Traditional Makkah Houses

The book Traditional Mecca Houses, prepared by Nihal and Bülent Uluengin, which meticulously examines the historical residences of Mecca in terms of their plan layouts, usage features, how they were built with which materials, why they were demolished, etc., has been published by YEM Yayın.

Traditional residences in Mecca, which also hosts the Kaaba, the most important structure for Islam, and other holy sites, and which accommodates a large number of visitors during Hajj periods, are presented with colorful and black-and-white photographs, as well as plan, section, and elevation drawings. These residences were designed and used almost as "house-hotels."

The book, whose starting point is based on the authors' study of the city of Mecca and its existing traditional houses between 1982 and 1986, when they worked in Mecca, was prepared in light of information obtained from detailed surveys of 104 buildings, 98 of which were traditional residences.

Traditional Mecca Houses presents, for the first time, a detailed view of Mecca up to 1986, with scaled drawings, visuals, and information that readers will not find anywhere else, based on notes taken on site during fieldwork, sketches, interior and exterior photographs, interviews with the people of Mecca, and research conducted in the libraries of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah and Umm al-Qura University in Mecca.

Nihal Uluengin and Bülent Uluengin briefly tell the story of this pioneering work and book as follows:

“It all began in November 1981, with an invitation letter we received from the Hajj Research Center, affiliated with King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The letter stated that demolitions were accelerating in the city of Mecca due to the implementation of new development plans, and the traditional fabric was gradually disappearing. We were asked to form a survey team to document this fabric. In February 1982, we gathered and set off for Jeddah, embarking on what would be our main occupation for the next 4.5 years...

As an architect family consisting of Fatin Uluengin, Bülent Uluengin, and Nihal Uluengin, we began our work in May 1982, under the name ‘Mecca Team’. We contacted the Mecca Municipality to learn about the demolition areas and concentrated our work in these areas, first assessing the external appearance of the buildings and making group identifications.

We primarily selected the buildings to be surveyed from the demolition areas. In fact, sometimes we would ask the bulldozer operator to give us half an hour to take measurements, and then continue with the demolition once the measurements were done. When demolitions stopped, we chose empty old houses or those we could get permission to enter. Under these conditions, we worked from February 1982 to July 1986. During that period, out of an estimated 300 traditional structures existing in Mecca, we surveyed a total of 104 buildings before their demolition, including 98 houses, four rabats (hospices), one Turkish bath, and one water cistern. As a result, within 4.5 years, we created an archive containing approximately 500 drawing sheets at a scale of 1/50 and 4,500 visuals...

Years later, in February 2013, we visited Mecca again and, as we had expected, sadly saw that no traditional structures remained around the Masjid al-Haram or in its immediate vicinity. After all these observations, we decided to compile the lost 'Traditional Mecca Houses' into a book...”

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: The City of Mecca and Traditional Houses Throughout History

17 The Location, Origin of Name, and Importance of Mecca

18 A Brief History of Mecca under Ottoman Rule (1517-1923)

19 From 1925 to the Present

20 Traditional Mecca Houses in Traveler Accounts

34 Factors Shaping Traditional Mecca Houses

Chapter 2: Plan Elements in Traditional Mecca Houses

38 Shop (Dukkan)

39 Entrance Hall (Dihliz)

40 Divan (Diwan)

41 Reception Room (Maq’aad)

42 Toilet (Beyt al Ma, Taharat or Hammam)

44 Cellar/Storage (Gabu)

45 Living Room (Mejlis)

46 Sofa (Suffah)

47 Back Sitting Room (Meakhkhar)

48 Wardrobe (Khuzanah)

49 Terraces (Kharijah)

52 Kitchen (Matbakh)

54 Family Room (Urfat al Maisha)

55 Bridal Room (Mabit)

56 Bath (Hammam)

59 Laundry Room (Mahal el Gasil)

60 Wood/Coal Storage (Digeysi)

61 Lightwell/Courtyard (Manuar)

Chapter 3: Plan and Facade Typology in Traditional Mecca Houses

64 200-Year-Old and Older Houses

67 200-100-Year-Old Houses

71 100-Year-Old and Newer Houses

Chapter 4: Building Materials, Shell Construction, Finish Work, and Ornamental Elements

