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Corresponding Author

Nader Mohamed Gharib

Subject Area

Architectural Engineering

Article Type

Special Issue Original Study

Abstract

The visual disharmony arising from the indiscriminate and architecturally unplanned integration of curved roofing elements, notably domes, into the built environment of the Western Desert oases has become a significant issue, particularly in the Siwa Oasis, where the adoption of domed architecture was first introduced in the village of Jafar in 1997. This research delves into a detailed study that focuses on how pivotal historical, cultural, environmental, aesthetic, functional, and technical factors have crucially shaped the widespread integration of these iconic curved roofing superstructures in the oases' architectural heritage over generations, contributing to the uniquely recognizable architectural character and sense of place that these structures have come to embody.

Illuminating findings extracted from the exhaustive analysis provide revelatory insights into the multiplicity of forces, constraints, and opportunities that created and molded the architectural character of the Western Desert oases, with the arches and domes defining the visual framework of the natural elements and lending a distinct identity to these regions. An expansive practical framework is proposed, embedded with strategies and tools to provide preservation stakeholders, both public and private, with an invaluable decision-making roadmap to sustainably maintain, thoughtfully restore, and judiciously adapt the Western Desert oases' highly-valued architectural heritage and evolving character into the future.

This framework aims to respect the layered cultural essence of these structures while allowing for contextual contemporary interventions that align with the desert setting, striking a balance between preserving the rich heritage and accommodating modern needs and sensibilities.

Keywords

Architectural Character Analysis, Cultural Heritage Preservation, Desert Vernacular Architecture, Iconic Domed Roofs, Oasis Morphology

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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