Modern architecture borrowed from Arab desert houses

RIYADH – I was vaguely aware that contemporary minimalist architecture especially that exemplified by the Barragan school was influenced by Arab architecture. But most publications on Barragan’s architecture stop at giving credit to its Mexican or Spanish origins. Imagine my surprise when we visited the Al-Murabba Palace! It was an image of stark simplicity redolent of the discipline of design that my daughter Marta, a practicing minimalist architect in London, worked to achieve for our house in Alabang to the dismay of her brothers who wanted something more conventional. Except that our house is not a palace, in every way it is a small version of Al-Murabba. The most notable feature of Al-Murabba as it is also of our house are tiny windows on a solid structure, the rationale being that it should protect the interior by having as small an opening as possible to the outside.

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The guidebooks say that Al-Murabba Palace was not meant to be extraordinary even if it would house a king. It was built in traditional local design with massive walls made of mud bricks and strengthened by soaking it in a binding liquid (malat) and straw. The surfaces of the balcony wall pillars and areas around the doorways were plastered white, with a rough-textured finish. The only decorations were on some of the walls. These were geometrical shapes carved into the plaster. The roof beams were painted in different colors, and with black and red dots on a pale-yellow background. There is no hint of luxury at all. Indeed, indigenous materials were used throughout the palace. The walls were made of the earth itself, and the ceilings were formed from local timber and palm tree branches. Store from the region was used in the foundations, the floors and the walls, as well as in the free standing pillars. The masons who built the palace were local craftsmen, skilled in the centuries old arts of traditional construction. No wonder, Barragan who wanted architecture to stay close to nature was influenced by Arab architecture that eventually found its way to Spain and on the Mexico.

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The design of Al-Murabba Palace resembles that of most mud buildings of the era: two storys with separate wings, each comprising a suite of large rooms, halls, stairs and open spaces. A distinguishing feature of such houses was a large atrium or what we also call a courtyard to which all rooms opened. It is described as the part of the house from which the rooms received protection, light and ventilation. "The atrium was in effect a kind of natural airconditioning system: cool air would accumulate in the atrium at night when the temperature fell, so that when the temperature rose currents of cooler and refreshing air would flow into the rooms." If I remember right Western books on architecture called this the Ventura effect after an Italian architect who first used it in Europe. After seeing Al-Murabba I am certain that Barragan drew inspiration for his architectural masterpieces from these desert houses.

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The abbaya again. If there is my any item of Arab tradition that is controversial it is the abbaya, a black cover-all that looks like a toga worn by women in public. The three women in the delegation have had to swear them, too. Mrs. Preciosa Soliven brought her own along which she said was an old toga which she lengthened. Chuchay Fernandez, editor in chief of Today and myself borrowed ours from the hotel. This clothing item is available from housekeeping for foreign lady visitors. Saudi women themselves consider the abbaya and veil as part of their wardrobe and regard it as fashion. In department stores, abbayas are made from silk crepe and trimmed with lace or bias according to the whims of the wearer. Saudi women do not regard it as oppressive but as part of their identity. Underneath the abbaya are some of latest and most expensive Western brands of dresses. It does have a practical use also if you are in a hurry and do not want to dress up to go to the grocery. With an abbaya who will know that you are wearing pajamas?

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Visit to Riyadh Daily. Today’s edition of Riyadh Daily had a full page pictorial on the Philippine media delegation’s visit to the impressive plant and offices of Al-Yamamah Press Est which publishes both the Arabic and English versions. STAR publisher Max Soliven led the discussions on how Filipinos and Saudis might explore ways to expand the exchange of information. With almost a million Filipinos here, the English dailies are competing for their readership. Although there are also pages for other communities like India and Pakistan, there is a special interest on Filipinos who are described by Riyadh Daily Editor-in-Chief Talaat Wafa in a committed and participative group. He mentioned that a special edition which published an interview with President Arroyo by Riyadh Daily staffer was sold out. My column called Letter from Home, a regular feature every Tuesday has also jacked up circulation, Wafa told the group. He introduced me as the most senior Filipino journalist in Riyadh Daily. You may be interested to know that Dante Navarro, former sports reporter of the STAR is a news editor of the paper, so is Edwin Santos who covers community news. The story on our arrival carried in my column was exclusive to Riyadh Daily.

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The competition for Filipino readers among Riyadh’s English newspapers is hot with several pages devoted to Philippine stories. For example, the much talked about Tatler picture of the President with some members of her cabinet dressed in black and sunglasses, looking like Mafiosi, was also published here by both the Riyadh Daily and the Saudi Gazette. It was among the topics of conversation between the visiting Filipino journalists and their Saudi counterparts.

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Newspaper items. Here are some samples of news items found in the Philippine page: Donations for Sabah deportees – pouring in. About a dozen boxes of used clothing and relief items have been collected by a group of Filipinos from Jeddah. The project was launched during its first general assembly last week . . . In Jeddah a young singer, Jeannette Cerbito topped this year’s search for Ms. Penafrancia, an annual program of the Bicolano community in Jeddah’s Bicolano contest. On the more serious items, there’s a story on an IT convention for Filipinos on December 12 and 13 which will be held in either Al-Khobar or Damman. "This will gather Filipino IT enthusiasts throughout the Kingdom to discuss and formulate one common agenda on computer seminars and identify the IT skills needed by OFWs to enhance their employability," Assistant Labor Attaché Jalilo de la Torre, head of the POLO-OWWA Eastern Region said. Bravo!

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My e-mail address: [email protected] or [email protected].