Concept of Mashrabiya, Pyshka, Shushabandi, Ma'aga, Shabbak, Shebeke in the architecture of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

The study is devoted to the carved verandahs with window-veils, balconies and galleries in the traditions of Asia and the Middle East. Areas of occurrence of perforations in a masonry, trenches of remote parts of the house in different cultures and traditions are observed. Hypotheses on the appearance of mashrabiya embryos in Egypt and Iraq are outlined. Varieties of mashrabiyas are distinguished in Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India. Regional variants of carved balconies and verandas names in different countries of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa are described.Understanded regional variants of the names of carved balconies and verandas in different countries of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Specifically, examples include Ma'aga and Shabbak in Yemen, Pyshka in Iran, Shushabandi in Georgia, Shushaband in Armenia, Shebeke in Azerbaijan. The existing information on the aspects of the use of one or another vocabulary is made taking into account the specifics of use in civil or sacred buildings, the belonging to the external or internal facade of the building, the essence of the appointment of the remote parts of the building with carved decorative elements, the geography of the origin of the definition, etc. Varieties of mashrabs are distinguished in Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India. The regional variant of carved balconies and verandas names is described in different countries of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.Characterized by the genesis and functions of this type of small architectural form. The specifics of the way of life in different countries of the world are specified, where Mashrabiya can be combined with glazed windows in a wooden frame (Shebeke), a patterned wall (perforation as in the village of Ab’yane in Iran), «refrigerators» in Yemen, the Aywanes in Armenia, etc. Examples of carved ensembles of verandas, terraces and balconies of above mentioned countries are presented, chronological boundaries of the distribution of similar ensembles are outlined.