From Symbolism to Functionalism and Back Again: Towers of Traditional Settlements in the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

Before the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, settlements of the Arabian Peninsula possessed towers constructed for the defence of the inhabitants. These structures, built for highly practical purposes, became endowed with a rich symbolism which affected the lives of the people who lived in their shadows. The use of the structures eventually changed from that of defence to storage for agricultural products. With this change of function, their symbolism gradually faded, but never disappeared. Recently, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a revival of their important message through new trends in art and architecture. This work attempts to understand the towers in light of the historical context in which they were built and to analyze the interconnection between functionalism and symbolism in the architectural form through examination of a structure which not only affected past events but still contains meaning for the in habitants of the Arabian Peninsula today.