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Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture
Alexandria Engineering Journal (2020) xxx, xxx–xxx
H O S T E D BY
Alexandria University
Alexandria Engineering Journal www.elsevier.com/locate/aej www.sciencedirect.com
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture Ahmed S. Attia Jordan University of Science and Technology, College of Architecture and Design, Jordan Received 1 December 2019; revised 27 December 2019; accepted 1 January 2020
KEYWORDS Traditional architecture; Sustainable architecture; The multi-story house (Tower House); Mudbricks; Qamariya, Mashrabiyyah; Zero-carbon emission
Abstract Yemen characterized by its unique traditional architecture; it is evident that every region in the country has its architectural character, which influenced by the local context (natural and cultural environments), and has many heritage sites registered with UNESCO heritage areas. The study includes an overview of the different types of traditional houses in different regions in Yemen, and an analytical study for the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City in Yemen as a case study with an emphasis on its components, building materials, construction systems, ornaments, opening’s treatment (Qamariya and Mashrabiyyah), environment, and its spatial organization. The conclusion summarizes the Tower House components and its relationship to sustainable architecture and the lessons to be learned from this example. Ó 2020 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
1. Introduction The Arab Republic of Yemen is located in the south of Saudi Arabia, west of Oman, and overlooks the Red Sea and the Gulf of Adan. The Arabian Gulf overlooks Bab al-Mandab, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, one of the vital shipping corridors in the world. Geography in Yemen differs from coastal plains adjacent to the highlands and mountains and extending to the Arabian Peninsula. The climate in Yemen varies from one region to another; most of it is a desert climate and the hottest areas in the eastern part of the country. Also, there are areas with high humidity in the western coastal E-mail address: [email protected] Peer review under responsibility of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University.
part known as the Tihama region. Fig. 1 shows the Geography of Yemen. Old Sanaa City and the Old Walled City of Shibam, registered with UNESCO heritage areas [2]. The study includes an overview of the different types of traditional houses in Yemen, and analytical study of the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) and its components, as an example of sustainable architecture.
2. Traditional house in Yemen The differences of topography, climate, construction systems, and available building materials from one region to another, has emerged different models of houses. In the Area of Tehama (coastal strip of the Red Sea), the people live in round
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001 1110-0168 Ó 2020 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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Fig. 2
Fig. 1
Reed Huts in the Tihama region [4].
Geography of Yemen [1].
or square-shaped huts similar to the African villages along the Red Sea and facing Yemen, which confirms the permanent presence of culture and trade between Tihama and east Africa. Walls and roofs built from carved wooden trunks tied together with ropes and covered either by the leaves of the Qusaib plant (Reed Plant), and from inside covered by layers of clay (a mixture of clay, and straw), it provides the interior with cold and fresh air. The wall of mud or al-Qusaib plant (reed plant) built as a fence to protect the village from the outside. The hut forms one isolated room hut for cooking purposes, while the rest of it used as living spaces [3]. Sana’a City and its surrounding villages in the central highlands, the house more sophisticated and complex, where it rises for three floors or more and built of stones and mud bricks. On the eastern side and to the far north of the central highlands region, the architecture is different from the central part, as stones were used only in the foundations, and the rest of the house consists of layers mud mixed with straw where the clay blocks are placed on top of each other and then left to dry. 2.1. In general, Yemeni houses classified into four types 2.1.1. The most primitive houses (reed huts) which is the one-story house built of reed and clay together form and contains living rooms places for animal breeding and stores, and often do not have windows and ventilated from the top of the ceiling. Fig. 2 shows Reed huts in the Tihama region.
Fig. 3 Multi-story house (Tower House), Sana’a City. Source: Author.
Fig. 4
Oldest Skyscraper, Shibam, Yemen [5].
2.1.3. The multi-story house (Tower House) includes all the elements in the other houses, and it is considered the essential house. Fig. 3 shows a Multi-story house (Tower House), Sana’a City. 2.1.4. And the oldest skyscrapers of Shibam city constructed from clay as high-rise residential houses. Fig. 4 shows the Oldest Skyscraper, Shibam, Yemen.
