Qatar is one of the rapidly growing states of Arab world. It has a long history which goes back to 5000 years. The spread of Islam in the area during the seventh century AD, later getting a strong hold in the fourteenth century AD, during the Abbasid rule, Qatar experienced a blooming economic growth as a result of increased demand for pearls from the Caliphate in Baghdad. In the due course, Qatar was ruled by many great powers through the centuries.The Portuguese ruled from 1517 to 1538 after which the power shifted to the Ottomans. In the eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the British power established their rule in the Arabian Gulf, for the sake of securing an easy route to sub-continent.The country got independence from British rule in 1971. Throughout the history of Qatar, climatically responsive and geographically sensitive solutions have been planned and developed to create architecture that is responsive to the needs and lifestyle of the communities.
SHAPING TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AS A RESPONSE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS
Geographically Qatar is surrounded by water from three sides. The prevailing climate is hot and humid. The areas along the coastline are cooler as compared to the interior ones. This variation has an impact on architecture too. Hence the orientation of buildings with respect to sun path, sea-breezes and strong shamal winds (prevailing north and north west winds) have been a common feature determining the style or character of buildings. Also consideration of security and privacy has played a great role in shaping a lot of features of traditional architecture. This impact has resulted into a serious effort in designing residential spaces, keeping the culturally and religiously accepted norms in mind. Hence the separation of male lounge area from the rest of the habitable spaces and placement of ventilation systems such as badgheer at higher positions are only some of the examples of valuing the customs and traditions and compromising the comfort levels of the occupants.
ROM TENTS TO PERMANENT HOUSES
The nomadic lifestyle of the Arab people favored the temporary structure such as tents and camps. These structures were also climatically responsive with the hot and humid environment of Qatar. The first houses, arising from the shift towards sedentary lifestyle, were very small, made from mud bricks with straw (libbin) as an admixture. However, later relatively permanent houses were constructed from local materials such as hassa stone and jussmortar. The branches of palm trees, another locally abundant material were used for making pitched roof. The construction of these houses was termed as Arrish. The houses were largely dependent upon natural ventilation provided by wind towers and courtyards. The cool air entered at night from the sea, through openings and courtyards and helped in cooling the internal spaces at daytime. The favored locations for these courtyards are north and west of houses in Qatar.
Layout of a traditional house
The early houses were usually single room, with their backs facing shamal. They had characteristic open plan and with very few partitions. For provision of potable water, well or bir was excavated. Majlis, the socializing space for men were usually outside the house, at locations where no female members can be seen. The locally found mangrove poles were used for supporting the roof structure. These poles were extended outside the house for shading its entry, which Later transformed into well developed verandah. This verandah space became focus of many day to day activities, like cooking, depending upon the weather conditions.
With time these single room houses became divided in two or more spaces. Gradually the spaces in the house started to become more specific. Four kinds of internal and external spaces became commonly occupied. These included private zone, formed by hammam or washrooms, semi-private zone, formed by one or more rooms, semi-public zone consisting of verandah and public zone like Majlis or male interacting space (John, 2009). The development of multiple rooms in the traditional architecture and more particularly in the houses, with the span of time was a result of two factors the mangrove poles (danjal) providing the structural support to roofs could cover only a limited span. Hence width of the rooms depended on the available lengths of these poles, and the height was determined by the efficiency of room to allow the natural ventilation to cool the floor area. This helped in maintaining comfortable temperatures during the daytime.
These limitations resulted in disproportionate room sizes with narrow widths and high roofs. High ceilings were also more sympathetic with the temperament of nomadic people as they were really fond of open spaces and psychologically averse the oppressive low height.
LOCAL MATERIALS
Since the houses constructed at earlier times were usually single storey, they could be constructed from mud bricks. However as the population increased and the need of increasing the number of rooms and floors grew, hence the low-strength materials could no longer relied upon. Materials commonly used were natural and locally available. These mainly included desert stones or hasa limestone mortar or Wrought iron (hadid) were imported for employing them in doors and windows. The shell sand or suban occurs naturally in large areas of the coastline. It is a lightweight material with early setting quality. This material was traditionally used either as paving material for courtyards and urban spaces or for roof insulation.
TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY
The locally established techniques and systems for responding to the needs of the people are discussed below
Wind catchersBurj-Al-Hawa
The wind catchers were a common feature of houses, which were facing sea at their north and west sides. Cool sea breezes were an excellent means of ventilation, being caught by wind towers and spread inside the house. The wind towers are generally situated at the north end of the rooms to which they are attached, for ensuring optimal cooling. These vertical structures were usually square in plan. Mangrove poles were tied throughout the burj al hawwa at regular intervals. These poles were used as fitted ladder for internal providing internal access, as well as occasional mending if required. Externally it provided much needed tensile strength to the tower because of the materials of its construction. Wet hessian was used at the bottom of these towers, in order to control the breezes as well as providing an impenetrable layer for filtering dust. Besides ventilating a house, the wind towers were also a powerful means of bringing cool air in passageways, locally named sikka.
Badgheer
The badgheer was another device which permitted the entrance diffusion of air, into buildings for the purpose of ventilating the internal, enclosed spaces. These were in the form of horizontal air-gap built-in within the rooms and on the open parapets of buildings. Its purpose was specifically to bring air into the space at a low level, comforting the residents who were usually employing the floor to sit and other activities
Besides ensuring a direct air movement, it also produced an indirect light source at a low level in the room. In order to control the amount of wind and restrict the entrance of dust and rain water a simple shutter was added on the outside of the opening.
Beside the residential buildings, other most important building typology was religious spaces, mostly the mosques. Initially the mosque architecture was very simple and down to earth, representative of the dominant Wahabi traditions. Small domes (qubba) and hemispherical topped towers (burj) were characteristic features, with little ornamentation here and there. The mosques were never overdone and always presented the simplicity in its best form. A large number of mosques are still designed following the traditional Arabian style.
Today Qatar is one of the wealthiest nations of the world as well as an attractive tourist destination. Architecture in Qatar echoes the stunning and magnificent cultural heritage of the country. It has formed a beautiful combination of traditional and contemporary architecture in Qatar showcasing the dominant Islamic influence in the country.
SHAPING TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE AS A RESPONSE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS
Geographically Qatar is surrounded by water from three sides. The prevailing climate is hot and humid. The areas along the coastline are cooler as compared to the interior ones. This variation has an impact on architecture too. Hence the orientation of buildings with respect to sun path, sea-breezes and strong shamal winds (prevailing north and north west winds) have been a common feature determining the style or character of buildings. Also consideration of security and privacy has played a great role in shaping a lot of features of traditional architecture. This impact has resulted into a serious effort in designing residential spaces, keeping the culturally and religiously accepted norms in mind. Hence the separation of male lounge area from the rest of the habitable spaces and placement of ventilation systems such as badgheer at higher positions are only some of the examples of valuing the customs and traditions and compromising the comfort levels of the occupants.
ROM TENTS TO PERMANENT HOUSES
The nomadic lifestyle of the Arab people favored the temporary structure such as tents and camps. These structures were also climatically responsive with the hot and humid environment of Qatar. The first houses, arising from the shift towards sedentary lifestyle, were very small, made from mud bricks with straw (libbin) as an admixture. However, later relatively permanent houses were constructed from local materials such as hassa stone and jussmortar. The branches of palm trees, another locally abundant material were used for making pitched roof. The construction of these houses was termed as Arrish. The houses were largely dependent upon natural ventilation provided by wind towers and courtyards. The cool air entered at night from the sea, through openings and courtyards and helped in cooling the internal spaces at daytime. The favored locations for these courtyards are north and west of houses in Qatar.
