(Archnet: Bayt Nassif).
Introduction
The Nassif House is located in Al-Balad, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. As of 2009, it has been declared as a cultural center and a museum. The house has 106 rooms in total, is composed of four floors, and was built between 1872 and 1881 by Sheikh Umar Effendi Al-Nassif, a wealthy merchant of the city (Saudi Caves: Discovering Old Jeddah). This short essay will discuss the sustainable features of this edifice against the climactic conditions where it is situated.
Discussion
Nassif House is situated in the Al-Balad section of Jeddah, which is considered to be the “old quarters” of the city. Jeddah is located on the western coastal plain of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the eastern section of the Red Sea. Its climate can be classified as tropical arid, with temperatures in the summer reaching 43°C. There is not much rainfall in the city, with moderate amounts being recorded in November and December. In June of 2010, the temperature in the city reached 52°C (Jeddah Regional Climate Center: Climate Normals for Jeddah). Even in winter, the temperatures in the evening remain fairly warm. The dry and arid tropical desert weather thus presents a challenge for structure building in the area. A chart of the average temperatures of Jeddah in 2015 is shown below:
Average Temperatures for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
(Climate Of: Climate of Saudi Arabia).
There are several features of the house that contribute to its durability and sustainability. The first is the use of limestone for the walls and for the main structure. Limestone is easy to cut and carve. It is very durable as it has been utilized in the construction of the Pyramids at Giza, as well as in several medieval European churches. Also, limestone can serve as an insulation against the warm or torrid weather outside. The limestone walls are supported by wooden beams inside the house (Geology: Limestone). There is also a cistern on the lower floor that catches rainwater. The water collected can be used for cleaning or for flushing the latrines, as well as for washing the dishes and perhaps to water the single neem tree outside the home (Archnet: Bayt Nassif). Finally, one will observe the circular windows on top of the arched windows on each floor of the home. These circular windows help draw out the hot air inside the rooms, which rises to the top of the room, and thus cooler air can circulate inside the building. A photograph of the regular windows with the circular window on top can be seen below:
(Archnet: Bayt Nassif).
Conclusion
The Bayt Nassif may be an older edifice, but its sustainability features and durability will make it stay around for a longer time. The modern home in Jeddah would certainly be equipped with air conditioning for the warm weather as well as piped in desalinated water. However, the Bayt Nassif outsmarts the modern home based on the characteristics that were discussed earlier. First, the cistern catches rainwater and is able to store this water for the occupants of the home for their needs (other than drinking). Secondly, the circular windows above the main windows are used to release the hot air that has risen inside the rooms, thereby cooling the temperature in the rooms. Even green architecture today makes use of this principle:
(Kerala House Designs: Luxurious Four Bedroom Home).
In the left side of this home, the upper left roof is slanted upwards to provide for a small window where hot air could be released. This certainly derives inspiration from the Bayt Nassif’s circular windows on top of the regular windows.
In Jeddah today, there are many modern homes. One form of these modern homes comes in the form of townhouses, as shown below:
(The Ambler Family: Moving to Jeddah).
If compared to the modern home, the flow of air inside would be as follows:
The modern Jeddah townhouse would therefore need a strong air conditioning system in order to cool the inhabitants of the units in the hot Jeddah climate. Therefore, for the above-mentioned reasons, the Bayt Nassif is indeed a sustainable and durable edifice; one that can last for many years to come, with its functionality and sustainability also lasting into the future.
Works Cited
Archnet. Bayt Nassif. 2016. Web. 01 April 2016.
Climate Of. Climate of Saudi Arabia. 2016. Web. 02 April 2016.
Geology. Limestone: What is Limestone and How is it Used? 2016. Web. 01 April 2016.
Jeddah Regional Climate Center. Climate Normals for Jeddah. 01 February 2013. Web. 01 April 2016.
Kerala House Designs: Luxurious Four Bedroom Home. 2016. Web. 01 April 2016.
Pint, John and Pint, Suzy. Discovering Old Jeddah. September 2013. Web. 01 April 2016.
The Ambler Family. Moving to Jeddah. 1995. Web. 02 April 2016.