2.1.2. The most developed house consists of two floors and is built of stone and blocks and has an outside staircase to serve the living parts located on the upper two floors and the ground floor used for animal breeding, kitchen, and toilets generally placed outside the home.
3. Sanaa city location and its parts Sana’a City stands for a strategic position and lies in the center of Yemen in the middle of the high plane above the surface of
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House)
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Table 1 Population of large cities in Yemen: [7]. City name
2019 Population
Sanaa Al Hudaydah Ta‘izz Aden Ibb Dhamar
1,937,451 617,871 615,222 550,602 234,837 160,114
Fig. 7 Gates to separate between residential and commercial areas. Source: Author.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Sana’a City map [9]. Fig. 8
House back garden (Al-Bustan). Source: Author.
Fig. 9
House decorated wooden doors. Source: Author.
Aqil Mosque’s Minaret. Source: Author.
3.2. Previously, the central part of the city Mount Nqm, about 2300 m above sea level, and it occupies an important strategic position since the pre-Islamic period. And since 1968, the city has been overgrowing, doubling in size, swallowing the surrounding villages. The city divided into three parts separated by barrier walls, each part characterized by its exterior character and distinctive style. 3.1. The eastern part of the city: is the largest and most important part, including old Neighborhoods, markets, and mosques. The buildings of this part characterized by the Traditional House (Tower House).
called ‘‘Bir Al-Azab” consists of a group of gardens and orchards interspersed with some palaces belonging to the Imam and his entourage. 3.3. The western part it included the Jews district, which consisted of many neighborhoods, including narrow alleys and a small market dividing the city into two broad sections north and south, and separated the Jews district and Bir Al-Azab (the central part of the city) [6].
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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e: entrance a: animal’s stalls s: store swr: sanitary waste room w: water well d: dewan k: kitchen uc: upper court sh: shaft lb: lavatory/bathroom Fig. 10
wr: women’s room m: mafraj o: loading mounting animals rr: reception room & business br: bedroom t: terrace j: grain and fruit store wb: window box (Mashrabiyyah)
Spatial organization of the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City [3].
Fig. 11
Shows building facades with its unique ornaments. Source: Author.
4. The population of Sana’a
5. The urban composition of Sana’a City
The population of the Republic of Yemen is 29,373,158, the average population density is 52.25/km2, and the community of Sana’a City is 1,937,451, and 15,000 people per square meter [7,8]. Table 1 shows the population of large cities in Yemen.
The urbanization in the city of Sana’a as in the rest of the Yemeni cities and some rural areas as the vertical buildings (Multi-story house) are dominant and forming the residential communities.
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House)
Fig. 12
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Building facades show the use of stone on lower floors and mud bricks in upper floors and ornaments. Source: Author.
Fig. 15 The Qamariya made of gypsum frame and chips of colored alabaster. Source: Author. Fig. 13
Preparing Mud bricks. Source: Author.
location above the mountain tops or by making walls surrounding them as in Sanaa city. Figs. 6 and 7 shows a mosque minaret and the gates separate between residential and commercial areas. Sana’a houses, rise from the center of extensive gardens and orchards (grown with vegetables and fruits) but do not see from the streets and consist of two to seven floors fronting each other providing shading, Fig. 8 shows the house backgardens. 6. The traditional multi-story Tower House in Sana’a 6.1. The spatial organization of the traditional (multi-story) house in Sana’a City
Fig. 14
Furnace to burn mud bricks. Source: Author.
