Evaluation of Factors Affecting on Architectural Identity in Dhamar City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59421/0dbwzy34Keywords:
Architecture, Culture, Identity, Architectural Identity, Cultural Identity, Yemen, Dhamar CityAbstract
Architecture is considered one of the most prominent achievements of human civilizations, as the form of architecture is a living and sincere expression of the intellectual values of society, making it a reflection of the society's identity. With the development of contemporary architecture, concerns have arisen about the loss of the connection between architecture and local culture. Architecture has transformed into molds of standard concrete blocks that only serve material functions, without considering the intellectual content or cultural identity. This study aims to understand the Yemeni architectural identity and measure the extent to which contemporary Yemeni architecture achieves its local identity by identifying the factors affecting the continuity of architectural identity in the city of Dhamar. The study adopts an analytical methodology based on building a multi-criteria model that represents the theoretical framework for the research problem. It includes social, religious, environmental, and cultural criteria, in addition to a set of sub-elements under each of these criteria. Through this model, the continuity of achieving architectural identity was measured based on the influencing factors. The results showed that social and religious criteria are the most realized in contemporary architecture, as they are closely related to the daily life of society, while the participants rated cultural criteria lower. It was also found that the visual aspect of architecture, which is related to the modern use of traditional vocabulary, has begun to lose part of its identity due to the declining attention to traditional architectural designs in contemporary contexts. The study recommends employing traditional architectural elements in a modern and contemporary style, with the aim of emphasizing Yemeni architectural identity and achieving communication between the old and the new, which enhances the continuity of cultural identity in contemporary architecture.References
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