How courtyard houses and gardens are being reintroduced in the UAE

Courtyard houses and gardens have appeared in architectural-design traditions all over the world, stretching back through recorded history. However, we can attribute the Middle East with being the first region to see the genius in this method of spatial arrangement.

The courtyard house first appeared circa 6,400 to 6,000BC in the central Jordan Valley, and the ancient nomadic peoples of the Middle East even arranged their tents to form a protected central space. In the Gulf, the tents were arranged around the herding area or the oasis, forming a circle or square with the sheikh’s tent in the middle so that guests could recognise it. This gave security, privacy and shelter from the elements to people and their animals. These incredibly desirable traits in housing have been used in architecture and landscaping ever since.

Interestingly, the courtyard house and garden have fallen somewhat from favour in recent decades in the UAE, as the country has become influenced by western-style housing that, unsurprisingly, is far less suited to the weather and culture of this region.

The traditional Middle Eastern courtyard house and garden exhibit regional differences, yet certain characteristics are almost universal. The style features thick external walls (in some locations, the walls average 50 centimetres thick), with the rooms of the house arranged over one or more levels, facing onto an uncovered central area that could be used as a garden or just as open space providing air and light for the areas surrounding it. The thick walls are multifunctional – they provide temperature regulation in extreme climates, privacy and protection against unwelcome intruders. Often, the central courtyard will feature a fountain, which further cools the space via evaporation, creating a microclimate. Another common attribute is the planting of deciduous trees, which provide shade in summer, yet allow the sunlight through in winter, when they drop their leaves.

Original article by Jane Aldersley

Continue reading at The National:

How courtyard houses and gardens are being reintroduced in the UAE