Similar to other Islamic cities, Sana’a City has a cohesive urban tissue, consisting of markets, mosques, Fig. 5 shows the Sana’a City map. Mosque’s minaret ornaments, residential neighborhoods, and hotels, residential areas are separated from the commercial sectors with gates, and mostly we find that all cities and villages are fortified either by choosing its
The house entered through wooden or metal, rich in decorations, and leads to a large hall with no windows, including spaces in two levels. Spaces in ground-level used as a place for breeding animals, while the upper ones on the first level used as storage places for storing dried grains and vegetables and one used for hand millwork doors Fig. 9 shows the decorated wooden doors. Bedrooms, living, and dining rooms are the most private section and located on different floors up to the roof where there is an area between 12 and 18 m limited in use to the owner of the house and his private guests (the Mafraj). The ‘‘Mafraj” is considered the wealthiest room in its decorations [3]. Fig. 10 illustrates the spatial organization of the Traditional multi-story house (Tower House).
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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Fig. 16
Different types of windows treatments (with wooden or brick Mashrabiyyah) topped by the Qamariya. Source: Author.
6.2. Architectural character
7. Sustainability
The idea of multi-story houses has often devised from guard towers. It is used in its construction of stone, clay, and mudbrick or combines these materials and built on three floors or more with an interior staircase. Lighting and ventilation usually provided by windows and wall openings as well as Qamariya (top window part of which placed in gypsum frames in colored stained glass). Stairs from the ground floor to upper floors represent the backbone of the house. Most of these stairs are ventilated by windows to form with other openings, the continuous cross ventilation of the house. The traditional house (multi-story) in Sana’a built on a solid basis of blocks of basalt stonecarved 1/2 m of the ground and the outer walls of both the ground and first floor of a unique group of limestone with some black stones building corners [3]. The windows contrasts applied in the whole facades. Figs. 11 and 12, shows the building facades with its unique ornaments, and the use of stone on lower floors and mud bricks in upper floors and ornaments. The floor from the third to the seventh built of burnt mud brick [10]. Figs. 13 and 14 shows the process of preparation of mud bricks, and furnace to heat the bricks. Sana’a houses characterized by its facades, and the appearance of bricks and windows surrounded by white plaster, covered with stained transparent and colored glass ‘‘Qamariya,” (yellow, red and blue) allowing sunlight to paint a beautiful shape on the other wall for the room, forming double contracts inside and outside, as shown in Fig. 15. Traditional chips made of alabaster, which still found in many houses where the opportunity to provide to a warm and dark light only by entering, as there is a prominent window ‘‘Mashrabiyyah,” almost in all houses, which is a prominent cavity used mainly to cool water with pottery and works as a natural refrigerator, the water stays cold even in hot times. It provides privacy, as women are allowed to see the outside without the possibility of seeing them from outside [11]. Fig. 16 show different forms of Mashrabiyyah and ornaments.
The first definition for sustainability was on 1987, in the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in report titled ‘‘Our Future, and also known as Brundtland’s report in recognition of former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland’s role as Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, which based on three foundations of the economy, sociology, and environment [12]. Also, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as ‘‘Earth Summit,” held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992. A significant achievement of UNCED was Agenda 21, attended by representatives of 179 countries to resettle the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment and vice versa, discussed a thorough and broad-ranging program includes actions demanding new ways for investing in our future to reach global sustainable development, [13]. 7.1. Multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City and sustainability The Multi-story house used low-technology and natural materials in its construction; stone, mud-bricks for walls and wood for ceilings, which have no harmful effects on the environment, and it could reuse. The spatial organization, distributed according to the social needs, and orientation, providing cold rooms in summer and warm rooms during winter. And, the window openings topped by the Qamariya (stained colored glass), and the Mashrabiyyah (window box), provide adequate natural lighting and cross ventilation, without the need to use any mechanical or artificial systems. Every house contains a back yard providing the house residents with vegetables, water well, and the solid waste used as a fuel in mud-brick furnaces. In general, it fulfills the socioeconomic needs.
