Diriyah Narrated by Its Built Environment: the Story of the First Saudi State (1744-1818)
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Diriyah Narrated by Its Built Environment: The Story of the First Saudi State (1744-1818) By Nawaf Bin Ayyaf Almogren Bachelor of Architecture King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 2016 Submitted to the Department of Architecture in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Architecture Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology May 2020 © 2020 Nawaf Bin Ayyaf Almogren. All rights reserved The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part in any medium now known or hereafter created. Signature of Author: ________________________________________________________________ Department of Architecture May 8th, 2020 Certified by: _______________________________________________________________________ Nasser Rabbat Professor and Director of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Thesis Supervisor Accepted by: ______________________________________________________________________ Leslie K. Norford Professor of Building Technology Chair, Department Committee on Graduate Students 1 Thesis Supervisor Nasser Rabbat, PhD Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Architecture and readers Timothy Hyde, PhD Professor of the History and Theory of Architecture Abdullah Al-Mutawa, PhD Professor of Modern History 2 Diriyah Narrated by Its Built Environment: The Story of the First Saudi State (1744-1818) By Nawaf Bin Ayyaf Almogren Submitted to the Department of Architecture on May, 28, 2020 in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Architecture Studies, AKPIA Abstract: Diriyah is a parched settlement in the arid deserts of Central Arabia. It went, very swiftly, from not differing much compared to its local sphere, to assuming the role of a beacon capital which controlled Arabia almost in its entirety. From its ambitious emergence in 1744– which stemmed from a historical pact between political authority and religious influence, until its punitive downfall in 1818– after assuming the role of a bunker under siege for six long months, Diriyah witnessed numerous political stages which effected its built environment. Between a dire need to defend and fortify at one point, and an eager desire to show luxuriousness and grandeur at another, Diriyah’s built environment became a shimmering pond reflecting the ever-shifting political status of the state at any given time. By relying on historical textual accounts, infused with visual means of analysis, this thesis explores, and narrates, the urban development history of Diriyah during the timeframe of the First Saudi State (1744-1818), through using its built environment as a main examination tool. Accordingly, Atturaif historic district in Diriyah, was chosen as an urban model which directly stemmed as a result of establishing the state under the double weight of politics and religion. Located on an elevated majestic plateau, Atturaif became the center of power, and the decision-making hub of the ever-growing ambitious state. Hence, its urban form was examined, its core elements investigated, and notions of its symbolism analyzed. Eventually, the project described herein argues that the urban story of Diriyah presented an interesting model to analyze. How a strategic pact between the two different entities of politics and religion came together to turn a small patch of land, amongst ever-battling tribally- ruled settlements, into a capital of a State which possessed the largest extent of influence in the Arabian Peninsula since the 7th century. Thesis Advisor: Nasser Rabbat Title: Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Architecture 3 v Acknowledgments: “All praise, glory, and thanks be to Allah, the most beneficent and most merciful” I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my thesis supervisor and student adviser, Professor Nasser Rabbat, for guiding my journey at MIT every step of the way. Without his persistent help and continuous advice, this thesis would not have been possible. I would also like to thank my committee members, Professor Timothy Hyde and Professor Abdullah Al-Mutawa, for kindly enriching this project with valuable inputs and kind feedbacks. Above ground, I am eternally indebted to my family: My father Abdulaziz– my mentor and champion, my mother Hind– my rock and guardian, my beloved brothers Faisal and Salman, and my dearest sisters Sara, Nouf, and Sheikha for their undying support. I must also thank my friends for their unwavering encouragement. Additionally, I am exceptionally grateful to my country and leadership for sponsoring my studies and providing me with this opportunity of a lifetime. I will forever cherish my time at MIT, and treasure the astounding memories and life experiences I had encountered these past two years. In end, I must not forget to steer my utmost feelings of gratitude towards Diriyah. Those parched ruins, shells of the vibrant structures they once were, acted as a shimmering light amidst all the gloom and isolation caused by COVID-19. So far away from home, Diriyah kept persistently providing me with unceasing motivation. I found in exploring those prized ruins a comforting virtual sanctuary which made me feel significantly less-distant. 