Manhattan of the desert,
Yemen's Ancient Mud Skyscraper City,Introduction,
SHIBAM,
SITE AND SURROUNDINGS,SHIBAM CITY PLANNING,Traditional Layout and Climate in Shibam City ,
The Needs of Ventilation ,
ARCHITECTURAL IMPRESSION & PLANNING CONCEPT
,Construction techniques of Mud Buildings,
ADVANTAGES OF MUD BUILDINGS
WINDOWS AND DOOR OF SHIBAM, CASE STUDY, VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Vernacular Study : AKIL SAMI HOUSE ,by Ar.HASSAN FATHY Siddiq Salim
The house was built by notable Egyptian Architect Hassan Fathy. It was built in Dahshur for the client Dr Akil Sami. The house is built using traditional Egyptian and Islamic building techniques and arrangements.
Vernacular Study : AKIL SAMI HOUSE ,by Ar.HASSAN FATHY Siddiq Salim
The house was built by notable Egyptian Architect Hassan Fathy. It was built in Dahshur for the client Dr Akil Sami. The house is built using traditional Egyptian and Islamic building techniques and arrangements.
This is a presentation about the brief architectural study of Ar. Moshe Safidie two most popular buildings ,Habitat 67(which won him prize at expo 67) and Yad Vashem(The holocaust museum). Though both are totally different in aspect but shares some common architectural features ,Such as basic forms in both.
Charles Willard Moore was an American architect, educator, writer, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and winner of the AIA Gold Medal in 1991. Wikipedia
LONDON CITY HALL
City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, which comprises the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. It is located in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge.
City Hall is one of the capital’s most symbolically important projects, which expresses the transparency of the democratic process and demonstrates the potential for a wholly sustainable, virtually non-polluting public building. The headquarters occupies a prominent site on the Thames beside Tower Bridge. It houses an Assembly chamber, committee rooms and public facilities, together with offices for the Mayor, Assembly members, the Mayor’s cabinet and support staff, providing 12,000 square-metres of accommodation on ten levels.
"Architecture is an artistic craft, but at the same time it is also a scientific profession, it is precisely its distinctiveness"
"Architecture is a service."
"When style gets to become a brand, a personal seal, this becomes a cage"
"The architect is first and foremost a builder, but also should be a poet, and above all a humanist''
Case Studies of Sustainable Office buildings, these both case studies are based on sustainable features adopted inorder to make the entire structure energy efficient as well as encourage work environment within the premises, i hope it helps out students of architecture, engineering backgrounds!!!...
This is a presentation about the brief architectural study of Ar. Moshe Safidie two most popular buildings ,Habitat 67(which won him prize at expo 67) and Yad Vashem(The holocaust museum). Though both are totally different in aspect but shares some common architectural features ,Such as basic forms in both.
Charles Willard Moore was an American architect, educator, writer, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and winner of the AIA Gold Medal in 1991. Wikipedia
LONDON CITY HALL
City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, which comprises the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. It is located in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge.
City Hall is one of the capital’s most symbolically important projects, which expresses the transparency of the democratic process and demonstrates the potential for a wholly sustainable, virtually non-polluting public building. The headquarters occupies a prominent site on the Thames beside Tower Bridge. It houses an Assembly chamber, committee rooms and public facilities, together with offices for the Mayor, Assembly members, the Mayor’s cabinet and support staff, providing 12,000 square-metres of accommodation on ten levels.
"Architecture is an artistic craft, but at the same time it is also a scientific profession, it is precisely its distinctiveness"
"Architecture is a service."
"When style gets to become a brand, a personal seal, this becomes a cage"
"The architect is first and foremost a builder, but also should be a poet, and above all a humanist''
Case Studies of Sustainable Office buildings, these both case studies are based on sustainable features adopted inorder to make the entire structure energy efficient as well as encourage work environment within the premises, i hope it helps out students of architecture, engineering backgrounds!!!...
