The Significance of Oman Domestic Courtyard Architecture and its Potential Application in Malaysia - Husin, Zulkifli; Zulkifli Husin (al-Muʼtamar al-Duwalī: ʻUmān wa-Duwal Janūb Sharq Āsiyā wa-al-Ṣīn: Āfāq Thaqāfīyah wa-Tārīkhīyah wa-Siyāsīyah wa-Ḥaḍārīyah, 2016)
Omani domestic courtyard architecture is a significant phenomenon in cultural, environmental, structural and, most importantly, religious terms. Among the advantages of the Omani domestic courtyard are its introverted orientation, its role as a space organiser, its function as transitory space, its action as a climatic moderator, and its multi-functional character. These advantages contribute considerably to the house as an entity in fulfilling its roles and functions as a focal point for dwellers in general and for Muslims in particular, allowing divine principles to be inculcated into their lives. Oman is one of the earliest world civilizations, dating to the third millennium BC, and its domestic courtyard architecture has not only been influenced by other ancient civilizations such as the Persian and the Syrian but has also influenced countries across the globe. The paper examines the potential application of this architectural tradition in the Malaysian context.
Oman domestic courtyard architecture is a significant phenomenon in the aspect of cultural, environmental, structural and most importantly religion. Among the advantages of Oman domestic courtyard are introverted orientation, space organizer, transitory space, climatic moderator and multi-functional space. These advantages contribute considerably to the house entity in fulfilling its roles and functions as a focal point of house dwellers in general and Muslims in particular to inculcate divine principles into their lives. Oman is one of the earliest world civilizations which dated 3rd millennium BC, whereby its domestic courtyard architecture not only has been influenced by other ancient civilizations like Persian and Syria, but also has influenced some countries across the globe. Further, since Oman is a country that enters to the fold of Islam at its early advent [2nd Hijrah] and has maintained its Islamic identity ever since, its unique domestic courtyard contributes significantly to the Islamic domestic architecture with its own variation of typology. This Oman domestic courtyard architecture is appropriate design to be integrated in Malaysia, a tropical country that has accept
Keywords: conference publication; Courtyard architecture; Omani architecture; Islamic architecture; Climatic design; Malaysia; Vernacular housing