Almehrej, Majid Ibrahim (2015) A Design Guide for Contemporary Saudi Arabian Homes in Riyadh ...

290 Pages·2017·10.05 MB·English

by  Ellen Cole

Citation: Almehrej, Majid Ibrahim (2015) A Design Guide for Contemporary Saudi Arabian
Homes in Riyadh. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.
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A DESIGN GUIDE FOR CONTEMPORARY
SAUDI ARABIAN HOMES IN RIYADH

M I ALMEHREJ

PhD

2015
A DESIGN GUIDE FOR CONTEMPORARY
SAUDI ARABIAN HOMES IN RIYADH

MAJID IBRAHIM ALMEHREJ

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
of the University of Northumbria at Newcastle
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Research undertaken in Department of
Architecture and the Built Environment

January 2015
In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful

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Abstract
Abstract

The traditional form of the Arab house was dictated by both its climate and the culture of its
inhabitants. Islamic values, as well as socio-economic factors, have played critical roles in
ordering and forming the built environment. However, the mid-1950s marked the beginning of
Saudi Arabia's first rapid economic growth as a result of the discovery of oil, which dramatically
increased the wealth and prosperity of the population, resulting in a new lifestyle. This period
witnessed the introduction of the grid layout street pattern and the detached villa house type
constructed in reinforced concrete, with large windows and balconies. This is still the prevalent
style in Saudi Arabia and the central province in particular. While the traditional courtyard
house created its own privacy and microclimate, this contemporary type is a solid building with
a narrow open space between it and the next house. The initial investigation for this research
revealed that the villa style creates fundamental problems for Saudi families, especially in
terms of lack of privacy; and the air-conditioning has negative implications for the climate.

The theoretical framework investigates the principles of cultures that are associated with the
home, in order to clarify its concept and fundamental principles; illustrate the influence of
culture on house form; and finally, demonstrate the nature of both the courtyard and villa house
types. The methodology uses a survey strategy with questionnaires, interviews and building
analysis. This study aims to highlight the need for a specific contemporary home style where
both the treatment of place and the house design meet all the needs of Saudi households. The
output of this research will be some guidance for house design that could satisfy 21st century
aspirations, yet still respect Islamic culture and traditional values.

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Table of Contents
Table of Contents

List of tables and figures .................................................................................................................... vii
List of accompanying material ........................................................................................................... viii
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... xiv
Author's declaration ........................................................................................................................... xvi
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................ xix

Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1

1.1The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ......................................................................................................2
1.2 Variation in architecture style and urban pattern .........................................................................2
1.3 Climate in Saudi Arabia ..............................................................................................................8
1.4 The beginning of the evolution ....................................................................................................9
1.5 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................................... 10
1.6 Aim and Objectives ................................................................................................................... 13
1.6.1 Aim ............................................................................................................................ 13
1.6.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................. 13
1.7 Scope of the research ............................................................................................................... 13
1.8 Thesis structure ........................................................................................................................ 14
Chapter 2: Home: Notion and Fundamental Principles ............................................................... 15

2.1 Introduction: Theoretical framework - culture ........................................................................... 16
2.2 Home: Notion and fundamental principles ................................................................................ 21
2.2.1 Human needs ............................................................................................................ 22
2.2.2 Place ......................................................................................................................... 24
2.2.3 House ........................................................................................................................ 32
2.3 Home: the combination of human needs, place, and house ...................................................... 35
Chapter 3: Home and the influence of culture ............................................................................ 38

3.1 Introduction: Islamic culture and the built environment .............................................................. 39
3.2 The notion of house and home ................................................................................................. 41
3.3 Islamic culture and human needs ............................................................................................. 41
3.3.1 Shelter – climatic comfort .......................................................................................... 41

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Table of Contents
3.3.2 Safety and security .................................................................................................... 43
3.3.3 Privacy ...................................................................................................................... 44
3.3.4 Status ........................................................................................................................ 45
3.3.5 External appearance ................................................................................................. 46
3.4 Islamic culture and place .......................................................................................................... 46
3.4.1 Attachment ................................................................................................................ 46
3.4.2 Identity....................................................................................................................... 47
3.4.3 Symbolism ................................................................................................................. 47
3.4.4 Location ..................................................................................................................... 48
3.4.5 Environment .............................................................................................................. 48
3.5 Islamic Culture and House ........................................................................................................ 49
3.5.1 Types ........................................................................................................................ 50
3.5.2 Thresholds ................................................................................................................ 50
3.5.3 Internal Arrangement ................................................................................................. 50
3.5.4 Nature of spaces ....................................................................................................... 50
3.5.5 Materials and construction ......................................................................................... 51
3.6 Saudi Arabian Culture ............................................................................................................... 51
3.7 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 54
Chapter 4: Historical development of domestic accommodation in Saudi Arabia .................... 57
4.1 The Tent ................................................................................................................................... 59
4.1.1 Tents in Saudi Arabia ................................................................................................ 59
4.1.2 Weekends in Desert Tents: Phenomena and Experience .......................................... 61
4.2 The Generic Courtyard Home ................................................................................................... 63
4.2.1 The system of a courtyard home ............................................................................... 67
4.3 Courtyard home in Central Province ......................................................................................... 69
4.3.1 Human Needs ........................................................................................................... 69
4.3.2 Place ......................................................................................................................... 77
4.3.3 House ........................................................................................................................ 79
4.4 House Design Regulations ....................................................................................................... 87
4.5 Villa home in Central Province .................................................................................................. 89
4.5.1 Human Needs ........................................................................................................... 90
4.5.2 Place ......................................................................................................................... 96