Mud-Brick High-Rise Buildings Architectural Linkages for Thermal Comfort in H...drboon
The Hadhrami master builders have successfully played a great role in sustaining architectural identity of their cities with linkage to the local culture. They could build up to eight storey’s high- rise mud buildings using local and traditional materials. Today, reestablishing this architectural identity is rather more challenging due to the modern, social, political and economical changes that created poor linkage to the present city’s identity. This paper investigates this issue and searches for guidelines for the sustainable city’s development in Hadhramout, Yemen. The paper analyses the qualitative values of the city planning and architectural linkage compared with the city’s development and how the past generations created and sustained it. Shibam city with its traditional five to eight storey’s buildings is one of the best examples for this study. All buildings in that city are linked from one to another through roads , doors and openings of the high rises facing these roads and passageways to form unique urban setting and to provide shades and ventilations to the roads and passages and reduces temperature in these areas. This study is important to guide us in the analysis to search for better definitions of the linkage.
Elements of interior design, history,importance, main elements of interior design- line, shape, space, form,texture, colour in detail, their uses and charecteristics in interior design.method of achieving nice composition using these elements vs nice examples and illustration.
Impact of Building Envelope Modification on Energy Performance of High-Rise A...drboon
In residential buildings, providing comfortable living environment for building occupants is a major challenge for architects, engineers and those who involved in the building industry. It is reported that considerable energy is consumed to provide and maintain acceptable indoor conditions for thermal comfort in residential buildings in hot-humid climate. The observable increase in energy consumption is chiefly resulting from the growing use of air conditioning system. There are various energy conservation measures which can be applied to reduce energy consumption and among these measures are passive envelope design measures. This paper addresses the energy performance of selected high-rise apartments in Kuala Lumpur. Energy Plus software is utilized in measuring the performance because of its availability, validity and accuracy. Possible energy savings due to passive envelope design measures integration are investigated. This includes investigating the effect of thermal insulation and glazing type on potential energy savings.
Among historic cities, Amritsar remains both unique, exclusive, vibrant and hospitable. Known as the religious , political, economic, social capital of the state of Punjab, Amritsar finds place in all the spheres of human operations. Known as a Khandani City, with wonderful cuisine, rich social fabric and culture, Amritsar has always given best to its inhabitants and the visitors. Despite numerous positivity, Amritsar remains in crisis ie crisis of invasion from outside, crisis of politics, crisis of religion and crisis of unplanned development. Despite numerous crises, city has stood the test of time , never ever losing its vibrance, creativity, vigour and hospitality. Growing from a small village, Guru ka Chak/Chak Guru Ram Das, Amritsar has emerged as the focal point of Sikh faith .It is rightly called Sifti da Ghar (The Home of all virtues). During its journey of more than four centuries, Amritsar has emerges as the premier city of the state. Known as City of Golden Temple, Amritsar symbolizes the spiritual heritage of the people of Punjab. Presence of Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh has given a unique place to this dynamic and vibrant city in the history of the state and the nation. Housing enormous wealth of heritage ,created over the years, Walled city remains the most vibrant space besides being the heartbeat of the city. Being a historic and cultural city, geography, morphology and cultural components of Amritsar needs detailed study and analysis before solutions for its preservation and conservation are put in place. Witnessing a new resurgent era of enormous growth and development, city is facing rapid conversion of land uses and enormous development pressure on inadequate infrastructure. Pressure is more pronounced within the walled city which houses most of the valuable heritage. Rationalizing the developmental pressures, promoting orderly development and maintaining culture and urban fabric , would be hold key to the future of the city and its position in the state and nation- as the home of all virtues, heartbeat of majha and repository of spiritual and national heritage
Amritsar- A City of Myths and Reality - Copy.docJIT KUMAR GUPTA
India with one of the longest histories of human habitation and civilization spanning over a period of 5000 years has been fortunate to inherit enormous wealth of built heritage. If India has inherited enormous wealth of built heritage, State of Punjab in general and Amritsar city in particular has also followed the footprints of the great nation and state. With history spanning over 433 years, Amritsar has emerged as the premier city of the state of Punjab and is known as its economic capital. Presence of Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh has given a unique place to this dynamic and vibrant city of Amritsar in the history of the state and the nation. Growing from a small village, Guru ka Chak/Chak Guru Ram Das, Amritsar has emerged as the focal point of Sikh faith and is rightly called Sifti da Ghar (The Home of all virtues). During its journey of last 433 years, Amritsar is known, as not only its economic but also religious and political capital of the state of Punjab. City of Golden Temple, also symbolizes the spiritual heritage of the people of Punjab. Paper looks at the enormous cultural, religion and humane virtues City of Amritsar holds, challenges faced by it in growth and development and options which can be leveraged to make growth of Amritsar rational, realistic, sustainable and inclusive.
