SIH concludes Arab Traditional Architecture Encyclopaedia meeting

A noteworthy milestone
According to Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of SIH, the conference marks an important milestone in the encyclopaedia's development. It serves as a complete scientific reference for preserving architectural legacies and cultural identity, representing Sharjah's status as a leading knowledge hub and its continued efforts to serve Arab heritage and develop human civilisation.

Traditional architecture in the Gulf
Dr Fatima Ahmed Abdul Mughni Al Naqbi, an encyclopaedia member, gave a presentation on traditional architecture in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf. She described the various styles of architecture in the UAE, including those found on the coast, in the desert, in the highlands, and in major towns. She emphasised efforts to develop clear principles for each part of traditional construction and acknowledged women's historical role in beautifying architecture. The speakers also discussed urban heritage in the Levant and historic architectural styles in North Africa.

Experts’ feedback

Qatar:
Mohammed Saeed Al Bloushi, Qatar's cultural specialist, expressed his appreciation for the encyclopaedia sessions taking place in Sharjah. Mohammed Saeed Al Bloushi hailed the meetings as a wonderful project that aims to revive much of Arab architectural history lost to modern development. He mentioned that the previous two days were spent introducing the encyclopaedia, developing techniques, approving them, and reviewing the first phase to assure a successful outcome. He commended the robust participation of specialists and team leaders and thanked SIH for leading the project.

Yemen:
The Yemeni team, led by Dr Yahya Al Eqali, discussed the project's methodology, research teams, and administrative/financial issues. He applauded SIH's support for the project, pointing out that the encyclopaedia is being developed stage by stage and acts as an Arab identity project, covering architectural terms from across the Arab world for comparison, interpretation, and analysis.

Lebanon:
Professor Khaled Omar Tadmuri, from Tripoli, Lebanon, hailed the effort as pioneering and initiated by SIH, a reputable organisation with a track record of successful initiatives. He highlighted that the encyclopaedia will cover the entire Arab globe with teams of professionals, historians, and writers, providing a valuable new resource to the Arab library and strengthening Arab culture. He expressed hope that it will spark additional investigation.

The Sudan:
Sudanese representative Dr Nada Mohammed Ramadan Abdel Hay emphasised the encyclopaedia's inclusion of traditional architectural words specific to Sudan. She highlighted the necessity of educating the younger generation about these concepts, including their definitions, pronunciation, and visual representations, and proposed an interactive map that connects regions and dialects. She complimented SIH for beginning and supporting this large-scale project, which includes mosques, schools, hospitals, and related facilities.

Palestine:

Palestine's Mohammed Abu Hussein praised the encyclopaedia as a pioneering endeavour in preserving customs and legacies. He stated that it comes at a time of globalisation, emphasising SIH's important efforts to display Arab architectural history in an era of smart cities and demonstrating that intelligent urban planning existed in the region thousands of years ago.

Saudi Arabia
Professor Mishari Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, from the College of Architecture and Planning, University of Abdulrahman Bin Faisal, emphasised the project's contribution to revisiting the roots and origins of Arab traditional architecture, highlighting both similarities and distinctions. He emphasised that the encyclopaedia will investigate architectural terminology throughout the Arab world, including its linguistic and cultural roots, making it a significant anthropological study.

Tunisia:

Dr Zainab Qanduz Gharbal, assistant professor at Carthage University and group coordinator, lauded SIH. She explained that 12 countries had so far participated, with more anticipated to join. She explained that the introduction contains 12 scholarly, peer-reviewed papers on domestic architecture in each country.

Egypt:

Dr Hanna Naeem Hanna, a scholar in traditional architecture, praised the participation of experts and academics. He stated that discussions revolved around methodology and writing theories that would assist readers, guaranteeing that the encyclopaedia contributes to Arab culture and the Arab library.

Mauritania:

 Dr Ahmed Mawlud Al Hilal, coordinator of the Mauritanian delegation, highlighted the need to document Arab architectural heritage to prevent its loss. He complimented SIH for sponsoring this project, which preserves, documents, and promotes Arab architectural history. He regarded the work as extensive, valuable, and a source of pride for those involved.

The sessions concluded with the finalisation of outcomes, incorporating suggestions and visions to steer future meetings and the subsequent phases of the encyclopaedia. Abu Bakr Al Kindi presented certificates of appreciation to the attendees, accompanied by a commemorative photograph for documentation.