Plastic and functional features of mud architecture , A comparative study between Egyptian Nubian and Zebaid city of Yemen architecture

Abstract

The study is concerned with beauty, enjoyment and the human needs for them. All society has motivations for finding the beauty, enjoyment and the visual enjoyment. The beauty of architecture leads to contemplation, enjoying with it and searching about its causes because it expresses for the culture and represents the civilization. The traditional architecture was spontaneously established during long period. It depends on precise scientific concepts. The architecture has art, imagination, sense and innovation. According to Nubian architecture that is located on the bank of the Nile, it is influenced by the ancient Egyptian architecture and some Fatimid domes impacts. According to Zabid city architecture that is located in southwestern of Yemen, it is mostly influenced by Islamic architecture arts, some Indian and east Africa impacts. Both Yemeni and Nubian architecture are characterized with many and various decorative shapes. The population travelled and moved into other places that are far of the basic environment of Nubian. that is why, many traditions and characters were changed . The most important features of Nubian architecture are the geometrical formation. inscriptions and decorations on the walls. These geometrical shapes and ornamental formations have a spiritual dimension even though the audience may think that they are just geometrical shapes. Nubian architecture is an ecological architecture. It is characterized by peerless features whether they were in the building materials or the design and its division that depends on the directions of winds and the natural light. The method of designing Nubian home, internal division and external division symbolize for the genius of choosing its opening. It simulates the paranoiac temples and homes that include many secrets and mysterious components. We find the ornamentation and decoration of buildings in Yemen are joint factors to obtain the harmony with the surrounding environment. Problem: The architecture of Nubia and Zabid city characterized by certain characters and peerless style as they were influenced by the previous civilizations and they weren't utilized in the modern architecture. Objectives: The study aims to keep the civilized heritage of Nubian architecture and Zabid city architecture through renaissance and renewing of that heritage the new urban cities. Methodology: The study follows the analytic descriptive method to explore the component of the study problem. 2- The previous studies. 3- Analyzing the results of comparison between both architecture from the environmental conditions and their impact on the urban design, using the environmental materials, their influence with the previous civilizations study of Nubian and Zabid architectures from the external facades and their relation with the internal design and furniture. Results: The architecture in Nubba is considered one of the poor architecture. It is characterized by certain character in the design and dealing with the environmental conditions. It was influenced by the ancient architecture because of the ancient temples in south Egypt. The influence is demonstrated in the walls. Then, the Nubian architecture was influenced with Fatima architecture. The architecture expends in harmony horizontal way. The spontaneous decoration had culture significances. They express about the rituals and prevention from jealous. Zabid architecture is for the rich. It was influenced by west India and east Africa through the trade way and navigation. It followed the religious and Islamic aspects in the design of house as it provides the privacy for the person of house. There is an open court in the middle of house into the guest place. The walls were decorated by the creative pottery decoration that occupied most of areas of facades. They have aesthetic influence through the artistic formation, shade and light impacts.