SHAPING LONDON - URBAN DESIGN PRESENTATION MADE BY 4TH YEAR STUDENTS OF BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE.
INDO GLOBAL COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AFFILIATED WITH I.K.GUJRAL PUNJAB TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY.
LIBRARY STUDY, 8TH SEM, COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, BHADDAL,
concourse, hierarchy of bus terminals, i.s.b.t. design, introduction, layout, planning criteria, sizes, space requirements, types of vehicular movement
National Slum Development Program (NSDP) Sumit Ranjan
National Slum Development Program (NSDP)
Housing, 8th sem, B. Arch.
amount, beneficiaries, constraints and recommendations, discription, drawbacks, facilities, financial, funding, government, housing, introduction, managerial, nature, objectives, slums, technical
What is meant by “Airconditioning”?
Human Comfort
Why do we need A.C.?
Advantages and Disadvantage of A.C.
Ideal room temperature
some terminology-
Dry-bulb temperature
Wet-bulb temperature:
Dew point
Latent heat
Absolute humidity
Relative humidity
Specific humidity
Sensible heat
Evaporating Cooling
Condensation
Enthalpy
Entropy
7. Classification of air conditioners
8. Windows AC- advantages
Parts of the Window Air Conditioners
Working
The refrigeration system,
Air circulation system-room air cycle and
The hot air cycle.
Ventilation system,
Control system,
electrical protection system.
9.Split or Ductless AC-
Advantages, parts indoor and outdoor,
Types-
Wall mounted
Floor mounted/Tower AC
Ceiling mounted/Cassette AC
Multi Split ACs
10. Central Air Conditioning System
Advantages and disadvantages
11. Key differences between "Window", "Split" and a "cassette" air conditioners.
12. Cooling capacity
13. Energy Efficiency
14.Energy Consumption
15.Energy Efficiency Ratio
16.Energy Saving Methods
17.Some AC brands
Introduction,
history,
Characteristics features,
Planning,
Influences and principles of the garden,
Elements of Italian garden,
The contemporary garden,
Tuscan style garden,
Division of Italian Renaissance Gardens- 1.Gardens of the Early Italian Renaissance
2. Gardens of the High Renaissance
3.Mannerism and the Gardens of the Late Renaissance,
Other examples of the italian garden,
Some Featured plants,
A Literature Review of Rupert Menzees College Student Accommodation, NSW Aust...Sumit Ranjan
A Literature Review of Rupert Menzees College Student Accommodation, NSW ,Australia, Planning, Floor plans, Elevations,architectural characteristics, study of parking space, common areas, recreational areas, toilets, laundry, accommodation spaces,seminar halls,suits etc.
byelaws, periphery control, development, objective,FAR ratio, and edict of chandigarh: introduction, purpose, definition, objectives, some terminologies, open and interior space requirements, provision for lighting and ventilation, acts, chandigarh planning and landscape ,
Building Services :Drainage, Rain Water Disposal and HarvestingSumit Ranjan
Drainage- Sub- drains, Culverts, Ditches, Gutters, Drop inlets and Catch Basins,Rain Water Disposal for individual buildings, Rain Water Harvesting with examples and illustration for 4th sem.archi. ,P.T.U
Maximize Your Content with Beautiful Assets : Content & Asset for Landing Page pmgdscunsri
Figma is a cloud-based design tool widely used by designers for prototyping, UI/UX design, and real-time collaboration. With features such as precision pen tools, grid system, and reusable components, Figma makes it easy for teams to work together on design projects. Its flexibility and accessibility make Figma a top choice in the digital age.
Storytelling For The Web: Integrate Storytelling in your Design ProcessChiara Aliotta
In this slides I explain how I have used storytelling techniques to elevate websites and brands and create memorable user experiences. You can discover practical tips as I showcase the elements of good storytelling and its applied to some examples of diverse brands/projects..
