For some, their environmental awareness might be restricted to issues like pollution, global warming, garbage recycling and the like, that are associated with a clean and healthy environment.
While this remains partly true, many of us are perhaps less conscious of the fact that environmental culture has tapped into other important aspects of our lives.
One of these is architecture. Yes, the way our construction has been carried out does affect our natural surroundings, negatively or otherwise.
And with overpopulation burdening our planet and the ensuing need to accommodate large numbers of people in high rise buildings, towers and concrete apartment blocks – all to the detriment of our ecosystem.
It is pointless trying to list the ill-effects of this construction boom, and it is more important to study it quantitatively.
Environmental architecture is an old-new science that ensures harmony between buildings and their natural surroundings.
The science revives the principles of ancient and medieval architectural heritages, the focus of which was to observe the protection of the environment and safeguard people against its negative aspects.
Specialists in the field who visited some countries in the region remarked that the rows of towers in Middle Eastern metropolises were not in line with their natural environment.
A considerable number of buildings clustered in a manner that blocked ventilation while encroaching on areas that should be allocated for green space, one expert observed.
He noted that the glass with which some towers were enveloped would absorb the heat and aggravate the intensity of the heat.
Also another feature that is not appropriate in sweltering climates is the large passages which separate modern buildings and thus deprive residents of the cool and warm air that blows in the summer and winter respectively.
Environmental architecture has detected art through history. The new science noted that the architectural styles during Islamic ages reflected the awareness of the medieval builder about his own milieu.
The Islamic region is mostly located within the hot zone. Shades, as referred to in the Quran, are one of the components of Islamic architecture.
The verses emphasize the acclimatized surroundings created through the use of shades cast by buildings walls and plantations.
Dr Yehi Waziri, a leading figure in the field, has authored a few books on the subject including “Islamic Architecture and Environment , “Towards Green Architecture , “Society and the Culture of Construction and Designing the Handicapped s Buildings as well as a four volume encyclopedia on the Elements of Islamic Architecture.
His nonprofit web site in Arabic contains information and updates on his books. In his books Waziri discusses the link between architecture and the environment including the climate and the architectural heritage existing in every country.
For him, a look at Islamic architecture should extend to social, religious and cultural factors besides climatic and environmental considerations.
From the beginning, the medieval architect set out to try and create a semblance of the paradise that is featured time and again in the Holy Quran.
This is why a basic design of a domicile always comprised the building, the water and the garden.
But a different link between art and Islamic jurisdiction and theology becomes obvious as many architectural laws concerning privacy, a neighbor s rights and hygiene were laid down.
Improving living conditions, the location of a city had to be within reach of water sources and pastures. Coastal areas were ruled out because initially Arab settlers did not have marine forces.
Narrow alleys ending at areas where the cool air intensified separated houses. A design ideally suited to counter the hot climate.
The house was built so that the sun would be reflected at the front, allowing the construction to be exposed to the cool wind blowing from the north.
Hygienic standards were observed with channels used to secure water supply separated from sewerage set up away from the water sources to avoid pollution.
Cobs and baked bricks were among the building materials that were used along with stone, gypsum, lime and wood. Whether these materials were used in abundance or lightly would be determined by their availability or lack of.
The house yard, an integral part of old houses unearthed in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia created a barrier against noise and served as a place of prayer especially in the summer. It was surrounded by trees to bring the temperature down.
Waziri also stressed that while the pre-Islamic architectural heritage s influence could be seen in mosques, other features were particular to Islamic architecture.
The mosque had to be located in a central area so that it would be easily reached by everyone. When other buildings would inevitably appear around the mosque, a certain style had to be imposed on them all with the aim of preserving the sanctity of the mosque.