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) Also, the city urban composition consists of narrow paths with building facades fronting each other, providing shadows, and the residential and commercial areas are separated to provide privacy for residents and to avoid pollution. From the above mentioned, the Multi-story house is following sustainable principles. 8. Conclusion It is evident from the study for the multi-story house (Tower House) Sana’a City, in Yemen, that the studied house considered as an example followed the principles of sustainable architecture, for the following: Generally, the traditional house design is fulfilling the socio-economic needs. Used building materials are natural materials of clay, reed plants, or stone walls with Zero-Carbon emission and could be recycled and used. House spatial organizations fulfill social and climate needs. The residential communities include basins to collect rainwater for reuse in agriculture purposes. Solid waste was dried and used as fuel in the manufacture of bricks Window openings with its topped ‘‘Qamariya” allow for adequate natural lighting and save energy consumption. ‘‘Mashrabiyyah” provides privacy and cold air. Also, it is essential mentioning that sustainable architecture and its elements initially found in cities and architecture in most of the Arab regions. Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
7 [2] Old Walled City of Shibam, Yemen, https://www.google.com/ search?q=Shibam+map&sxsrf=ACYBGNQGzdU0hj4C32Y wr7kzQoIp. [3] F. Veranda, Art of Buildings in Yemen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, Massachusetts. The MIT Press, 1982. [4] Tihama huts, https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf= ACYBGNQwG5H-LFlLlJv-6adM8ngp02VKiQ:1577335118700 &q=hut+architecture+in+yemen&tbm=. [5] Oldest skyscraper, Shibam, Yemen, https://www.google.com/ search?q=9hibam+Yemen&sxsrf=ACYBGNT0bzxhoDczRk aq2uBpg5. [6] R.B. Serjant, R. Lewcock, Sanaa’ an Arabian Islamic City. World of Islam Festival Trust, London, Pinehurst Press Ltd., 1983. [7] Population of CITIES IN Yemen, 2019, http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/yemen-population/ cities/. [8] Yemen Population Densities, 2018, http://konema.com/atlas/ Yemen/Population-density. [9] Sana’a City map, Yemen, https://www.google.com/search? sxsrf=ACYBGNQlnPWB90JiUPFlfFcB8SUomx6bUA:157341 911120&q=Sanaa+City+map&tbm=. [10] H. Meadow croft, Mud Brick Architecture of Yemen, The Global Dispatches, Expert Commentary, and Analysis, 2018, http://www.theglobaldispatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/ 02/original_Howard5.jpg. [11] A.S. Attia, Traditional sustainable architecture techniques and its applications in contemporary architecture: case studies of the Islamic house in Fatimid Cairo and Sana’a Cities in Egypt and Yemen, Open Sci. Index. Civil Environ. Eng. J. 13 (5) (2019), 2019 waset.org/publication/10010369. [12] United Nations Conference on Environment and DevelopmentUNCED, 1992, https://www.unsystem.org/content/unitednations-conference-environment-and-development-unced-1992. [13] Brundtland’s Report, 1987, https://www.are.admin.ch/are/en/ home/sustainable-development/international-cooperation/ 2030agenda/un-_-milestones-in-sustainable-development/1987– brundtland-report.html.
References [1] Geography of Yemen, https://www.google.com/search?q= geographical+map+of+yemen&sxsrf=ACYBGNS8BYYK4K.
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
H O S T E D BY
Alexandria University
Alexandria Engineering Journal www.elsevier.com/locate/aej www.sciencedirect.com
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture Ahmed S. Attia Jordan University of Science and Technology, College of Architecture and Design, Jordan Received 1 December 2019; revised 27 December 2019; accepted 1 January 2020
KEYWORDS Traditional architecture; Sustainable architecture; The multi-story house (Tower House); Mudbricks; Qamariya, Mashrabiyyah; Zero-carbon emission
Abstract Yemen characterized by its unique traditional architecture; it is evident that every region in the country has its architectural character, which influenced by the local context (natural and cultural environments), and has many heritage sites registered with UNESCO heritage areas. The study includes an overview of the different types of traditional houses in different regions in Yemen, and an analytical study for the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City in Yemen as a case study with an emphasis on its components, building materials, construction systems, ornaments, opening’s treatment (Qamariya and Mashrabiyyah), environment, and its spatial organization. The conclusion summarizes the Tower House components and its relationship to sustainable architecture and the lessons to be learned from this example. Ó 2020 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
1. Introduction The Arab Republic of Yemen is located in the south of Saudi Arabia, west of Oman, and overlooks the Red Sea and the Gulf of Adan. The Arabian Gulf overlooks Bab al-Mandab, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, one of the vital shipping corridors in the world. Geography in Yemen differs from coastal plains adjacent to the highlands and mountains and extending to the Arabian Peninsula. The climate in Yemen varies from one region to another; most of it is a desert climate and the hottest areas in the eastern part of the country. Also, there are areas with high humidity in the western coastal E-mail address: [email protected] Peer review under responsibility of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University.
