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Eco-conscious architecture in the Persian Gulf

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Eco-conscious architecture in the Persian Gulf refers to the integration of environmentally sustainable design principles in the architecture of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others. Characterized by a fusion of ancient vernacular techniques and cutting-edge technological innovations, this architectural movement aims to reduce environmental impact while responding to the region’s extreme climatic conditions.

Sustainable practices of traditional Gulf architecture

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Example of a barjeel (wind-tower)

Eco-conscious architecture in the Gulf is rooted in vernacular architecture which has evolved over centuries, in response to climatic conditions, heat, minimal rainfall, and high solar radiation.[1] Before the formal emergence of sustainability discourses of the 20th century, Gulf societies developed architectural techniques that were considered energy efficient and environmentally responsive.[2]

Barjeel (wind tower)

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The barjeel, or wind tower has been used to cool structures in the Gulf region for centuries. Wind towers function as passive cooling systems, channeling breezes into interior spaces, while venting hot air upwards.[3] The use of wind catchers can be traced back to ancient Arab and Persian civilizations; they were commonly used in all types of architecture, both public and private.[3]

Mudbrick construction

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Mudbrick construction has evidence of being used in the region dating back over 10,000 years.[4] Mudbrick structures allow buildings to absorb heat slowly during the day and release it at night, stabilizing indoor temperatures.[5] Mudbrick buildings in the Saudi Arabian regions of Diriyah and Al-Ula exemplify an adaptive architectural language that harmonizes with both the physical and cultural landscape, indicating a historical understanding of environment and architecture within the same realm.[4] Hisham Mortada's article on sustainability, as seen in traditional Saudi Arabian architecture, points out that the Qur’an cites mud as a creator of shelter at least 3 times, indicating a deeper traditional connection with ecosystems and environments through Islamic practice.[4]

Courtyards

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Courtyards are an eco-conscious traditional architectural feature. Courtyards integration indoor structures with the surrounding environment. Large windows and doors allow for natural cooling and humidity management as well as optimization of natural light.[6]

Traditional architectural elements inform modern sustainable architecture in the Gulf. The traditional practices of barjeel, mudbrick construction, and courtyards have been adapted into contemporary contexts because of their usefulness.

Contemporary architecture practices in the Gulf

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States in the Gulf region are working to implement sustainable building practices and technologies to create architecture suited for the future that use renewable resources. Calling upon traditional architecture, these sustainability practices combine older methods with new technologies, incorporating wind towers, courtyards, latticed wooden windows, and more, bringing the natural environment into architecture.[7]

Rammed earth construction

Materials

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The growing emphasis on recycled materials and working with recycled plastics and naturally occurring and more traditional building materials such as woods, seeds, and palms is a growing trend.[8] Rammed earth, which is compressed sand and dirt, that create solid interior and exterior walls is a popular new natural material for construction.[9]

Water reduction

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Fresh water is a scarce resource in Gulf states.[10] Both the construction and architectural style of building is increasingly based on energy and resource-efficient methods, focusing on lower water use technology, irrigation, and water recycling.[11] Available renewable energies of solar and wind are optimized over previous water-heavy construction methods.[12] One method utilized in water reduction has been focusing on non-water based heating and cooling systems. Projects are turning to geothermal heating and cooling in buildings: temperature regulating methods that move away from water and oil based energy sources and by using the earth's temperature, a more sustainable and renewable practice.[12]

Green architecture

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Green architecture in the Gulf states incorporates nature and the environment into architecture by creating green areas within cities and working to restore natural landscapes that promote natural growth in a process called “greening” the desert.[7] This process actively protects the land, reintroducing plants into the desert and promoting fertile land.[7] Increased green areas in urban areas, often using recycled water, improve environmental implications and combat the lack of nature in this region.[13]

Eco-conscious projects in the Gulf

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Dubai Clean Energy Strategy

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Founded by Sheik Mohammed in 2015, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy is a nationwide goal to decrease Dubai’s reliance on fossil fuels to 25% by 2050.[14] Through government-funded infrastructure that employs eco-friendly and passive architecture such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the strategy seeks to make the UAE the country with the lowest carbon footprint on the planet.[15]

Al Maktoum Solar Park

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

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Built in 2013, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park is the largest collection of solar panels in the world. With the goal of being capable of producing 5,000 Megawatts by 2030, the project seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 6.5 million tons nationwide.[16]

Sustainability and Innovation Centre

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Located within the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the Sustainability and Innovation Centre opened its doors to the public in 2020, with the express purpose of raising “awareness about sustainability".[17] Receiving a LEED platinum rating in 2020, the building's mission states to “supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050".[17]

Masdar City

Masdar City

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Masdar City is a self-described “pioneering sustainable urban community” within Abu Dhabi.[18] The project was spearheaded in 2006 as a subsidiary of the Mubadala Investment Company, one of the several sovereign wealth funds/ investment firms operating within the United Arab Emirates today. The architecture within Masdar City practices passive design instead of over-relying on contemporary technologies, emphasizing sustainable materials, and designing buildings with self-cooling capabilities by harnessing natural weather patterns.

