Sustainable Desert Traditional Architecture of the Central Region of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

For thousands of years mud houses have represented the practical wisdom and spirituality of people, particularly those of desert regions, who learned how to use local materials to build homes that fitted the environmental and cultural conditions, in which they lived. As a case study, the central region of Saudi Arabia exhibits a tradition of earth architecture that is unique in style, culture and sustainability. Aiming to contribute towards the local debate of the suitability of the traditional mud architecture for today's lifestyle of Saudis, this paper explores the sustainable nature of the traditional adobe architecture of this hot arid region from environmental, social and technical points of view.

A Resilience and Environmentally Sustainable Assessment Framework (RESAF) for Domestic Building Materials in Saudi Arabia

“…The first action is to partially substitute the cement with replacement materials when using ready-mix concrete, for example by using pulverized fly ash (PFA) or ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). Table 6 demonstrates the extent of the savings that can be made in terms of embodied carbon and energy (i.e., 76,084 kg of ready-mix concrete (25-30 MPa) and 1,870,152 kg for ready-mix concrete (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). The savings could lead to a 41% reduction in embodied carbon and 27% reduction in energy consumption when substituting cement in this way.…”

“…Those working in construction design should, therefore, place a high priority on ensuring that new buildings are able to cope with potential loads and stresses, which future circumstances may impose on them and that they can withstand the damage they may sustain from current and future climatic events [29]. Buildings should also be constructed in line with local cultural and environmental conditions [30].…”

“…The influence of blast furnace slag or fly ash replacement on embodied carbon kgCO 2 e and embodied energy (MJ) of ready-mix concrete [(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) and(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)]. Comparison of the two proposed options for blocks (concrete products) ready-mix concrete.…”

Analytical Study of Heritage Residential Buildings in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia

“…10. Solid wall with small, high openings in the exterior elevation [14] As shown in Figure 11, the traditional house mainly consists of two sections, one for the men, and the other for the family, each with independent access from the outside [2]. It contains two courtyards, one for each sectionthe courtyard connected to the entrance wass for the men's section, and the other was connected to a women's sitting room as the women's section.…”

“…At night, the patio and rooftop act as a cool air sink; at midday, as the sun warms the courtyard, the warm air rises, helped by the impact of the fireplace, and it pulls a breeze through the rooms, while in the evening, the courtyard and building that held the heat during the day, at that point cool as the night air cools. [14]…”