Layout of a traditional house
The early houses were usually single room, with their backs facing shamal. They had characteristic open plan and with very few partitions. For provision of potable water, well or bir was excavated. Majlis, the socializing space for men were usually outside the house, at locations where no female members can be seen. The locally found mangrove poles were used for supporting the roof structure. These poles were extended outside the house for shading its entry, which Later transformed into well developed verandah. This verandah space became focus of many day to day activities, like cooking, depending upon the weather conditions.
With time these single room houses became divided in two or more spaces. Gradually the spaces in the house started to become more specific. Four kinds of internal and external spaces became commonly occupied. These included private zone, formed by hammam or washrooms, semi-private zone, formed by one or more rooms, semi-public zone consisting of verandah and public zone like Majlis or male interacting space (John, 2009). The development of multiple rooms in the traditional architecture and more particularly in the houses, with the span of time was a result of two factors the mangrove poles (danjal) providing the structural support to roofs could cover only a limited span. Hence width of the rooms depended on the available lengths of these poles, and the height was determined by the efficiency of room to allow the natural ventilation to cool the floor area. This helped in maintaining comfortable temperatures during the daytime.
These limitations resulted in disproportionate room sizes with narrow widths and high roofs. High ceilings were also more sympathetic with the temperament of nomadic people as they were really fond of open spaces and psychologically averse the oppressive low height.
LOCAL MATERIALS
Since the houses constructed at earlier times were usually single storey, they could be constructed from mud bricks. However as the population increased and the need of increasing the number of rooms and floors grew, hence the low-strength materials could no longer relied upon. Materials commonly used were natural and locally available. These mainly included desert stones or hasa limestone mortar or Wrought iron (hadid) were imported for employing them in doors and windows. The shell sand or suban occurs naturally in large areas of the coastline. It is a lightweight material with early setting quality. This material was traditionally used either as paving material for courtyards and urban spaces or for roof insulation.
TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGY
The locally established techniques and systems for responding to the needs of the people are discussed below
Wind catchersBurj-Al-Hawa
The wind catchers were a common feature of houses, which were facing sea at their north and west sides. Cool sea breezes were an excellent means of ventilation, being caught by wind towers and spread inside the house. The wind towers are generally situated at the north end of the rooms to which they are attached, for ensuring optimal cooling. These vertical structures were usually square in plan. Mangrove poles were tied throughout the burj al hawwa at regular intervals. These poles were used as fitted ladder for internal providing internal access, as well as occasional mending if required. Externally it provided much needed tensile strength to the tower because of the materials of its construction. Wet hessian was used at the bottom of these towers, in order to control the breezes as well as providing an impenetrable layer for filtering dust. Besides ventilating a house, the wind towers were also a powerful means of bringing cool air in passageways, locally named sikka.
Badgheer
The badgheer was another device which permitted the entrance diffusion of air, into buildings for the purpose of ventilating the internal, enclosed spaces. These were in the form of horizontal air-gap built-in within the rooms and on the open parapets of buildings. Its purpose was specifically to bring air into the space at a low level, comforting the residents who were usually employing the floor to sit and other activities
Besides ensuring a direct air movement, it also produced an indirect light source at a low level in the room. In order to control the amount of wind and restrict the entrance of dust and rain water a simple shutter was added on the outside of the opening.
Beside the residential buildings, other most important building typology was religious spaces, mostly the mosques. Initially the mosque architecture was very simple and down to earth, representative of the dominant Wahabi traditions. Small domes (qubba) and hemispherical topped towers (burj) were characteristic features, with little ornamentation here and there. The mosques were never overdone and always presented the simplicity in its best form. A large number of mosques are still designed following the traditional Arabian style.
Today Qatar is one of the wealthiest nations of the world as well as an attractive tourist destination. Architecture in Qatar echoes the stunning and magnificent cultural heritage of the country. It has formed a beautiful combination of traditional and contemporary architecture in Qatar showcasing the dominant Islamic influence in the country.
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