79 BUILDING MATERIALS

79 Stone

79 Wood

80 Earth

80 Plaster

80 Metal

80 Glass

80 SHELL CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS

80 Foundations

80 Walls

83 Floors

84 Domes

84 Stairs

86 Plumbing

87 FINISH WORK ELEMENTS

87 Entrance Doors

88 Windows

94 Louvers

95 Interior Doors

97 Cabinets

100 Water Cisterns and Water Niches

101 Water Cooling Niches

102 Chimneys

104 ORNAMENTAL ELEMENTS

104 Wooden Ventilation Grilles

110 Floral Wooden Relief Decorations

114 Lacework Wooden Arches

115 Kündekâri Decorations (Interlocked Wooden Joinery)

118 Çitakâri/Pegged Wooden Decorations

120 Arch Tassels

121 Calligraphy Decorations

124 Penwork Decorations

126 Colored Louvers

128 Plaster/Stucco Decorations

132 Stone/Masonry Decorations

135 Muqarnas Decorations

136 Metal Decorations

Chapter 5: Evaluation and Conclusion

139 Changes in Lifestyle

148 Conclusion

156 Bibliography

158 Biographies

WHO IS ASSOC. PROF. DR. NİHAL (YÖNEY) ULUENGİN?

Born in Istanbul in 1946, she entered the Department of Architecture at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) in 1964 and graduated in 1972. In 1976, she began her academic career as an assistant in the Department of Architecture at Kadıköy State School of Engineering and Architecture. In 1982, upon an invitation from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, she went to Saudi Arabia and worked as a researcher architect at the Hajj Research Center of the same university until 1986. In 1983, she completed her doctoral thesis titled "The Development of Window Openings in Ottoman-Turkish Civil Architecture" at Mimar Sinan University, earning the title of Doctor in the Restoration Program. In 1987, she started working as a full-time Dr. lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Yıldız Technical University. In 1991, she became an assistant professor. In 2003, she voluntarily retired from Yıldız Technical University and continued her work as a part-time Dr. faculty member at the Faculty of Architecture at Haliç University and the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Bahçeşehir University. In 2019, she became an associate professor. Between 2019 and 2021, she worked full-time at the Faculty of Architecture at Haliç University. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihal Uluengin has published various papers and articles related to her field of expertise and has conducted survey and project studies. She participated in national and international symposiums in Turkey, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, and America, where she presented papers. She has a good command of Hellenic and an intermediate command of English. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihal Uluengin has the following publications: • The Development of Window Openings in Ottoman-Turkish Civil Architecture, YEM Yayın, 1998 (1st edition) and 2000 (2nd edition), Istanbul • Houses with Istanbul Views from Both Sides of the Aegean, YEM Yayın, 2020, Istanbul. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nihal Uluengin passed away on December 15, 2022, before seeing this book published.



WHO IS PROF. DR. MEHMET BÜLENT ULUENGİN?

Born in Istanbul in 1944, he graduated from Saint-Joseph French High School and then entered the Department of Architecture at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) in 1964, graduating in 1969. After his military service, he worked as a control architect at a private bank until 1974, traveling extensively throughout Turkey. In 1974, he began his academic career as an assistant in the Department of Architecture at the Istanbul State Academy of Engineering and Architecture. In 1982, upon an invitation from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, he went to Saudi Arabia and worked as a researcher architect at the research center of the same university until 1986. Between 1986 and 1995, he worked as a part-time faculty member at Yıldız Technical University and Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. In 1995, he began working full-time in the Architectural Restoration Program at Mimar Sinan University Vocational School. In 1996, he completed his doctoral thesis and earned his doctorate. He became an associate professor in 1997 and a professor in 2003. After working in the Restoration Program at Mimar Sinan University Vocational School until 2007, he voluntarily retired. Between 2007 and 2010, he served as the Head of the Architecture Department at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul and worked full-time at the same university until 2014. Between 2014 and 2020, he worked full-time at the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University. He currently works part-time at the same university. He has a good command of French and English. Prof. Dr. Bülent Uluengin has the following publications: • Classical Building Details in Ottoman Monumental Architecture, YEM Yayın, 9th Edition, Istanbul, 2000-2016 (with Fatin Uluengin and Mehmet Bengü Uluengin) • Survey, YEM Yayın, 15th Edition, Istanbul, 2002-2023 • Architectural Metals, Properties, Causes of Deterioration, Conservation and Restoration Techniques,
Birsen Yayınevi, Istanbul, 2006 • Osmaneli and Its Traditional Houses, Kerkük Vakfı Yayınevi, Istanbul, 2009 (with Suphi Saatçi) • Kırklareli and Its Traditional Houses, MSGSÜ Publication, 822, Istanbul, 2016 (with Suphi Saatçi)