part known as the Tihama region. Fig. 1 shows the Geography of Yemen. Old Sanaa City and the Old Walled City of Shibam, registered with UNESCO heritage areas [2]. The study includes an overview of the different types of traditional houses in Yemen, and analytical study of the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) and its components, as an example of sustainable architecture.
2. Traditional house in Yemen The differences of topography, climate, construction systems, and available building materials from one region to another, has emerged different models of houses. In the Area of Tehama (coastal strip of the Red Sea), the people live in round
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001 1110-0168 Ó 2020 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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Fig. 2
Fig. 1
Reed Huts in the Tihama region [4].
Geography of Yemen [1].
or square-shaped huts similar to the African villages along the Red Sea and facing Yemen, which confirms the permanent presence of culture and trade between Tihama and east Africa. Walls and roofs built from carved wooden trunks tied together with ropes and covered either by the leaves of the Qusaib plant (Reed Plant), and from inside covered by layers of clay (a mixture of clay, and straw), it provides the interior with cold and fresh air. The wall of mud or al-Qusaib plant (reed plant) built as a fence to protect the village from the outside. The hut forms one isolated room hut for cooking purposes, while the rest of it used as living spaces [3]. Sana’a City and its surrounding villages in the central highlands, the house more sophisticated and complex, where it rises for three floors or more and built of stones and mud bricks. On the eastern side and to the far north of the central highlands region, the architecture is different from the central part, as stones were used only in the foundations, and the rest of the house consists of layers mud mixed with straw where the clay blocks are placed on top of each other and then left to dry. 2.1. In general, Yemeni houses classified into four types 2.1.1. The most primitive houses (reed huts) which is the one-story house built of reed and clay together form and contains living rooms places for animal breeding and stores, and often do not have windows and ventilated from the top of the ceiling. Fig. 2 shows Reed huts in the Tihama region.
Fig. 3 Multi-story house (Tower House), Sana’a City. Source: Author.
Fig. 4
Oldest Skyscraper, Shibam, Yemen [5].
2.1.3. The multi-story house (Tower House) includes all the elements in the other houses, and it is considered the essential house. Fig. 3 shows a Multi-story house (Tower House), Sana’a City. 2.1.4. And the oldest skyscrapers of Shibam city constructed from clay as high-rise residential houses. Fig. 4 shows the Oldest Skyscraper, Shibam, Yemen.
2.1.2. The most developed house consists of two floors and is built of stone and blocks and has an outside staircase to serve the living parts located on the upper two floors and the ground floor used for animal breeding, kitchen, and toilets generally placed outside the home.
3. Sanaa city location and its parts Sana’a City stands for a strategic position and lies in the center of Yemen in the middle of the high plane above the surface of
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House)
3
Table 1 Population of large cities in Yemen: [7]. City name
2019 Population
Sanaa Al Hudaydah Ta‘izz Aden Ibb Dhamar
1,937,451 617,871 615,222 550,602 234,837 160,114
Fig. 7 Gates to separate between residential and commercial areas. Source: Author.
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Sana’a City map [9]. Fig. 8
House back garden (Al-Bustan). Source: Author.
Fig. 9
House decorated wooden doors. Source: Author.
