The Effects of Cultural Values on Traditional Islamic-Arabic Houses in the Middle East
Culture and design determine the space-influenced values; they specifically outline space variations between values within a culture in relation to design space-influenced values. By the vision of an ideal life, one can shape and mold the vision of space by reflecting cultural forces such as religious beliefs. The purpose of this study will determine cultural values and religious beliefs and, in turn, assess the effects on the formation of houses in the Middle East. For this principle, the elements of traditional Islamic-Arabic homes showed effects by determining certain elements such as the bent entrance, the courtyard, the Haramlek and Salamlik (women’s and men’s quarters), and the Mashrabiya (wooden windows). Qualitative analysis was used as the method to analyze the case studies comparing traditional courtyard homes to today’s housing. The results have shown that today’s housing was unsuccessful when trying to imitate the provision of privacy as it was in the houses during the past.
Concurrence of thermal comfort of courtyard housing and privacy in the traditional arab house in middle east
This review paper qualitatively identifies the physical features of the traditional Arab houses in Tripoli and Libya in terms of their privacy and their physical response to the environment. It measures elements of courtyard housing style and consequently how they adapt to the environment's culture and climate. The physical features of a traditional house and user behavioral preferences of gender segregation are evaluated for matching. This paper contributes in establishing environmental analogy of man and his habitat. Social, physical and psychological dimensions of housing regionalism are symbiotic. In order to enhance housing sustainability several interrelated sectors like planners, designers and developers need to carefully harness these potentials considering their economical viability.
Fortune and Responsibility in Calderón's La gran Cenobia
La gran Cenobia deals with the war between Queen Zenobia of Palmyra and the Emperor Aurelian. Calderón de la Barca draws most of his information from historical sources; the dramatist, however, changes history and adapts it to his own dramatic purpose. The theme of Fortune gives unity to the play. Aureliano is portrayed as a tyrant who, to prove his independence from Fortune, behaves tyrannically, causing his eventual downfall. Cenobia believes that Fortune controls her life, but does not acknowledge that her own actions contribute to her misfortune. The analysis concludes that Fortune, as depicted in this play, is not an omnipotent and blind force, but what one has forged with his or her own actions coupled with the actions of others and circumstance.