During the 1980s, architectural development in Sanaa underwent a major transformation: the emergence of a new form of residential buildings in a city where the ‘villa’ was the most common model for homes. This article examines how the... more
During the 1980s, architectural development in Sanaa underwent a major transformation: the emergence of a new form of residential buildings in a city where the ‘villa’ was the most common model for homes. This article examines how the Sanaa population has been particularly inventive in creating new residences, while respecting the principles and hierarchies that governed spatial organization in the traditional house. Not only the floorplans, but also the Yemenite style of decoration and architectural details have evolved: the arch – in all its forms – has become the key element of the national architecture. This transformation represents a combination of recent building techniques and construction materials with more traditional skills.