Aqil Mosque’s Minaret. Source: Author.
3.2. Previously, the central part of the city Mount Nqm, about 2300 m above sea level, and it occupies an important strategic position since the pre-Islamic period. And since 1968, the city has been overgrowing, doubling in size, swallowing the surrounding villages. The city divided into three parts separated by barrier walls, each part characterized by its exterior character and distinctive style. 3.1. The eastern part of the city: is the largest and most important part, including old Neighborhoods, markets, and mosques. The buildings of this part characterized by the Traditional House (Tower House).
called ‘‘Bir Al-Azab” consists of a group of gardens and orchards interspersed with some palaces belonging to the Imam and his entourage. 3.3. The western part it included the Jews district, which consisted of many neighborhoods, including narrow alleys and a small market dividing the city into two broad sections north and south, and separated the Jews district and Bir Al-Azab (the central part of the city) [6].
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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e: entrance a: animal’s stalls s: store swr: sanitary waste room w: water well d: dewan k: kitchen uc: upper court sh: shaft lb: lavatory/bathroom Fig. 10
wr: women’s room m: mafraj o: loading mounting animals rr: reception room & business br: bedroom t: terrace j: grain and fruit store wb: window box (Mashrabiyyah)
Spatial organization of the traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City [3].
Fig. 11
Shows building facades with its unique ornaments. Source: Author.
4. The population of Sana’a
5. The urban composition of Sana’a City
The population of the Republic of Yemen is 29,373,158, the average population density is 52.25/km2, and the community of Sana’a City is 1,937,451, and 15,000 people per square meter [7,8]. Table 1 shows the population of large cities in Yemen.
The urbanization in the city of Sana’a as in the rest of the Yemeni cities and some rural areas as the vertical buildings (Multi-story house) are dominant and forming the residential communities.
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House)
Fig. 12
5
Building facades show the use of stone on lower floors and mud bricks in upper floors and ornaments. Source: Author.
Fig. 15 The Qamariya made of gypsum frame and chips of colored alabaster. Source: Author. Fig. 13
Preparing Mud bricks. Source: Author.
location above the mountain tops or by making walls surrounding them as in Sanaa city. Figs. 6 and 7 shows a mosque minaret and the gates separate between residential and commercial areas. Sana’a houses, rise from the center of extensive gardens and orchards (grown with vegetables and fruits) but do not see from the streets and consist of two to seven floors fronting each other providing shading, Fig. 8 shows the house backgardens. 6. The traditional multi-story Tower House in Sana’a 6.1. The spatial organization of the traditional (multi-story) house in Sana’a City
Fig. 14
Furnace to burn mud bricks. Source: Author.
Similar to other Islamic cities, Sana’a City has a cohesive urban tissue, consisting of markets, mosques, Fig. 5 shows the Sana’a City map. Mosque’s minaret ornaments, residential neighborhoods, and hotels, residential areas are separated from the commercial sectors with gates, and mostly we find that all cities and villages are fortified either by choosing its
The house entered through wooden or metal, rich in decorations, and leads to a large hall with no windows, including spaces in two levels. Spaces in ground-level used as a place for breeding animals, while the upper ones on the first level used as storage places for storing dried grains and vegetables and one used for hand millwork doors Fig. 9 shows the decorated wooden doors. Bedrooms, living, and dining rooms are the most private section and located on different floors up to the roof where there is an area between 12 and 18 m limited in use to the owner of the house and his private guests (the Mafraj). The ‘‘Mafraj” is considered the wealthiest room in its decorations [3]. Fig. 10 illustrates the spatial organization of the Traditional multi-story house (Tower House).
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
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Fig. 16
Different types of windows treatments (with wooden or brick Mashrabiyyah) topped by the Qamariya. Source: Author.
