Architecture of Islamic Houses
Architecture of Islamic houses is very simple, but the detailed meanings and functions make the houses much more complex. The main components of Islamic houses, both ancient and modern, are mud brick and straw. Because mud brick and straw are reusable, convenient, and cheap, they make a perfect combination. The hardness of the brick baked near the Nile River and the straw that holds the pieces together make sturdy homes that reduce the extreme heat and humidity in Egypt as described in the novel Palace Walk. The combination of these two materials does not allow the houses to vary in design; therefore, it is not difficult for the readers of Palace Walk to imagine how the Ahmad family’s village looks like.
Let’s take a look at the inside of the Islamic houses. First of all, there are four main sections of the house: the central courtyard, the living room, rooms for men, and service rooms (which are defined as kitchens, storages, and wells). When you first enter the house, there is a courtyard with flowers and plants where children play around and women gather together for a nice break. The courtyard first leads to the living room, where the fireplace and household shrine are located. This place exists not only for family gatherings, but also for the family members to conduct their religious rituals every day. The all purpose living and sleeping room is the area right behind the living room. This room is an area mainly for men. In case of Palace Walk, this is the room where Ahmad and his sons would spend time in during their free time. The existence of this room demonstrates the male-dominant aspect of the Islamic culture that lacks respect for women. Behind the all purpose living and sleeping room, there is the “service room,” where women cook and serve food. The fact that this is the smallest room of all also explains gender inequality and the traditions that still are present.
Despite the simplicity of the house structure, Egyptian homes contain a lot of decorations and ornaments. One example is the Mashrabiya, the projecting window that is covered with latticework. This design has been used since the middle ages and is still prevalent among Islamic houses in urban cities of Egypt. Another important ornament of the house is the dishes. Decorative dishes made of clay are placed all around the house. These not only are used for ornaments, but are also used to keep the house cool during extremely hot day time. Islamic houses may seem very humble and simple, but there are deeper meanings and functions that make them so unique.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Suhaymi_Mashrabiya.jpg