Aesthetic Artistic Design and Cladding Techniques of Chambers in Traditional Houses (in Damascus and Aleppo)

Abstract

We are in urgent need for a serious scientific trials that can be dependable in the rebuilding phase of our country with the needed restoration and maintenance of the damaged buildings. We need such work due to the enormous destruction that the Syrian ancient buildings suffered from, and due to the urgent need to restore them, especially the traditional Arabic houses which were destroyed by terrorism. What formed another reason to prepare this study is the possible damage that may badly affect this great heritage and the need to keep what we still have of it. This article studies the structural and artistic design of the chambers’ walls and their main elements. It tries, too, to show the aesthetic characteristics and unity in the designs of the two main schools (Aleppo and Damascus), and to clarify, through using photos and illustrations, the strong relationship between the ornamental style and the color of each school according to the nature of the materials used in the interior cladding of the walls. This article tries to go deep in the connection between the interior cladding and the architectural and constructional structure of the traditional walls and the effect of this relation on the traditional interior designs in accordance to the nature of each artistic school and its special and geographic uniqueness.