Expert Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Drafting ServicesResDraft
Whether you’re looking to create a guest house, a rental unit, or a private retreat, our experienced team will design a space that complements your existing home and maximizes your investment. We provide personalized, comprehensive expert accessory dwelling unit (ADU)drafting solutions tailored to your needs, ensuring a seamless process from concept to completion.
Connect Conference 2022: Passive House - Economic and Environmental Solution...TE Studio
Passive House: The Economic and Environmental Solution for Sustainable Real Estate. Lecture by Tim Eian of TE Studio Passive House Design in November 2022 in Minneapolis.
- The Built Environment
- Let's imagine the perfect building
- The Passive House standard
- Why Passive House targets
- Clean Energy Plans?!
- How does Passive House compare and fit in?
- The business case for Passive House real estate
- Tools to quantify the value of Passive House
- What can I do?
- Resources
Between Filth and Fortune- Urban Cattle Foraging Realities by Devi S Nair, An...Mansi Shah
This study examines cattle rearing in urban and rural settings, focusing on milk production and consumption. By exploring a case in Ahmedabad, it highlights the challenges and processes in dairy farming across different environments, emphasising the need for sustainable practices and the essential role of milk in daily consumption.
Hello everyone! I am thrilled to present my latest portfolio on LinkedIn, marking the culmination of my architectural journey thus far. Over the span of five years, I've been fortunate to acquire a wealth of knowledge under the guidance of esteemed professors and industry mentors. From rigorous academic pursuits to practical engagements, each experience has contributed to my growth and refinement as an architecture student. This portfolio not only showcases my projects but also underscores my attention to detail and to innovative architecture as a profession.
3. Introduction
Shibam is a town in Yemen with about 7,000 inhabitants, It is famous for its mudbrick-made high-rise buildings.
Shibam, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its distinct architecture. The houses of Shibam are all
made out of mud brick and about 500 of them are tower blocks, which rise 5 to 11 stories high, with each floor having
one or two rooms.
This architectural style was used in order to protect residents from Bedouin attacks. As an important stop on the spice and
incense trade route, Shibam emerged as a beacon of wealth in the Southern Arabian plateau. The city began as an
enclave for rival families seeking prestige, political power, and protection from Bedouin thieves
While Shibam has been in existence for an estimated 1,700 years, most of the city's houses originate from the 16th
century. Many, though, have been rebuilt numerous times in the last few centuries.
Shibam is often called "the oldest skyscraper city in the world" or "the Manhattan of the Middle East" and "the Chicago of
the desert".
It is one of the oldest and best examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction.
The city has some of the tallest mud buildings in the world, with some of them over 30 meters (100 feet) high, thus being
early high-rise apartment buildings. In order to protect the buildings from rain and erosion, the walls must be routinely
maintained by applying fresh layers of mud.
The nearby town of Tarim contains the tallest structure in the Wadi Hadhramaut valley, the mudbrick minaret of the Al-
Mihdhar mosque. It stands at a height of approximately 53 meters (175 feet.) This is the tallest minaret in the
southern Arabian peninsula.
Shibam is known as the first city on earth with a vertical masterplan.
sr834
3
4. Yemen city
Climate
• subtropical dry
• hot desert climate
• low annual rainfall,
• very high temperatures in summer and
• a big difference between maximum and minimum temperatures, especially in the inland areas.
Summer (June to September) is very low rainfall. Daily maximum temperatures can reach easily 40°C or more.
Winter is cooler with occasional rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm, mostly dry and pleasant, with maximum
temperatures between 25°C and 35°C and cooler night Temperatures between 15 and 22°C.
A hot, dust-laden wind, the Shamal, blows in the spring and summer-period, from March till August. sometimes these winds
can be very strong, and cause Sandstorms, that can occur throughout the year, although they are most common in the
spring. Most rain falls during the winter months in sudden, short but heavy cloudbursts and thunderstorms.
5. Yemen city
Location
Yemen is located in Southwest Asia at the
southern tip of the Arabian
Peninsula between Oman and Saudi
Arabia.
Environmental factors
Yemen is subject to sandstorms and dust
storms, resulting in soil erosion and crop
damage.
The country has very limited natural
freshwater and consequently inadequate
supplies of potable water.
Desertification (land degradation caused
by aridity) and overgrazing are also
problems.
