2017 · Book · Koleksi Perpustakaan
By examining in close detail the cities of Shibam and Tarim, Dr Damluji analyses the ways in which the buildings of the Hadramut region are distinguished from other forms of local Arab architecture. In many Arab regions (including parts of Yemen) 'modern', 'Western' town planning and building methods have displaced original architectural forms; typically the traditionally-built, older areas tend not to be supplied with basic services such as sewers, and have quickly degenerated into slum districts, while the 'modern' areas are regarded as more desirable. However, the author argues that many of these new building practices and materials are innately unsuited to an Arab environment, and are in fact inferior to the authentic styles of architecture. Amongst her reasons are that this 'modernity' (in both its planning and use of materials) lacks consideration of climatic needs, and that its execution is technically inferior to that achieved by master builders who have long experience of the building art and a long-established and sophisticated method of construction. Moreover, the new style presupposes not only 'imported' authority or expertise in the form of the engineers, but also imported raw materials (concrete, steel) and therefore has implications for both the economy and for architectural autonomy and style. Dr Damluji concludes that the mud-brick architecture in the Hadramut region of southern Yemen offers a unique source of cultural and technical knowledge. This uniqueness lies in the contemporary nature of the architecture, which has not been displaced by imported, 'modern' techniques but has adjusted to keep pace with the changing needs of the society it serves. The architecture represents a real asset in the local building sector and contributes to the national sense of identity. It is thus not only an ancient design but also a valid twentieth century architecture ideally suited to the local environment. This important work describes in detail the history of the region, the rationale of traditional town-planning, and both building processes, design concepts and materials in contemporary use. It is richly illustrated with the author's own photographs and line drawings.
2017 · Book · Koleksi Perpustakaan
The Diwan Al Amiri in Doha, Qatar, is the governmental headquarters of the state of Qatar. Opened in 1989, this impressive complex is the symbolic, ceremonial, and administrative center of the State. The first book to documentthis impressive building, it is packed full of specially commissioned photographs by a leading architectural photographer. The book shows the entire building from its dramatic exterior, through the monumental interior spaces, down to the details of craftsmanship applied to every decorative element of the interior and its furnishings. Beautifully designed and produced and accompanied by an authoritative text, this book will fascinate those interested in the history of Qatar and its culture.
2017 · Book · Koleksi Perpustakaan
Until the early 1990s the southern and eastern towns of Yemen were extremely difficult to access. The result of nearly two decades of research, this is the first book to offer an in-depth investigation into the characteristic architecture of the region. The author's first hand research provides detailed insights into building techniques and methods, though still practiced, are little known outside the area. Refreshingly, the book moves out of the more familiar major cities into the hinterlands and explores regions that could be said to be the last strongholds of traditional Arab architecture. The author was allowed to visit locations and sites that had previously been closed to architectural historians. As a result of this privileged access, the text and images combine to convey unique insights and viewpoints: those of the master builders and house owners who actually create and inhabit the buildings.
2017 · Book · Koleksi Perpustakaan
This book records and examines in detail for the first time both the modern and vernacular architecture of the Sultanate of Oman. The Sultanate's landscapes are striking in their contrasts - from the powerful, primary blues and greens of the country's lush oases and the Indian Ocean that laps at its shores, to its arid deserts and rugged mountains. There is a primordial quality in the art of its architecture, imbuing it with a spirit of minimalism and austerity, qualities which have defined the extent and form of architectural construction and urban growth, from the smallest vernacular towns of the interior and coastal regions, to the impressive modern buildings of the Sultanate's capital, Muscat. To date, little of this rich and varied architecture has been documented. With a combination of her own original research based on extensive fieldwork and surveys, and previously unpublished drawings, plans, illustrations and surveys from architects working in Oman, coupled with first-hand accounts from local master builders, Dr Damluji has succeeded in compiling the most definitive work so far on the architecture of the Sultanate. By investigating traditional and modern building processes, urban planning and design concepts, and with thorough contributions from other specialists, Dr Damluji analyses, from an architectural viewpoint, the extent of Oman's success compared with many other developing countries in maintaining its rich cultural heritage in the face of the demands necessitated by a rapidly changing urban landscape. Illustrated with over 1000 of the author's own colour photographs and some 200 plans and elevations, and with a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales, the book represents an invaluable record of the architecture of an immensely diverse and fascinating country.
