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Prayer hall, where traditional Muslim prayers take place, is the most important element of Masjids (mosques). Prayer halls are historically shaped as simple orthogonal walled spaces. Over time, little changes have occurred to them. Recently, with the evolution of architectural schools of thought and the advent of new construction and electromechanical systems, prayer halls have been subject to creativity and experimentation. Architects designed prayer halls with different shapes, spatial configurations and forms which, in some instances, contradict with the essentials of prayer. This research attempts to monitor and classify different types of contemporary prayer halls according to their spatial configuration with special reference to the Saudi Arabian context. Taking the city of Jeddah as a case study, a representative sample of masjids is surveyed, documented, analyzed and classified. The analysis is based on shape, enclosure, symmetry and complexity of prayer halls space. The study concludes basic and non-basic prayer halls and their corresponding bisects. The classification, however, constitutes a base upon which design criteria for prayer halls across the Islamic countries can be built.

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to enhance sustainability in affordable housing in Saudi Arabia within an effective locally adopted sustainability assessment tool by discussing the multi interdisciplinary concept of sustainability in the built environment and introducing environmental indicators which are recently developed to foster environmentally responsible practices. The study aim expands beyond proposing sustainable feasible alternatives for existing affordable housing project in Saudi Arabia, namely, Al-Ghala project, to appropriating the measuring tool itself to make the review process easier, faster and more effective. Design/methodology/approach -Al-Ghala project, a typical affordable housing project is selected to act as a case study for this research. The housing units are assessed according to LEED to obtain the overall evaluation which obviously reflects the quality of the project sustainability. Elements that negatively affect the score and suggested feasible remedies are then identified, as well as inapplicable and inappropriate LEED components. The data were complemented by observation, interviews with occupants and project management team, monthly consumption rates of water and electricity, in addition to computer modelling and analysis by Ecotect and Green Building Studio. Findings -Sustainability in affordable housing requires a holistic framework that promotes environmentally responsible practices including design, construction and management phases. LEED provides evidence that it can considerably contribute in enhancing sustainability of post-occupied affordable housing units by identifying points of weakness that lead to inefficient use of energy, water and materials; paving the way for a wide range of sustainable modifications. In addition, for LEED to be competent in Saudi Arabia a native version needs to be developed in which local circumstances are taken into consideration. Research limitations/implications -According to the wide range of subjects covered by LEED, some elements could not be measured in depth. Impact of modifications proposed for LEED needs to be tested further. Practical implications -The paper includes implications for the deve...

Sustainability is clearly represented in Jeddah old city where traditional builders have developed unique practices that promote environmental, social and economic qualities. The urban form and buildings proved efficiency towards the conservative society, the pattern of life and the prevailing hot-humid climate. The open space system, characterized by narrow walkways and wider intersections, provided shaded and ventilated places for walking and communicating. Houses were configured according to social traditions that imply the separation between private and public life. Walls were constructed of locally coral stone blocks known by its thermal insulation ability, then finished with white color which acts on reflecting sunlight and reduces the heat absorption. Large wooden latticed windows admit daylight but control heating and ventilation, while providing privacy for the family. Moreover, rainwater was collected and stored in basement reservoirs. However, attempts to record these manifestations of sustainability have always been subjective. Therefore, based on long experience of academic work in relation to historic Jeddah, the present chapter intends to reintroduce previous knowledge but supported by evidence whenever possible hoping that it can help formulating guidelines for effective and sustainable alternatives. This is of great benefit to current professionals.