It is a party to international Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection agreements.
6. SHIBAM
The notion of stacked housing quickly became the architectural modus operandi, and thus began the construction of
hundreds of mud brick buildings. The solution the contiguous tower-houses eliminated vulnerabilities from attack, while
simultaneously exhibiting the wealth of th
The city is surrounded by fertile land employed for agriculture, using an integrated urban system for the simultaneous
generation of food and building materials. After crops are harvested from the surrounding land, soil is collected for
construction inside the walled city - and construction is a continuous process, with the towers requiring regular
maintenance with fresh coats of mud.
Shibam is historically revered for its ingenious urban planning methods, particularly with architecture that harmonizes
with a population deeply devoted to traditional Muslim culture.
Early incarnations of Islamic architecture can be noted in the fenestration on the higher levels of the structures while the
ground levels were dictated by security, creating a fortress-like defense system to protect the affluent residents inside
residents.
"Sometimes called the 'Chicago of the desert' or the 'Manhattan of the desert', the old city of Shibam presents to
historians and urbanists one of the earliest and most perfect examples of rigorous planning based on the principle of
vertical construction," . Credited as the home of the first highrise apartment buildings, Shibam has become a symbol for
the rise and resilience of middle eastern culture in the desolation of the surrounding desert.
7. sr834 7
Like Manhattan, the high-rises of Shibam were built on
a rectangular grid of streets and squares. Unlike
Manhattan, the skyscrapers are made of mud, date
back to the 16th century, and the dusty streets are often
overrun with goats.
the small town was once a stopping point for traders
traveling along the frankincense and spice routes
The walled city of “skyscrapers” was built on a hill in
the 1530s after a mighty flood destroyed much of the
existing settlement. Its five hundred huddled buildings,
ranging from five to eleven stories high, are the tallest
mud buildings in the world and provided protection
against the elements and deterred potential attackers.
They continue to shelter the residents of Shibam.
The tower houses, however, are not immune to damage -
- fresh layers of mud must be applied to the walls
regularly to replace sections eroded by wind and rain.
A tropical storm in October 2008 brought disastrous
floods, causing some of the buildings to collapse.
10. SITE AND SURROUNDINGS
There are many natural factors combined to mould the plan of Shibam
into its present, mainly due to the nature of the ground on which it is built.
The city lies along rocky mountain of the south, making it expand to that
direction.
Moreover, on its northern, western and eastern borders, the city is
surrounded by palm trees and fields reserved for cultivation.
The citizens of Shibam had to resort to the construction of close-knit,
narrow but high buildings, rising up to seven or eight storey's, with ceiling-
heights ranging from 2 to 6 meters.
Hot climate has made the houses to be close-packed, and the streets are
to be shaded to avoid the scorching heat of the sun.
Shibam is one of few historic cities of the Interior that is not built directly
against a mountain backdrop.
It sits on a raised earth dais, often described by historians as the mound of
an ancient city’s rubble, and is surrounded by a city wall (sur).
It was constructed on the main artery that runs east–west through the
middle of the wadi, and was originally entered through its main southern
gateway.
To the north are agricultural fields, to the west the old cemetery.
11. Urban expansion has taken place to the south,
across the flood path (saylah), in the adjacent
town of Sahil Shibam.
Within the city walls there are 437 private houses
(of which 398 are inhabitable and 39 inruin).
There are six mosques (with an additional six
situated in the spate irrigation fields outside the
city walls), two madrasas and one private zawiya.
The city has four public squares as well as smaller
plazas between the housing clusters.
There are four buildings housing charitable
associations; two public palaces, the city gate, two
primary schools (one private and one public), a
health clinic and an administrative complex by the
southern gateway consisting of four buildings.
There are 134 shops (mostly on the ground floor
of residential buildings).
SITE AND SURROUNDINGS
13. SHIBAM CITY PLANNING
Urban plan of Shibam (Yemen).
The harmonious distribution of squares, streets and blind
alleys is the result of the sewage collection used as
fertilizer.
Each house has a waste disposal system provided with
external outlets (marked in black).
The latter overlook narrow back streets, blind alleys or
perimeter paths (drawn in brown)
The sewage disposal system:
Organisation of a blind alley (in yellow on the urban
plan) to discharge the solid and liquid waste dropping
from the houses.
