Arabic Architecture

Hi everyone sorry we haven't posted in a while, so for this blog we though we could change things up and explore a little bit of Arabic interior design and architecture since we are going internationally!

There are few stereotypes in Arabic architecture that might be fist thing that comes to mind and stuck in most peoples heads. Now I am sure that the first thing that came into your mind the style houses or buildings from Aladdin movie, which in some cases might be true, but in this blog I would like to talk in depth about Arabic houses, their elements and their features.

The Arabic architecture is characterized by the habits, traditions, and culture of its inhabitants. However, in every region there are social and cultural differences , which also affect the overall look of the building designs.

Let me give you a few examples of traditional arabic architecture, including religious, educational, commercial, and mainly houses. The remarkable traditional houses of medieval Cairo, the stylish facades of Jeddah’s townhouses, the wind-catcher (badgir) of the houses of Dubai’s Bastakia district, and the courtyard houses of Yemen, are evidence of Arabic residential architecture.

Arabic residences are all about families, gatherings and privacy, so you’ll find that most houses have private gardens, private pools, and more than one living room with many entertaining areas. Some house designs require an extra quarter for sons or daughters so that in the future it can be separated into to independent homes.

As I have mentioned earlier, privacy of the family is an essential element which affects the shape and plan of the house. This controls the adjustment of where the house is facing, the neighbors view, the public view, and the layout of the house and its rooms. The design concept of the houses tends to generate an inward-looking plan with external walls. These plain and thick walls were designed to discourage strangers from looking inside the house as well as to protect the house from the harsh climate of the region. Unlike most of the European houses, which are extroverted to enjoy the maximum amount of the sun-heat, the Arab houses are designed to adapt to heavy heat and other sandy and rainy climate changes. These solutions are created to achieve a unified and harmonious space

Nowadays, Arabic architecture is distinguished by its innovative contemporary and vernacular concepts. Designs are combined between contemporary, traditional, famous by its innovative use of quality materials and elegant unexpected design solutions.

Here are some famous Arabic architects and buildings that are famous in the middle east and the rest of the world.

Zaha Hadid

Also known as the Queen of Curves. After her success with Shaikh Zayed Bridge, Hadid designed many different commissions in the UAE, such as the Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi, the headquarters of waste management firm Bee’ah in Sharjah, the Dubai Opera House, the Signature Towers and The Opus, the Dubai Financial Market and interiors of the ME Hotel in Dubai.

Sheigh Zayed Mosque

The design of the mosque can be best described as a fusion of Arab, Persian, Mughal and Moorish architecture.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has many special and unique elements. The construction elements unite the world by using artisans and materials from many countries including India, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Macedonia and United Arab Emirates.

Burj Al Arab

Inspired by the shape of a sail boat about to head into the Persian Gulf, the triangular shaped building’s design began with intent to create a recognizable landmark for the emerging city.