6.2. Architectural character
7. Sustainability
The idea of multi-story houses has often devised from guard towers. It is used in its construction of stone, clay, and mudbrick or combines these materials and built on three floors or more with an interior staircase. Lighting and ventilation usually provided by windows and wall openings as well as Qamariya (top window part of which placed in gypsum frames in colored stained glass). Stairs from the ground floor to upper floors represent the backbone of the house. Most of these stairs are ventilated by windows to form with other openings, the continuous cross ventilation of the house. The traditional house (multi-story) in Sana’a built on a solid basis of blocks of basalt stonecarved 1/2 m of the ground and the outer walls of both the ground and first floor of a unique group of limestone with some black stones building corners [3]. The windows contrasts applied in the whole facades. Figs. 11 and 12, shows the building facades with its unique ornaments, and the use of stone on lower floors and mud bricks in upper floors and ornaments. The floor from the third to the seventh built of burnt mud brick [10]. Figs. 13 and 14 shows the process of preparation of mud bricks, and furnace to heat the bricks. Sana’a houses characterized by its facades, and the appearance of bricks and windows surrounded by white plaster, covered with stained transparent and colored glass ‘‘Qamariya,” (yellow, red and blue) allowing sunlight to paint a beautiful shape on the other wall for the room, forming double contracts inside and outside, as shown in Fig. 15. Traditional chips made of alabaster, which still found in many houses where the opportunity to provide to a warm and dark light only by entering, as there is a prominent window ‘‘Mashrabiyyah,” almost in all houses, which is a prominent cavity used mainly to cool water with pottery and works as a natural refrigerator, the water stays cold even in hot times. It provides privacy, as women are allowed to see the outside without the possibility of seeing them from outside [11]. Fig. 16 show different forms of Mashrabiyyah and ornaments.
The first definition for sustainability was on 1987, in the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in report titled ‘‘Our Future, and also known as Brundtland’s report in recognition of former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland’s role as Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, which based on three foundations of the economy, sociology, and environment [12]. Also, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as ‘‘Earth Summit,” held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992. A significant achievement of UNCED was Agenda 21, attended by representatives of 179 countries to resettle the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment and vice versa, discussed a thorough and broad-ranging program includes actions demanding new ways for investing in our future to reach global sustainable development, [13]. 7.1. Multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City and sustainability The Multi-story house used low-technology and natural materials in its construction; stone, mud-bricks for walls and wood for ceilings, which have no harmful effects on the environment, and it could reuse. The spatial organization, distributed according to the social needs, and orientation, providing cold rooms in summer and warm rooms during winter. And, the window openings topped by the Qamariya (stained colored glass), and the Mashrabiyyah (window box), provide adequate natural lighting and cross ventilation, without the need to use any mechanical or artificial systems. Every house contains a back yard providing the house residents with vegetables, water well, and the solid waste used as a fuel in mud-brick furnaces. In general, it fulfills the socioeconomic needs.
Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001
Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) Also, the city urban composition consists of narrow paths with building facades fronting each other, providing shadows, and the residential and commercial areas are separated to provide privacy for residents and to avoid pollution. From the above mentioned, the Multi-story house is following sustainable principles. 8. Conclusion It is evident from the study for the multi-story house (Tower House) Sana’a City, in Yemen, that the studied house considered as an example followed the principles of sustainable architecture, for the following: Generally, the traditional house design is fulfilling the socio-economic needs. Used building materials are natural materials of clay, reed plants, or stone walls with Zero-Carbon emission and could be recycled and used. House spatial organizations fulfill social and climate needs. The residential communities include basins to collect rainwater for reuse in agriculture purposes. Solid waste was dried and used as fuel in the manufacture of bricks Window openings with its topped ‘‘Qamariya” allow for adequate natural lighting and save energy consumption. ‘‘Mashrabiyyah” provides privacy and cold air. Also, it is essential mentioning that sustainable architecture and its elements initially found in cities and architecture in most of the Arab regions. Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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Please cite this article in press as: A.S. Attia, Traditional multi-story house (Tower House) in Sana’a City, Yemen. An example of sustainable architecture, Alexandria Eng. J. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2020.01.001