Research & Reviews: Journal of Architectural Designing Volume 3 Issue 1 Islamic Architectural Heritage: Mashrabiya, from Tradition to Innovation Ar.Balpreet Singh Madan1*, Ar.Shubhangi Saxena2 1Department of Design, School of Architecture and Planning, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India. 2University School of Architecture and Planning (GGSIPU), New Delhi, India. *Corresponding Author E-mail Id:[email protected] ABSTRACT Islamic Architectural Heritage is unique and distinctive in its own way according to the chronology attached to it. The features of Islamic Architecture were designed to support all major aspects starting from psychological, environmental, social and religious demands catering to all the requirements of that era. The facade of a building acts as its identity as it is the most prominent element that is observed and connects the building with the surroundings and is also considered as climatic responsive systems which not only add aesthetics, but also save energy by maintaining the temperature inside the building. Presently, the concept of Mashrabiya is being incorporated in building design as one of the most prominent feature of the tall buildings of the Gulf region giving them an extra-ordinary outlook while preventing constant penetration of solar radiations. Mashrabiya has been reshaped and reintroduced in terms of its materiality, scale and utility. The study explores transformation of Mashrabiya from a heritage feature of ornamentation to a climate responsive façade system against harsh desert sun of the Middle East, which contributes to substantial amount of energy saving. Keywords:-Climate responsive, dynamic screens, geometric patterns, islamic architecture, mashrabiya, sun-shading device, lattice screen INTRODUCTION AND facing the street, as it can be seen in figure BACKGROUND 1. It may also be incorporated within the Mashrabiya, also known as ‘shanshul’ or building on the internal facade, usually ‘rushan’, is a variety of projecting oriel facing the courtyard. This style is windows composed of wooden informally known as harem window in latticework, usually found in a traditional English. It was commonly used in building. It is an element of traditional houses and palaces along with some of Arabic architecture which has been in the public buildings like hospitals, inns, existence since the middle ages untilmid- schools and government buildings. These 20th century. Mashrabiya is usually seen are found mostly in Mashriq which lies in on the external facade of the building, the eastern part of the Arab World. [1] HBRP Publication Page 1-13 2021. All Rights Reserved Page 1 Research & Reviews: Journal of Architectural Designing Volume 3 Issue 1 Fig.1:-Example of an Islamic style Mashrabiya in Cairo from the late 19th century.(https://levihammett.com/The-People-s-Mashrabiya) Mashrabiya, which has its origin and Syria. [2] existence in the Middle east, comes from an Arabic word “Sharab” which literally The earliest fact of Mashrabiya dates back means “To drink”, the reason because of to 12th Century during the Abbasid which its existence was referred to the period in Baghdad. Some of the examples place where one can drink water from a of Mashrabiyas are 300 to 400 years old. clay pot, later on, gradually developed to [1] be a cooling object, which combines wooden lattice panels with Nowadays, this traditional Islamic accommodating clay pot in order to keep window element with its attribute of the water cool. However, another latticework is used to cover whole building assumption claimed that the word as an oriental adornment, which is Mashrabiya was derived from the word providing limited identity and acts as a “Mashrafiya” which means “To observe” sun shading device used for cooling. Over in Arabic as people can see through it, the time, this vernacular wooden though there is no certain evidence to construction is also transformed into ultra- prove how the term Mashrabiya was modern receptive daylight systems. [3] originally derived from. [2] JUSTIFICATION AND PROBLEM According to various regions, Mashrabiya STATEMENT is also known under different terms. For ‘Mashrabiya’is one of the elementary example, it is known as Mashrabiya in features of Islamic Architecture, which Egypt and North Africa, Rawshan which is has attained a distinct image in the present common in the kingdom of Hejaz “Saudi world. The application of Mashrabiya has Arabia” and that term derived from the mainly been associated with the façade Persian word “Rawzan” which means that also gives an identity to the building. window. Furthermore, it is known for The image of Mashrabiya has been “Shanashil” in Iraq and “Kushk”, Turkish changing with time, from a traditional term which means pavilion, in Turkey and