What are Middle Eastern homes called?

What are Middle Eastern homes called?

A mashrabiya (Arabic: مشربية‎), also either shanshūl (شنشول) or rūshān (روشان), is an architectural element which is characteristic of traditional architecture in the Islamic world and beyond. In Turkish it is called şahnişin, from Persian, and this has been adopted into Greek as sachnisi.

What are Middle Eastern houses made of?

For thousands of years, mud has been used as building material because it’s cheap, widely available and durable. Although many question its durability, there are numerous ancient mud buildings which have withstood the test of time.

What are Arab homes called?

The Arabic word ‘maskan’ is usually used to define this type of house – meaning with a peaceful and holy interior.

What is special about Arabic homes?

Common features in traditional Arabic houses Most of the regions in the Arab world such as the GCC area, Iraq, and south Egypt are hot dry zones. That is why, unlike European houses which are mostly open to allow the maximum amount of the sun and heat to enter the house, the Arab house is introverted.

What are houses like in Morocco?

Most Moroccan architecture is designed with the climate in mind. Riads, like the one I was staying in, consist of an open central courtyard to help with ventilation and have thick walls that help keep out heat. Rooms are located around the middle area and typically don’t have windows that open to the outside.

What is Harem window?

A mashrabiya (Arabic: مشربية‎), also either shanshūl (شنشول) or rūshān (روشان), is a type of projecting oriel window enclosed with carved wood latticework located on the second story of a building or higher, often lined with stained glass. The style may be informally known as a “harem window” in English.

What are the materials used in building houses in the Arab world?

Reeds, clay, straw, bricks, and wood were the most popular building materials used by builders from this region.

What are the features of Islamic architecture?

Characteristics. Some characteristics of Islamic architecture were inherited from pre-Islamic architecture of that region while some characteristics like minarets, muqarnas, arabesque, Islamic geometric motifs, pointed arch, multifoil arch, onion dome and pointed dome developed later.

Why do Middle Easterners sit on the floor?

It is a Muslim practice to sit, sleep and even eat on the floor (within rules) because it is a Sunnah . A Sunnah is any practice by the prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him). Sitting on the floor is comfortable, cozy, inviting, and easy ( no furniture arrangement required). As a matter of fact, it is also healthy.

What is considered rude in the Middle East?

Showing public affection is generally considered rude and disrespectful across the Middle East. Although some cultures within the Middle East might be more tolerant than others, it’s generally not a good idea to kiss, hug or openly display intimacy.

What is Moroccan home called?

riads
Although many traditional Moroccan homes are today referred to as riads, there is one major difference between a riad and a dar. Whereas riads have an interior garden, dars have an inner courtyard. The general layout and design of each is, however, otherwise very similar.

What are Moroccan homes made of?

In the south of Morocco near the Sahara desert, where temperatures often soar past 115 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius) in the summer, traditional villages made up of attached homes, called ksars, are made from mud bricks and rammed earth.

What are the characteristics of the Middle Eastern family?

This “oneness” of the Middle Eastern family, then, is an important aspect of Arab culture. Likewise characteristic of Middle Eastern society is the hospitality shown by the family to friends and strangers alike. The homes themselves vary greatly, according to the group’s income.

What kind of building materials are used in the Middle East?

The mosque in Kashan shows ancient techniques of building such as the extensive use of brickwork. Bricks, an age-old building material of the region, are often glazed with blue, imitating the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli. Some brickwork of this time period can be intricate and ornate.

Which is the most beautiful architecture in the Middle East?

Much of the most beautiful architecture in the Middle East is Islamic architecture and not in ruins at all. For instance, the Agha Bozorg mosque in Kashan, Iran is from the 18th century but exhibits many of the architectural details we associate with Islamic and Middle Eastern architecture.

Where are arch designs found in the Middle East?

This common arch design is found throughout the Middle East, in beautiful mosques, secular buildings, and public structures such as the 17th century Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran. The mosque in Kashan shows ancient techniques of building such as the extensive use of brickwork.