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4.5.3 House ...................................................................................................................... 101
4.6 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 107

Chapter 5: Methodology .............................................................................................................. 108

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 109
5.1.1 Questionnaires ........................................................................................................ 110
5.1.2 Interviews ................................................................................................................ 111
5.1.3 Observation schedules ............................................................................................ 112
5.1.4 Ethical Issues .......................................................................................................... 112
5.1.5 Population ............................................................................................................... 113
5.1.6 Samples: size and selection .................................................................................... 113
5.2 Fieldwork ................................................................................................................................ 115
5.2.1 Preliminary phase of survey .................................................................................... 115
5.2.2 Pilot study ................................................................................................................ 116
5.2.3 Main phase of data collection .................................................................................. 116
5.2.3.1 Questionnaire distribution ................................................................................ 116
5.2.3.2 Semi-structured Interviews .............................................................................. 117
5.2.3.3 Data Analysis .................................................................................................. 118
5.2.3.4 Propositions and Evaluation ............................................................................ 119

Chapter 6: Data Collection .......................................................................................................... 121

6.1Introduction.................................................................................................................................122
6.2 Human Needs............................................................................................................................123
6.2.1 Survey Results: Courtyard-Home ............................................................................ 123
6.2.2 Analysis of Survey Results: Courtyard-Home .......................................................... 128
6.2.3 Survey results: Villa-Home ...................................................................................... 131
6.2.4 Analysis of Survey Results: Villa-Home ................................................................... 136
6.2.5 Interview Results and Analysis ................................................................................ 139
6.2.5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 139
6.2.5.2 Courtyard Home .............................................................................................. 139
6.2.5.3 Villa Home ....................................................................................................... 143
6.2.5.4 Analysis of Interviews' Results ........................................................................ 146
6.2.6 Summary ................................................................................................................. 148

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6.3 Place ...................................................................................................................................... 150
6.3.1 Courtyard Home ...................................................................................................... 150
6.3.2 Villa Home ............................................................................................................... 156
6.3.3 Analysis of the Results ............................................................................................ 162
6.3.4 Summary ................................................................................................................. 164
6.4 House ..................................................................................................................................... 166
6.4.1 Guests ..................................................................................................................... 166
6.4.2 Courtyard Home ...................................................................................................... 166
6.4.3 Villa Home ............................................................................................................... 174
6.4.4 Summary ................................................................................................................. 182
6.5 Conclusion of data collection .................................................................................................. 184

Chapter 7: Propositions: The Design Guide .............................................................................. 192

7.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 193
7.2 The purpose of the Guide ....................................................................................................... 193
7.3 What examples are there? ...................................................................................................... 193
7.4 Who should use the Guide? .................................................................................................... 193
7.5 Why is it presented in this way? .............................................................................................. 194
7.6 What scale of development is covered by the Guide? ............................................................. 194
7.7 Status of the Guide ................................................................................................................. 195
7.8 Where to find what you need? ................................................................................................ 195
7.9 The Design Guidance ............................................................................................................. 195
7.10 The evaluation of the Design Guide ...................................................................................... 223

Chapter 8: Discussion, Conclusion and Contribution to Knowledge ...................................... 226

8.1 Discussion and Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 227
8.2 Contribution to Knowledge ...................................................................................................... 230
8.3 Future Research ..................................................................................................................... 231

Appendices

References

vii
Tables & Figures

List of Tables

Table 4.1: Building regulations principles ................................................................................................................................ 88
Table 6.1: Various means used to improve climate comfort, security, safety and privacy .................................................... 126
Table 6.2: Various means used to improve climatic comfort, security, safety and privacy .................................................... 134
Table 6.3: Final conclusion of data collection........................................................................................................................ 188

List of Figures

All illustrations are by the author except where stated.

Chapter 1
Fig. 1.1 Map of Saudi Arabia .............................................................................................................................................. 1
Fig. 1.2 Population of KSA in 2010: Saudi, non-Saudi and total ........................................................................................ 1
Fig. 1.3 Provinces of Saudi Arabia ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Fig. 1.4 Riyadh: part of the traditional urban fabric ............................................................................................................. 3
Fig. 1.5 Traditional house design: courtyard as a focal point ............................................................................................. 4
Fig. 1.6 Street width in the traditional city of Riyadh ........................................................................................................... 5
Fig. 1.7 Urban fabric of Jeddah .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Fig. 1.8 Mashrabiyah and Roshan ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Fig. 1.9 Najran- architectural style ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Fig. 1.10 Abha- topography and architectural style .............................................................................................................. 6
Fig. 1.11 Abha- Mountains' topography ................................................................................................................................ 7
Fig. 1.12 Jizan – house style ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Fig. 1.13 Eastern Province- architectural style ..................................................................................................................... 8
Fig. 1.14 Climate in Saudi Arabia ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Fig. 1.15 Al-Khobar planning and villa-house design by ARAMCO ...................................................................................... 9
Fig. 1.16 Al-Khobar planning and villa-house design by ARAMCO ...................................................................................... 9
Fig. 1.17 Al-Khobar planning and villa-house design by ARAMCO ...................................................................................... 9
Fig. 1.18 Al-Malaz district ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Fig. 1.19 Al-Malaz, villa type design ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Fig. 1.20 Comparison between courtyard and villa houses ................................................................................................ 12
Fig. 1.21 Map of Saudi Arabia: the central province ........................................................................................................... 13
Fig. 1.22 A plan of Riyadh .................................................................................................................................................. 13

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