Estidama Mosque

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At 500 square feet, like all architecture within Masdar City, Estidama Mosque is built with sustainability at the forefront of its design. By utilizing solar panels and having an in-house water treatment process, the Mosque has been able to reduce its energy usage by 50% compared to other mosques at the same size.[19] The design of the Mosque is based around recontextualizing traditional Islamic geometric patterns into a 3D context, integrating natural weather and showcasing Masdar City's commitment to sustainability and traditional Islamic artistic practices.

References

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  1. ^ Abedi, Mahmoud; Soltanzadeh, Hosein (November 2014). "The Interaction between Tradition and Modernity in Contemporary Architecture of Persian Gulf States: Case Study of United Arab Emirates". International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies. 1 (1): 24–34.
  2. ^ Rashid, Mamun; Rahat Ara, Dilshad; Buhashima Abdalla, Salem (21 February 2025). "Transferable tectonics: rethinking building technology in the Arabian Gulf cities". City, Territory and Architecture. 12.
  3. ^ a b Chohan, Afaq Hyder (October 2024). "Evaluating Windcatchers in UAE Heritage Architecture: A Pathway to Zero-Energy Cooling Solutions". Ain Shams Engineering Journal. 15 (10). doi:10.1016/j.asej.2024.102936.
  4. ^ a b c Mortada, Hisham (March 30, 2016). "Sustainable Desert Traditional Architecture of the Central Region of Saudi Arabia". Sustainable Development. 24 (6): 383–93. doi:10.1002/sd.1634.
  5. ^ Bizzari, S. (July 24, 2020). "The Use of Traditional Mud-Based Masonry in the Restoration of the Iron Age Site of Salūt (Oman). A Way towards Mutual Preservation". The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. 44M1: 1081. Bibcode:2020ISPAr44M1.1081B. doi:10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-1-2020-1081-2020.
  6. ^ Wright, Juwayriah (February 20, 2024). "Unveiling the Secrets of Nature and Islamic Architectural Brilliance". Muslim Climate Watch.
  7. ^ a b c Verhoeven, Harry (2019). Environmental politics in the Middle East. Oxford scholarship online. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-094298-4.
  8. ^ "10 sustainable materials being made in the United Arab Emirates - Commercial Interior Design". 2024-09-27.
  9. ^ Buxton, Pamela (2024-12-13). "Saudi architects turn to rammed earth for sustainable building". www.ribaj.com.
  10. ^ Mahmoud, Mohammed. "The Looming Climate and Water Crisis in the Middle East and North Africa". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  11. ^ Elnaklah, Rana; Alotaibi, Badr Saad; Elbellahy, Shukri; Abuhussain, Mohammed Awad (2024-12-24). "Perspectives on Sustainable Construction in the Middle East: A Comparative Analysis of Industry and Academia". Sustainability. 17 (1): 4. Bibcode:2024Sust...17....4E. doi:10.3390/su17010004. ISSN 2071-1050.
  12. ^ a b Hikmat Ali, and Ghasan Alfalah. “Sustainable Architectural Applications in the Gulf States-Post Occupancy Evaluation Case Study of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” CORE, (2010)
  13. ^ Sayigh, A. A. M.; Trombadore, Antonella, eds. (2022). The importance of greenery in sustainable buildings. Innovative renewable energy. Cham: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-68555-3.
  14. ^ "Dubai Clean Energy Strategy | The Official Portal of the UAE Government". u.ae. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  15. ^ "Dubai Clean Energy Strategy | The Official Portal of the UAE Government". u.ae. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  16. ^ "Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park". Mohammed bin Rashid Sustainability & Innovation Centre. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  17. ^ a b "Sustainability & Innovation Centre". Mohammed bin Rashid Sustainability & Innovation Centre. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  18. ^ "Future Sustainable City: The Case of Masdar City", Green Building with Concrete, CRC Press, pp. 243–256, 2011-10-19, doi:10.1201/b11376-14, ISBN 978-0-429-13076-2, retrieved 2025-05-05
  19. ^ Nielsen, Yasemin (2013-04-05). "Building Sustainability into the UAE: ESTIDAMA". AEI 2013. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers: 946–955. doi:10.1061/9780784412909.092. ISBN 978-0-7844-1290-9.
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