The two-outlet toilet which allows the separation of liquid
and solid excrement;
The facade of a building equipped with sewage shafts
and excrement collection baskets.
14. Its southern and northern facades are congruous. It is
prominent from the rest of sur’s structure because of its
dimensions and characterised by three arches: the main
central arch and two smaller arches.
The central arch contains a large wooden gate that is used at
present by cars whereas it was used by caravans and camels
in the past.
The smaller arches are located one on each sides of the main
arch, each having a gate smaller than the main and are used
by the pedestrians
The City Wall and Entrance (Sur and Siddah) Mud-brick
wall (sur) surrounds the city .
The height of the wall varies between 6 and 9 meters.
There exists only one main gate to the city.
When closed during the night and wartime, it isolates the
city from the outside world.
The siddah represents the main defensive position in
Shibam.
The City Wall and Entrance (Sur and Siddah)
15. The Public Squares (Sahat)
The plan of the city of Shibam with its narrow sheets with
limited available land area incorporates five public
squares.
Closed packed houses with public buildings are located
around these squares.
High buildings surround these squares with open spaces
that function as communal centers that attract visitors and
the immunity on many social and commercial occasions.
Moreover, there are small shops in the narrow streets
forming the facades with commercial activities.
These are known as (al-dayqah) that are characterised by
narrow entrances on the ground floors of the houses next to
their main entrances.
The main square is called (Sahat al Husn) and covers an
area of 39 x 79 meters (43 x 86 yards). Sahat al-Rashid
Mosque is the second largest square with an area of about
79 x 24 meters (87 x 26 yards).
16. Traditional Layout and Climate in Shibam City
In designing and planning dry, wet and hot regions, architecture encounter two major problems:
1- Securing protection from heat,
2- Providing sufficient air conditioning.
The sun, a main source of light and heat, forms certain secondary element of climate such as winds and humid
which have a significant effect on man’s physiological wellbeing and comfort.
Undoubtedly climate is a determining factor in Shibam traditional planning. Thus, it is noticed that there is a sort
of systemization in the urban structure of all dry and hot regions; the traditional planning of the town is
characterized by:
1 - Narrow zigzag roads,
2 - Vast open Squares.
17. sr834 17
The city plan usually has large squares that function as a storage of pure moderate cold air.
The narrow zigzag roads, which are open into vistas with closed end, do the same function of the squares.
They store the moderate cold air at night and do not let it leak at the first blow of air .
This occurs in the case of network planning of large streets. It becomes clear here that the traditional planning is better than
the vertical network planning in the large street. However, the traditional planning does not assimilate traffic cars, but there
are some solutions to this problem.
For instance, a ring road from which internal streets with closed ends are branching can surround the housing area.
18. The Needs of Ventilation
The outside surface of these buildings is least exposed to the external environment surface are painted with Lime that
possesses high reflective property compared to other materials
Response of the thermal traditional building to the high temperature difference of day and night occurs through the heavy
massed walls and roofs of high thermal insulation and high thermal storage capacity, The clay building elements absorb the
short wave radiation of the solar energy preventing heat from passing to the inside of the building.
The heat is absorbed in these elements during the day and released to the outside atmosphere during the night. Moreover,
lime painted surfaces are highly heat-emissive.
Clayed walls are distinguished with walls of other materials in many aspects, e.g. the time lag in conducting heat of clay
walls is double to that of concrete walls and the decrement factor is quarter of that in concrete walls. This is caused by the
low thermal conductivity of clay that results from its low density due to the air voids that are dispersed in clay after
evaporation of water during the drying process. Moreover, specific thermal heat of clay is relatively higher than other
building materials. In clayed buildings, much of the heat is released during late night hours to the outside atmosphere where
it gets cooler and denser.
The high air density causes it to lower into the narrow streets and the open yards where it remains until morning. As such
these air masses work like cold storages that supply the buildings, specially the lower levels, with cold breeze that flows to
the inside pushing the warm air upwards by the convection process through the top windows.
From the temperature comfort requirement of shading and sun lighting, it is observed that the ideal shape between the
masses in the rectangle which longer side extends between the East and the West and which height is not less than any of its
horizontal dimensions.
