architecture
The research for a "modern life style" in a Saudi house started from
the most sacred needs of the future owners, social-cultural and
climatic ones. The clear hierarchic structure of public and private
spaces linked with the necessity of climatic comfort, explains how
important could be a correct solar orientation as much as a bright use
of "patios". A "modern" Saudi House, capable of sustaining itself,
smart in the use of resources, a place reflecting the soul of the
inhabitants.
Concept
"Places that are memorable are necessary. We need to think about where
we are and what is unique and special about our surroundings so we can
better understand ourselves and how we relate to others" Donlyn
LyndonThe "house" can be resumed into three groups: circulation; living
spaces; empty spaces (patios).
"Tradition is the social analogy of personal habit…….
Tradition is not necessarily old fashioned and is not synonymous with
stagnation…….. Once a particular tradition is established
and accepted, the individual artist’s duty is to keep tradition
going, with his own invention and insight to give that additional
momentum that will save it from coming to a standstill, until it will
have reached the end of its cycle and completed its full development"
"Architecture of the poor" Hassan Fathy
Circulation
Is the heart of the house, the filter of relations between spaces. A
volume that contains the horizontal and vertical circulation, as well
as defines and surrounds all the "water" spaces ( all aligned in order
to concentrate and rationalize the water supplies). This distributing
device is defined and limited by plans of " mushrabiyas " that together
with the sinuosity of the corridors reinforce the concept of private
and sacred space of the house.
Living Spaces
Dancing around the circulation volume, the construction of the living
spaces take place. In a rhythmate and continuous movement, all the rest
of the occupational areas organize themselves along the volume of the
corridors, in two levels, always respecting the hierarchy of spaces and
intimacy, required in a Muslim Family. In its development this volumes
should be thought as a monolithic block (in one material) reproducing,
with its variable volumetric and the void it generate, the precious
complexity of the old city, in a domestic scale.
Empty Spaces (patios)
As a result of the rationalized movement of the volume containing the
living spaces, in the plot, the patios complete the logic of the house.
As a transitional space, guarantees the intimacy of each living area,
introducing at the same time natural light into the circulation volume.
It works as well as a climatic soothe between outside and inside,
through its little gardens, water plans and trees (palm tree, fig tree
…), that produce at the same time a pleasant view on the patios
together with a mixture of garden scents.
Male guest Tour
Entering the house through the circulation volume, on the right side, a
mushrabiya door leads to the male guest room - A living room with
private bathroom with a first space for ablution. This living room has
a direct relation with the first patio, a possible guest "loggia" also
related with the other guest room, the dining room (serving both male
and female guests). all this "public" areas are limited by the
mushrabiya wall.
The first patio is an area with a continuous pavement floor (with a low
natural conductivity) stretching over a shallow water plan, intended
for the climatization of this space. On the west side a wall with a
grown plant of jasmine flower refreshes the air and the eye of the
guests.
Female guest Tour
Entering from the same main entrance, on the left side, a corridor
brings to a hall. Natural light penetrates through the wood grid of the
first patio. On the left side the female guest room also used as family
living room, is directly related with a second patio. This is an
informal patio with gravel on the floor and a few palm trees that can
also be used as playground for children. This living room is equipped
with a bathroom, identical to the one in the male guest room. Returning
to the hall we find easily on the left side the dining room, where the
"public" area of the guests ends.
Family House
At a first stage all the day rooms are located on the first floor
continuing after the dining room with the service spaces
–Kitchen, Laundry and a small room with a little patio and a
bathroom for the housemaid .
From the living room hall a first block of stairs, also contained by a
"mushrabiya" veil, gives access to the first group of bedrooms (2 with
a bathroom in common), from the dining room hall another block of
stairs reaches the Master bedroom and to the bedroom for 2 persons.
Sustainability
Sustainability can be achieved trough a bio-climatic approach. The
thermal design project relies on a basic principle: natural low
conductive materials indoors; free choice material outdoor; continuous
strong thermic insulation in between (including windows and doors
thermally insulated). The solar orientation chosen is south. All the
openings are protected from direct sunlight in summer, allowing it to
penetrate inside in winter.
The ventilation system is based on natural ventilation. All windows and
doors incorporate a self-regulating grille that work together with the
main admittance ventilation pipelines. The concept of the main
ventilation system takes advantage of the loss of temperature of the
air passing trough the pipeline embedded 2 meters below the ground,
where the average temperature is constant all trough the year (15º
C) . The air is extracted from the shaded sides of the patios,
circulates underground and is insufflated in the interior of the house
(cooler in summer (up to 10ºC less) and hotter in winter (up to 4
to 5ºC more)).
The water resources are rationalized following economic criteria: a
reservoir for rain water in the first patio provides water for garden
irrigation (counts based on the information given in booklet); a
reservoir in the second patio collecting water from wash basins and
bathtubs provides recycled water for flushing.
The presence of water and vegetation in the court-yards generates a
controlled micro climate, contributing to moisturize the ambient.
Optionally, solar panels (4 sq. mt.) will provide for hot water giving
a return on capital within 5-10 years. Also photovoltaic panels (60 sq.
mt.) can provide the complete electrical supply for the house.
Affordability
The conception
of this Saudi house took in account the affordability aspects. Namely
the structural simplicity, the use of current materials and building
system, the possibility of choice within a predefined range of exterior
finishing materials.
Eventhough a
bio-climatic building always requires a higher initial investment, due
to special cares on perfect insulation, in surfaces and openings, the
lifecycle cost of the unit are minimal, and the return on capital is
always guaranteed.