patterned window screen to an innovative HBRP Publication Page 1-13 2021. All Rights Reserved Page 2 Research & Reviews: Journal of Architectural Designing Volume 3 Issue 1 climate responsive shading device. In iconic buildings incorporating it as a some of the cases, it has further been prominent component of Architecture and enhanced and used as a prominent feature Energy conversation. The buildings of the covering entire exterior of the building. Middle Eastern countries demonstrate This paper explains the role of Mashrabiya tremendously, the function of Mashrabiya, that has evolved over the years to one of emphasizing on its functionality as an the most essential components of the energy conservation tool along with building facade which can reduce the preserving the Arab-Islamic heritage. This consumption of energy while adding to the paper, therefore, emphasizes on the study iconicity by inculcating a distinct image in of some of the recent iconic buildings the overall outlook. Many Architects have which have been constructed in the Middle designed number of buildings globally, East demonstrating the remarkable connect which consume tremendous amount of between the culture and technology. energy, majorly due to the air- conditioning loads, which has resulted in MASHRABIYA IN ARID REGION over-exploitation of natural resources. Mashrabiya and arid regions are closely Realizing the significance of energy linked with each other. Due to extreme conservation, the focus has been shifted to heating conditions in the desert, identify the strategies to reduce energy maintaining comfortable temperature was consumption which necessitated the a challenge in earlier times, due to construction of energy efficient buildings which, it was necessary to construct with without compromising on the aesthetics. In suitable construction techniques and the countries of arid region, where climatic materials that could keep the inside conditions are extreme with harsh sunlight, temperature lower. The most common it becomes extremely important to reduce material to serve the purpose was mud the air-conditioning loads of a building. that absorbs heat during daytime and This paper emphasizes on the contribution prevents them from reaching rooms. of Mashrabiya as a prominent shading Thick walls of mud release the absorbed device which can significantly, bring down heat throughout night, as the deserts areas the consumption of energy, while cool down much faster during the night making the building extraordinarily time. To provide for ventilation in these attractive. mud walls, small perforations were created for convenient air flow, while METHODOLOGY blocking the heat. High ceilings used to Mashrabiya is a major component of maintain the inside temperature by Islamic culture and Architecture, deep- removing hot air outside from the top. [1] rooted in the ancient era, which makes it important to understand its historical These openings in the walls were not background and origin. This paper sufficient to allow appropriate light in the reviews some of the old and existing rooms that resulted in darker spaces buildings worldwide, especially the imparting a sense of disconnection from buildings of Islamic origin which have the surroundings. Mashrabiya was incorporated Mashrabiya as a major design incorporated as a solution to these feature, to understand its commencement problems, which prevents direct sunlight, and evolution. without blocking the view allows The integration of Mashrabiya in the sufficient air flow, maintains comfortable buildings has evolved greatly with the temperature inside and reduces the solar advancement of technology, which has heat gain inside. The grandeur of this resulted in the development of numerous spectacular Islamic Architecture element HBRP Publication Page 1-13 2021. All Rights Reserved Page 3 Research & Reviews: Journal of Architectural Designing Volume 3 Issue 1 lies in its amalgamation of its function Mashrabiya started to thrive during with its aesthetics and social values Tulunid period (868-905) where they associated with it. Without compromising utilized a lot of wood in their structures, the privacy of architectural spaces behind and Arab makers profited toward the start these screens, Mashrabiya also contributes of the business, from the experience of the to the aesthetics to the streets overlooking Copts, who were astounding carpenters. the windows. [1] The development of this development kept during the Abbasid time (750-1258), HISTORY OF MASHRABIYA particularly during the hour of the Mashrabiya is the remarkable window that Ayyubid (1171-1250). From that point, overlooks the street or the courtyard of during the Mamluk time (1250-1517) the classic Arab houses. Before, Mashrabiya Mashrabiya business