Traditional Mediterranean Architecture

Typology :
Riwaq house
Country :
Lebanon

CONTENTS OF THE FILE

Synthesis Analytical group of the typology Forms of the typology Inventory of the country’s typologies

Current state of vitality and preservation Transformation process Capacity for rehabilitation Lexicon

SYNTHESIS

The riwaq is a decorated covered area in a gallery, with broken arches opening onto
the outside. The house with riwaq is made up of two, three or four aligned or
staggered elements, flanked with a riwaq on a part or all its façade. The riwaq is either
built in front of the dwelling or in the very volume. All the elements in house open onto
the riwaq. They have many other additional openings: ox eye windows. The riwaq is
made with stone though some rare cases were reported using wood. The house with
riwaq is quite widespread in Lebanon, undoubtedly because it is particularly well
adapted to Middle Eastern climates. It not only provides shade to protect from direct
sunlight during the summer, but also protects the house from pouring rains, preserving
the wood finishings. It is also a privileged place for resting and relaxing after work.
This house is also appreciated on an aesthetic level. This typology usually has two
storeys.

ANALYTICAL GROUP OF THE TYPOLOGY

Urban/rural Single Fixed Permanent Continuous Rooted Average and high Compact
element
(Environment ) (Implantation) (Character) (Origin) (Use) (Cultural) (Economic level) (Morphology)

FORMS OF THE TYPOLOGY

Typical riwaq plan

INVENTORY OF THE COUNTRY’S TYPOLOGIES

Troglodyte house Shepard shelter Nomadic habitat Basic house

Iwan house Riwaq house Three-arch house Court house

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Traditional Mediterranean Architecture

FORMS OF THE TYPOLOGY

Implantation
This house is generally established in
individual units in the heart of mountain
towns and villages, or in the

Urban fabric
surroundings of a farm. These houses
are seldom grouped.

Use/associated activity
This type of house is main use for
dwelling. In rural environment, from
activities are sometimes associated.
Riwaq house in Baakline
Dating
The exact origins of this typology are

Elevation
Functional outline
unknown, and it was built till the end
In urban environment, this house is the
of the 19th century. The broken are
heart of household life. In this prototype,
each goes back to the Arab period. the main element, that is to say the living
The riwaq surrounded the interior room, is located in the back of the riwaq.
courts of palaces and religious Its position is central. The side elements
monuments of that period. fill other domestic roles: sleeping areas,
cooking area, etc
Altitude In rural environment, the first level of this
From sea level to 1.700 m. typology is used as shelter for animals or
for tool or material storage.
Orientation
The riwaq is oriented North, towards the
better weather conditions. In mountain

±0
environment, it usually opens onto the
valley.

Ground surface covered 5

The dwelling generally covers 1/5 of the
land plot. In dense towns, this typology
can cover 100% of the plot.
Surface area of housing
Cross section

Number of floors
One or two levels

Number of homes
2 households

Number of families
Two families
Average number of members per family
4 to 10 people
.
Roofing

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Traditional Mediterranean Architecture

Walls
The walls of this typology are carried out with bare masonry and often embossed
stone. They are from 40 to 50 cm thick.

Framework
It is made of load-bearing stone walls and pillars, and stone arcades for the riwaq.
The floor is made with wooden lathes supported by beams and joists.

Roofing
The roofing is made up of a layer of earth resting wooden laths supported by joists
and beams.
Riwaq house in Deir el Kamar
Rendering
The inside walls are rendered with lime; the exterior walls are seldom whitewashed.
The ground is paved, with non smoothed stones, using rendering.

Openings and projections in the facade

The openings can be either rectangular, or are surmounted by a segmented arch.
This typology has no protruding façade elements.

Traditional systems of air-conditioning

The house is ventilated by means of the riwaq and its many other openings.

Drinking water supply systems

No water distribution systems. Drinking water is carried from sources and public
fountains by means of earthenware jars and jugs. Riwaq house in Tyr

Waste water drainage systems

In cities, waste water has been evacuated through the public sewers since the end
of the 19th century. Previously, septic tanks were used. In rural environment,
waste water was rejected in nature.

Riwaq house in Zahleh

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Traditional Mediterranean Architecture

CURRENT STATE OF VITALITY AND PRESERVATION

In urban environment, most of these dwellings are inhabited and regularly
maintained. For the past few years, they have drawn attention and have become
very popular in the general public. In rural environment, they on the contrary suffer
from lack of interest and poor maintenance.

TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
Effect / Cause
Typological transformations

 Volume:
Exterior concrete column add-ons to a riwaq,
Transformations are generally rare. At the beginning of the 20th century, many in Zahleh
houses with riwaq were given an additional floor with arcades and red tiled
roofs. During the 20th century, they underwent other deteriorations, such as
additional concrete volumes or verandas on the back.

 Façades separations:
the façades have generally not been altered

 Structure:
Concrete pillars and walls have been added during restoration or enlarging
campaigns

 Layout organization:
Nothing special has been reported. The central room behind the riwaq is still
the living room. Only bathrooms or a kitchen have been added in which used
to be only bedrooms.

Change in use
The use of this house has remained unchanged. In cities, this house is only used
for dwelling. In mountain areas, some rural activities still take place on the ground
floor.

Change in use of construction materials and techniques

 In use, living

 Little used, in decline :

Stone wood
 No longer used :
Lime, traditional wash, Marseilles tile, hard-packed earth.

 Recent incorporations :
Concrete, aluminium

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Traditional Mediterranean Architecture

CAPACITY FOR REHABILITATION

Aspects of the typology

Score from 0 (very poor) to 10 (excellent)

• Capacity for sale or rental on the property market 5

• Capacity for adaptation to present-day family and social requirements 2
• Capacity for adaptation to present-day comfort requirements 2

Score from 0 (insignificant) to 10 (major)

• Technical difficulty of rehabilitation 2

• Administrative difficulty of rehabilitation 4
• Financial difficulty (high-cost)of rehabilitation 4

Obstacles preventing rehabilitation/causing the user to decide not to rehabilitate

Score from 0 (does not represent an obstacle) to 10 (represents a major obstacle)

• Administrative difficulties 4
• Major technical difficulties 2
• Irreversible deterioration of the structure 9
• Listed/protected building 4
• High cost of rehabilitation 5
• Absence of aid/subsidies 8
• Cost of the project and permits 5
• Status of building/lease 8
• Inflation of property prices 2
• Social decline (delinquency, …) 2
• Poor environmental conditions (absence of minimum infrastructures, …) 8
• Desire to change the building for a modern one 8
• Lack of sensitisation/appreciation on the part of the users 8
• Not considered necessary (by the user) 7

Comments

This typology suffers from a lack of interest on behalf of public authorities. It is

often restored on private funds and efforts. The works on entrusted to architects
without any specific expert size or regulation control.

LEXICON

Riwaq : gallery with ogee arches

Références : Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA) : Plans, Cross sections, Façades
File created: 08.08.2003 Last modified: 27.11.2003

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