I wish to write about the traditional famous Arabian architecture of the past era as part of this month's theme. 

THE 1800’S – BAIT AREESH: OLD UAE HOMES MADE OF PALM FRONDS

The old houses in UAE were constructed to remain cool. In the winter months, most of the nomadic Bedouin population lived in tents made of animal hides, usually close to camels grazing areas. During summer, they constructed houses using palm fronds as shelter from the heat. These palm frond shelters were called Bait Areesh or Barsti.

These Bedouin houses were often built on a higher surface so more wind could pass through them. The fronds of the palm would be stripped off to create screens and the full fronds were used as thatching for the roof. These thatched roofs were watered  slightly to cool down the overall temperature of the house.

THE 1900’S- BAIT MORJAN: HOMES MADE WITH CORAL AND SEA STONE

Over time, more materials were added to this mix. These houses made of coral and limestone were called Bait Morjan. These old UAE houses were well insulated from heat because of the layering technique. Mud and clay were also used as the building materials. The transitioning from the Areesh homes to these was attributed to a fire that ravaged the settlements in the late 1800’s, which created the need for a more fire resistant material. This also eliminated the need to have two separate kinds of dwellings in winter and summer.

INTRODUCTION OF THE BARJEEL to STAY COOL USING WIND TOWERS

The desert homes of Old Dubai needed to take special care to make sure that there was enough ventilation. An important engineering concept that was introduced was the use of the wind towers or Barjeel. These towers were used to direct the flow of the wind so that air could be recirculated as a home cooling technique. Sometimes, water would be sprinkled at the bottom of the tower to cool down the ambient temperature within the traditional desert houses in the UAE.

The Barjeel would usually rise around five meters above the roof and was open on all four sides. It would catch and direct cooler breeze into the room below through vertical shafts. Warm air would naturally rise up and leave through the same tower, creating the ultimate home cooling technique for old desert houses. 

INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE AND ADDITION OF THE MAJLIS

In the early 20th century more Islamic influences began to be seen in the design of traditional houses in the UAE. The concept of the Majlis became popular in these houses and was used by male members as a meeting room. The wind towers continued to be a feature of these homes, but they would be situated on one or more exterior rooms to direct the wind into the main house. 

These traditional architectural concepts contributed to how traditional homes in the UAE desert stayed cool without air conditioning. People also covered their head and wore loose fitting clothes to stay cool in the heat.