4 v Table of Contents: • Page 3. Abstract • Page 4. Acknowledgements • Page 6. Introduction Chapter 1. Literature Review 1.1 Historical Textual Sources: • Page 11. Local Historian Narratives • Page 12. Orientalist Travelers Accounts • Page 14. Poet Descriptions • Page 15. Supplementary Indirect Sources 1.2 Architectural - Textual Sources: • Page 16. On Diriyah’s Fortifications • Page 17. On Diriyah’s Distinctive Structures • Page 18. On Diriyah’s Residential Styles • Page 19. On Models & Prototypes of Settlements in Najd Chapter 2. (1446 - 1744): • Page 21. (1446) The Return Back... Diriyah’s First Settlement • Page 25. (1446-1744) The Following Three Centuries • Page 29. (1744) Arrival of Ibn Abdulwahhab & Declaring a Saudi State • Page 33. - Features of a Historic Pact Declaring a Saudi State • Page 35. - Qualities of a Unique Relationship Chapter 3. (1765 - 1818): • Page 39. (1765) Diriyah After Ibn Saud’s Passing • Page 43. (1765-1818) Fate of a Unique Governing Relationship • Page 46. (1818) Downfall of Diriyah • Page 51. - The Defensive Strategy • Page 53. - The Siege and the Battle • Page 57. - Deserting Diriyah... or What is Left of It Chapter 4. Atturaif As Model: • Page 60. Neighborhoods or Towns? Notions of Urban Autonomy and Independence • Page 67. Apparent and Symbolic Needs for Atturaif • Page 73. Analyzing Atturaif’s Urban Fabric and Central Core • Page 79. A Matchless Structure to the Region Introduced in Atturaif • Page 86. Atturaif’s Architectural Decorating & Ornamenting • Page 91. Conclusion • Page 96. Illustration Credits • Page 97. Bibliography 5 v Introduction: “Superiority results from a group feeling (‘asabiyyah). Only by God’s help in establishing his religion do individuals desires come together in agreement … And hearts become united. … When hearts are turned towards the truth and reject the world and whatever is false, and advances toward God, they become one in their outlook. There are a few differences. As a result, the extent of the state widens, and the dynasty grows.” – Ibn Khaldun1 Present-day Saudi Arabia is the third version of a Saudi State since the mid 18th century. Prior to that period, the reins of power swiftly shifted among local tribes throughout Arabia, with no real tie to unify them all. The first ‘unifying-all’ Saudi state was founded in 1744, with the city of Diriyah serving as its capital. The state lasted until its downfall, by the mighty Ottoman forces, in 1818. The second Saudi state founded in 1824, and collapsed in 1891. While the third and current Saudi state was founded in 1932, after a long unification process which started in 1902, and thrives to this day. Spanning the time period of the first Saudi state (1744- 1818), this thesis will explore and narrate the urban story of the city of Diriyah. Diriyah was first settled in the mid-15th century by the great-grandfather of the Al-Saud family upon his return to his ancestral home in central Arabia from the Arabian Peninsula’s eastern region.2 After nearly three centuries of relative stability, Diriyah welcomed a highly revered religious reformer, Muhammed Bin Abdulwahhab, who was forced off a neighboring settlement. His arrival resulted in a historical pact between this prominent religious cleric, 1 Ibn Khaldun (1332-1405), Muqaddimah Chapter 3 section 4. Translated by Franz Rosenthal 2 Ibn Khamis, Abdullah. (1982). Dir’iyyah the First Capital. Riyadh. First Edition. p.5 6 Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Abdulwahhab3, who sought to reform Islamic teachings from what was believed to be heretic practices, and Diriyah’s political ruler, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud4, who had aimed to unify Arabia under his rule. That pact resulted in (Diriyah’s Charter)– which asserted the birth of the First Saudi State in 1744. Their agreement established a steadfast union between the political and religious powers, forming two presiding entities that profoundly relied upon one another to maintain their linked legitimacy in a codependent fashion. Diriyah was the seat of this emerging power, and that is partly what makes it a compelling case to investigate through its built environment: as the double pronged power manifested itself in the city layout by allotting different clusters to its different entities. Diriyah emerged as the capital of an overly-ambitious