The Architecture of Oman [Hardcover]

Salma S. Damluji (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1859640834 | ISBN-13: 978-1859640838 | Publication Date: April 1999

This text records and examines in detail both the modern and vernacular architecture of the Sultanate of Oman. For many centuries, because of its strategic position on the trade routes for frankincense, myrrh and other goods, Oman's architecture has been subject to the influx of a variety of styles and influences - Indian, East African, Portuguese and British. Yet despite these influences, shared with neighbouring countries, Oman's architectural style remains distinct from the rest of the Arabian peninsula. The Sultanate's landscapes are striking in their contrasts - from the powerful, primary blues and greens of the country's lush oases and the Indian Ocean that laps at its shores, to its arid deserts and rugged mountains. There is a primordial quality in the art of its architecture, imbuing it with a spirit of minimalism and austerity, qualities which have defined the extent and form of architectural construction and urban growth, from the smallest vernacular towns of the interior and coastal regions, to the impressive modern buildings of the Sultanate's capital, Muscat. To date, little of this rich and varied architecture has been documented. With a combination of her own original research based on extensive fieldwork and surveys, and previously unpublished drawings, plans, illustrations and surveys from architects working in Oman, coupled with first-hand accounts from local master builders, Dr Damluji has succeeded in compiling as definitive work on the architecture of the Sultanate. By investigating traditional and modern building processes, urban planning and design concepts, and with thorough contributions from other specialists, Dr Damluji analyses, from an architectural viewpoint, the extent of Oman's success compared with many other developing countries in maintaining its rich cultural heritage in the face of the demands necessitated by a rapidly changing urban landscape.

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About the Author

Salma Samar Damluji, AA. Dipl. Ph.D. (RCA) is an architect and specialist in Islamic and vernacular architecture of Arab countries. After completing her studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, she attended the Royal College of Art where she received her doctorate. Dr Damluji lectured in the Middle East from 1977 to 1982. She has been teaching in London since 1987 - at the Royal College of Art where she was a Research Fellow between 1987 and 1989 and a Tutor from 1990 to 1993, and at the Architectural Association School of Architecture where she is still a Senior Tutor in the Graduate School. From 1994 to 1996 she was the Academic Coordinator of the Royal College of Arts' Asilah Studios in Morocco. Her previous publications include Zil?j: The Art of Moroccan Ceramics ed (Garnet Publishing, 1992), The Valley of Mud Brick Architecture (Garnet Publishing, 1992) and A Yemen Reality (Garnet Publishing, 1991). She has also curated exhibitions to accompany publications of her books, 'Morocco Zill?j' RCA, 1992; 'Cities on the Edge', RIBA, 1997 and 'The Architecture of Oman', 1998.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 499 pages
• Publisher: Ithaca (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859640834
• ISBN-13: 978-1859640838
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,703,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > History > Middle East > Oman

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