Traditional Architecture in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province

Traditional Architecture in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province is an architectural style and building method that reflects the history of the community and the development of urbanism in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in terms of its exterior appearance, construction materials, and decorative techniques. It takes shape in each era according to the surrounding conditions and the needs of the province’s inhabitants.

Traditional houses in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah

A traditional house in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah typically consists of two or three floors, and a fourth floor is added in some cases. Two-story buildings are the most common. The second floor is used during winter, as it is warmer and its walls are thinner, allowing heat to pass through. The lower floors are usually used in summer, as they are cooler than the upper ones due to the thickness of their walls, which offers greater protection from the sun’s heat and helps retain moisture for longer periods, especially after the floor is sprinkled with water.

Floor plans of traditional houses in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province

The floor plans of traditional houses vary; some follow a regular layout, while others are irregular.

• Houses with regular floor plans: These houses appear in the form of rectangular prisms or cubes and are characterized by the absence of any projections in their upper floors, except for those of Al-Rawashin (wooden lattice windows). This type of building is distinguished by its independence from other parts of the urban fabric, meaning it forms a self-contained architectural unit. Some of these houses include an internal courtyard that contains all elements, including plants and ornamental water features. This type of building is known for its high level of privacy, as its windows are usually directed toward the internal courtyards. The courtyard reduces high temperatures and protects room openings from direct sunlight. Planting and adding water elements, which provide humidity, in these courtyards helps moderate the atmosphere.
• Houses with irregular floor plans: These are houses that are not defined by regular shapes, with each house having its own floor plan, but they still appear harmonious with the surrounding houses. Houses with irregular floor plans reflect the social cohesion among the residents of the city. In general, the houses are similar in their main structural elements and differ from one another in the number of elements and their location within the building, depending on the shape. If the building area is larger, its floor plan includes all the known internal components of a traditional house, and if the area is smaller, the elements are fewer and occupy less space.

Elements of the traditional house in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province

The elements of the traditional house in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah are divided into four units: Al-Qa‘a, a large room; Al-Diwan, the vertical circulation elements; and the unit of various uses and services.

• Al-Qa'a: It consists of two opposite Iwans separated by what is known as Al-Jalla, which rises above the building and is open from the top. It is covered with a thick cloth called Al-Qalaa, amounted to movable wooden poles that allow for opening and closing the cover using a rope connected to it and fixed at the bottom of Al-Qa'a. When the rope is pulled, Al-Jalla opens, allowing light and air to enter and enabling the windows of the upper-floor rooms to open. The floors of the two Iwans are elevated above the floor of Al-Jalla to protect them from collapse or the leakage of rainwater through Al-Jalla into Al-Qa'a. Al-Qa'a is usually windowless and is ventilated through Al-Jalla located in its center. The absence of windows or openings to the outside helps cool the air inside Al-Qa'a, especially with the addition of a fountain that moderates air circulation during summer. Al-Qa'a is one of the most important interior elements of the traditional house. It is used for receiving guests, or as a living area in summer, and occasions are held in this Al-Qa'a.
• Al-Diwan: It is one of the key elements of traditional houses after Al-Qa'a and is usually located in the center of the ground-floor plan. It consists of an Iwan and an open-air courtyard. Al-Diwan shares many characteristics with Al-Qa'a, except that Al-Diwan has only one Iwan that opens directly onto Al-Jalla. The floor level of Al-Diwan bench is raised above the stone flooring by one or two steps, preventing rainwater from reaching the stone floor. Al-Diwan contains no windows or external openings and receives its illumination and ventilation through Al-Jalla, which is covered by a thick cloth called Al-Tandah (awning). This covering protects Al-Diwan from rain and dust and mitigates the sunlight's heat during summer. Al-Tandah can be opened or closed as needed. At the corners of Al-Jjalla’s floor, there are drainage outlets for rainwater and water resulting from floor washing. Al-Diwan’s thick walls feature many recessed windows, topped by pointed or semi-circular arches. Wooden shelves are installed between the sides of these windows for placing antiques, cups, and vases, along with small traditional lights such as lanterns and Al-Qamariyah. Windows were carefully considered, often decorated, colored, and covered with special types of curtains.

Some traditional houses contain more than one Diwan or more than one Iwan, depending on the house's size and its plan shape.

• Vertical movement elements: They are represented by the staircase connecting different parts of the house, accessible via a corridor connected to the main entrance hall (Al-Dihliz). Small lightwells within the staircase walls provide light and ventilation, usually matching the number of stair flights. Some traditional houses have many stair flights to reduce the number of steps, creating spaces known as Al-Masruqah and staircase baths. Spaces formed under the staircase, locally called Al-Haniyah, were used to house water tanks.

The staircase is built of stone, each step made of a single piece fixed at both ends between the stair walls. Its dimensions vary from one house to another. Traditional master builders in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah call the stair units "Al-Sinnah," meaning each indivisible stone tread. These are typically secured by fixing their ends between two parallel walls, with each one installed every ten cm using a short iron rod. The rod ends are inserted into hollow stone units, and then liquid lead is poured around them to mount the iron rod to the stone unit.

Multi-purpose and service unit

The traditional house in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah contains several elements characterized by multiple uses, including Al-Mu'akhkharat used for family sitting, dining, and also sleeping, particularly during winter. Among these units:

• Al-Daqisi (the traditional name of the element), also known as Al-Masruq or Masruqah room: Usually located between the ground floor and the first floor or between the first and second floors. Its floor is sometimes raised three or four steps above the adjacent floor level. It is used as a family sitting area, a private room for senior family members such as grandparents, or for receiving guests.
• Bayt Al-Bi'r (Well Room): Located on the ground floor, extending vertically to upper floors, facilitating water extraction for washing and bathing, but not used for cooking or drinking. It is no longer used in contemporary architecture.
• Bayt Ma' Al-Daraj (Staircase Water Room): Located midway up the staircase, accessible directly from the stair landing or through separate steps connected to it. It was used for bathing and supplying water for staircase cleaning, but is no longer used in contemporary architecture.
• Al-Haniyah: Located on the ground floor, in the space beneath the staircase. It was used to place water pitchers, water tanks, and earthen jars for cooling water. Sometimes it is used for storing animal feed, especially alfalfa.
• Bayt Al-Daraj (Staircase Room): Covers the space above the staircase and takes the form of a prominent attic structure above the roof. It protects the staircase from external elements such as dust, sunlight, and rain, and has a door on the roof that can be opened and closed.
• Al-Tayramah: A small storage room for bedding located on the roof adjacent to Bayt Al-Daraj. Its floor level is usually raised about one meter to one and a half m above the roof level to avoid rainwater. It was used to store bedding during the day to protect it from rain and sun, then brought out again at night for sleeping.
• Al-Khawarnaq: Small corners or unused spaces, used for storing clothing and bedding, typically with a small wooden door.