dubai Museum
Permanent Houses
Permanent houses were made of stones or Guss (mud
mixture made as blocks) and covered with palm trees leaves. Winter houses
were built near coastal areas, while summer houses were mainly around palm
tree farms. Some settlers built their summer houses over their winter houses
with special openings to help natural ventilation.
During the summer season many settlers were forced to leave
their coastal settlements because of heat and humidity, pending trading
activities and pearl catching trips. They used to go to the oasis in the
desert where they collected dates, which was their main crop stored for
the winter season. During the winter season they used to go back to the
settlements by the Gulf and resume their normal activities of traveling,
fishing, trading and pearl catching.
Privacy was an important factor in the arrangement of the
houses. The male reception area was separated from other family private
areas. It had direct access from outside without going through the house.
The courtyard was restricted to family activities. It was used by women
to move between house parts. The courtyard was an important feature of
the house. It occupied half of the traditional house area. It provided
privacy for women to conduct their social activities, eating, and sleeping
during the hot summer season.
The traditional permanent houses consisted of the following
parts:
-
Al-Hoash or Al-Hawi was the central courtyard of the house.
(Al-Hawmeans the container in Arabic because it contains the house.)
It was an important part of the house where family activities took place.
It provided an interior private space for family members especially women.
It was covered with clean sand. No trees or plants were found inside the
courtyard.
-
Al-Samat was the eating area. It was raised by several steps overlooking
the courtyard.
-
Al-Makhzan was the storage area.
-
Al-Mukhtasar was the small seating area inside the house, where
family members could sit together.
-
Al-Jaleeb was the water well. When used for farming, the well was
called Al-Rig and when used for drinking it was called Al-Tawi.
-
Al-Liwan was the outside seating area overlooking the courtyard.
-
Al-Musalla was the area used for praying.
-
Al-Mathar was the place used for ablution.
-
Al-Daraiesh meant the windows.
-
Al-Darawiz meant the doors.
Example of Traditional Permanent Houses
Characteristics of Vernacular Architecture
Al-Barjeel or Al-Kashteel traditional
wind towers
Wind-towers details
Al-Bor Al-Kashteel, wind-tower, was
used in many parts of the Gulf region. It was a tall structure with vertical
openings in all directions, with internal walls arranged diagonally so
that any breeze is forced downwards and up again before it can escape.
This creates a circulation of air in rooms used in summer. Rooms used in
winter were not provided with wind-towers.
Wind-towers were square in plan, showing an X configuration
of interior planes. They were built around an armature of wooden poles,
which stabilize and reinforce the structure, and whose projecting ends
were usually left to serve as scaffolding for cleaning and maintenance.
The top half of the wind-tower was an enclosed funnel that
accelerates the descending air into a room below. Al-Barjeel became
a symbol of architecture in the Gulf region. It provided a satisfactory
solution for bringing air inside the rooms while being protected against
the harmful sun.
Construction material varied
according to the location of the residential area. Natural materials were
used in the construction of the house. Stone, mud brick, wood and palm
tree reeds were used for walls and roofs. Houses built near coastal areas
were made of palm tree leafs and wood. Several houses were built using
coral stones. Houses in the villages and oasis were built of mud or
Guss-
a mud mixture used to make walls. Bedouins’ houses were tents made of animals’
skin or
Arish made of palm tree leafs and wood. Natural construction
materials were suitable for the hot and humid weather conditions.
The streets were narrow, 3 to 4 meters
in width, providing a convenient space for people to walk. Public spaces
were provided away from the houses for tribal gathering and activities.
Each clan of a tribe was to cluster together in neighborhoods providing
alliance and territoriality for its members. These were important aspects
of group relationships with status and power implications.
The buildings were simple from
outside and inside. Interior spaces, architectural elements and decorations
were primitive.
The windows were rectangular
with low sills especially in the reception and seating areas.
Decoration patterns were made
using wood, stone, glass, and brick. The decoration patterns were mainly
borrowed from traditional patterns related to Islamic religion.
On the banks of the Dubai Creek, where it curves out to
join the sea, stands Sheik Saeed House. This was the home of Sheik Saeed
Al Maktoum, grandfather of the present ruler of Dubai, who lived there
until his death in 1958.
Built over 100 years ago in the traditional architectural
design of those times, the Sheik Saeed House was made from coral stone,
lime and plaster. There are two main entrances, one from the sea-side directly
into the main courtyard, and the other from the creek into a smaller courtyard.
The house is two-storied, with 30 rooms, 20 verandahs, 3 courtyards and
10 washrooms, dividing the house into six independent living quarters.
The rectangular rooms contain many niches, which are made of offset wall,
built to allow breeze into the rooms for ventilation and cooling.
The unique feature of the Sheik Saeed House is the Barjeel
or wind tower, which is a cooling device rising 5-8 meters above the roof
level, and square in design. The wind tower catches the prevailing wind
and directs it to the rooms below through vertical shafts. On its way down
the velocity of air is increased, its temperature reduced cooling the rooms
below. There are four wind towers in the Sheik Saeed House. These are used
during the hot summer months and closed during the winter.
In order to preserve this significant and historic house,
a detailed survey and designing was carried out for the re-construction.
Systematic re-construction commenced in 1984 accompanied by the manual
dismantling of the house into pieces. All salvaged parts were catalogued
for use in the re-construction work. Traditional building materials such
as coral stone, lime and plaster were married with a modern re-enforced
concrete structure to construct the authentic and fine structure we see
today. Specially crafted carved teak doors and windows, plaster screens,
corbels and cornices adorn this beautiful building, which was completed
in 1986.
The Sheik Saeed House stands as a reminder of the rich past
heritage, the traditional art, architecture and culture of Dubai, and the
re-construction of this house is a true example of merging modern building
systems with traditional building materials.
Ground Floor Plan of Sheik Saeed House
Upper Floor Plan of Sheik Saeed House
Wind Towers at Sheik Saeed House
Construction material of the walls
Windows and Decorations at Sheik Saeed
House
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