19. The geometrical ratios of space is much important than its orientation, a conclusion that conforms to the field survey of
the residential complexes in Shibam city.
The mud brick buildings have thick walls often a metre and a half at the bottom tapering to half a metre at the top.
The mass of the walls is ideal for keeping the inside of the building cool.
Window openings are kept small and located to avoid direct sunlight and have ornate wooden lattice which provide
shade as well as privacy.
Taller buildings also have a shaft adjacent to the main staircase which acts as a chimney for “pulling” a breeze thro’
the building, cooler air at ground level being drawn up thro the building.
The layout of the buildings -close together, means they provide shade for one another and also shade the ravine like
streets in between.
After a long and still continuing experiment with “western” construction the Hadhramis have recognised the inherent
qualities of their mud brick buildings, and although the latter are more labour intensive and slower, [in the past a tower
house may take five to eight years to build] there is also an inclination to return to the traditional way.
A visitor will notice many lime kilns as well as fields of mud bricks drying in the sun.
Sometimes nurah is applied to the whole roof surface; it is built up in layers, increasingly more refined and then
painstakingly “polished” using a specially shaped stone. The nurah is also used decoratively: around windows and
doors and it is also nurah from which the intense decoration of the Tarim palaces is made.
The Needs of Ventilation
20. ARCHITECTURAL IMPRESSION & PLANNING CONCEPT
The impression is enhanced by the abundance of windows, usually open, with wooden shutters, or harem grilles, and
ventilation openings – often two at different levels on each floor; and by the long lines of shadows cast by the corners
and edges of buildings in the afternoon sun.
Those who can afford it limewash their houses to protect them against termites and against the rains and flooding which
occur from time to time.
In general the windowless lower floors are used for grain storage, with areas for domestic use above and those for family
and leisure above that.
The main room on the second floor is used by men for socializing. It often has wonderful carved plasterwork and
freestanding decorated wooden columns supporting the ceiling, while women's areas are found higher, usually on the third
or fourth floor.
The highest rooms are for communal use by the whole family, and on the upper levels there are often bridges and doors
connecting the houses.
These are a defensive feature, but also a practical one – especially for old people who find it difficult to walk up and
down the interminable staircases.
Despite being built with sun-dried mud bricks, the fortified city from the the 16th-century is in fact based on the principle
of vertical construction, with almost no fenestration on the ground level, rising up to the height of eight storey.
Its plan is trapezoidal, with tower houses built within the outer walls for defense from rival families and political prestige.
21. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES OF MUD BUILDINGS
Mud
bricks
drying The mud is mixed with chopped straw and water and then spread into
simple wooden moulds on the ground to bake hard.
The bricks are more like flat cakes approximately 45 centimetres long by
30 cm wide, narrower bricks are made for the upper storeys . They are
75 to 100 cm thick.
To make a wall they are laid interlocking with a mud mortar and then
rendered with a finer mud layer to make the wall smooth.
But what stops it being washed away?– It’s a common question. The
answer is-the type of earth, which is just the right combination clay and
silt and sand – it just sets very hard and although a thin outer layer may
get washed off during the rainy season it is basically waterproof.
Even the flat roof? The roof and parapet walls at the top of the buildings
are the most vulnerable area- an earth building needs “a good hat and
boots”-the boots are a stone built plinth, often the first two metres of the
building above the ground, which stops moisture in the ground rising up
and provides protection from abrasion by people and animals.
The hat- the roof- is also covered in mud, with vulnerable parts such as
parapets coated with a high quality lime render called “nurah”.
Shibam rooftops
22. sr834 22
ADVANTAGES OF MUD BUILDINGS
1. The material are available in large quantities,
2. Low cost materials, so low-income families can afford
it,
3. Simple construction techniques may be used when
constructing with this system,
4. It is suitable for the construction to most parts of the
building,
5. It is non-a flammable material-resistance to fire,
6. It has high thermal capacity, low thermal conductivity,
and can maintain comfortable internal temperature,
7. It is a material of low energy usage. Subsequently, it
saves biomass fuel and as a result, it conserves the
environment.
8.When a building is to be replaced and renewed it is
demolished and the earth is re-used.
PUBLIC PLACE