![DSC04363.jpg](DSC04363_t.jpg) Restored tower
behind house featuring coral walls |
![DSC04364.jpg](DSC04364_t.jpg) Doorway
of one room in the coral-walled house |
![DSC04365.jpg](DSC04365_t.jpg) Piece of brain
coral in the wall |
![DSC04366.jpg](DSC04366_t.jpg) View from inside
"foyer" with collapsed ceiling |
![DSC04367.jpg](DSC04367_t.jpg) Date palm truck
lintel |
![DSC04368.jpg](DSC04368_t.jpg) Reconstructed
tower |
![DSC04369.jpg](DSC04369_t.jpg) From inside
courtyard of coral-walled house some of the interior rooms |
![DSC04370.jpg](DSC04370_t.jpg) View inside
reconstructed tower to platform above |
![DSC04371.jpg](DSC04371_t.jpg) Inside tower,
traditional materials and building methods have been used |
![DSC04372.jpg](DSC04372_t.jpg) Ladder leading
to upper platform |
![DSC04373.jpg](DSC04373_t.jpg) Opening in floor
above |
![DSC04374.jpg](DSC04374_t.jpg) Timbers wrapped
in rope as part of floor construction |
![DSC04375.jpg](DSC04375_t.jpg) View down an
interior street to a second reconstructed tower |
![DSC04376.jpg](DSC04376_t.jpg) Original
decoration of wall niches |
![DSC04377.jpg](DSC04377_t.jpg) Room
configuration of Jazirat al Hamrah houses matches ancient complement |
![DSC04378.jpg](DSC04378_t.jpg) Classic house
construction with ventilation holes and extended roof beams |
![DSC04379.jpg](DSC04379_t.jpg) One of the
houses made of cement blocks; blocks were made with cement and beach sand, a
recipe for disaster |
![DSC04380.jpg](DSC04380_t.jpg) Doorway into a
family compound |
![DSC04381.jpg](DSC04381_t.jpg) Cement block
buildings |
![DSC04382.jpg](DSC04382_t.jpg) Well in the
courtyard of the family compound |
![DSC04383.jpg](DSC04383_t.jpg) Cooking platform |
![DSC04384.jpg](DSC04384_t.jpg) Oven
in the room that was evidently used as a kitchen |
![DSC04385.jpg](DSC04385_t.jpg) Wall peg |
![DSC04386.jpg](DSC04386_t.jpg) Hand-forged nail
that once supported a timber |
![DSC04387.jpg](DSC04387_t.jpg) Ventilation
holes in wall of kitchen |
![DSC04388.jpg](DSC04388_t.jpg) General view of
the family courtyard |
![DSC04389.jpg](DSC04389_t.jpg) View of the
family rooms |
![DSC04390.jpg](DSC04390_t.jpg) Interior of
family room; narrow doorway leads to small secluded (bathing?) room |
![DSC04391.jpg](DSC04391_t.jpg) Note the
decoration on the dividing wall and on the board ceiling |
![DSC04392.jpg](DSC04392_t.jpg) Decoration of an
interior wall niche |
![DSC04393.jpg](DSC04393_t.jpg) Wall niches and
ventilation holes |
![DSC04394.jpg](DSC04394_t.jpg) Broken plaster
decoration |
![DSC04395.jpg](DSC04395_t.jpg) Circular
ventilation holes and a traditional roof |
![DSC04396.jpg](DSC04396_t.jpg) Privacy room may
have been combination interior toilet and bathing area |
![DSC04397.jpg](DSC04397_t.jpg) Painted trim
around wall niche |
![DSC04398.jpg](DSC04398_t.jpg) Shelving built
into wall of interior of the privacy room |
![DSC04399.jpg](DSC04399_t.jpg) Detail of floor
showing original drain |
![DSC04400.jpg](DSC04400_t.jpg) Main family
house (parents?) with "porch" and semi-cicle step |
![DSC04401.jpg](DSC04401_t.jpg) The star and
crescent design is omnipresent at Hamrah |
![DSC04402.jpg](DSC04402_t.jpg) Family room in
poor condition; slots along top of wall indicate beam placements |
![DSC04403.jpg](DSC04403_t.jpg) Debris on one
platform appear to be camel bones and contents of stomach; note presence of
rope and plastic |
![DSC04404.jpg](DSC04404_t.jpg) Exterior wall of
a family compound |
![DSC04405.jpg](DSC04405_t.jpg) Two-storey
construction was not uncommon |
![DSC04406.jpg](DSC04406_t.jpg) Exterior wall of
room doubles as extension of perimeter wall |
![DSC04407.jpg](DSC04407_t.jpg) The beach sand,
full of shells and salt, meant blocks broke down in humidity and heat |
![DSC04408.jpg](DSC04408_t.jpg) Intersection of
neighborhood streets and main doorway to family compound; note brick
deterioration |
![DSC04409.jpg](DSC04409_t.jpg) Older wall
constructed of coral cut from the seabed |
![DSC04410.jpg](DSC04410_t.jpg) Plastered
interior wall |
![DSC04411.jpg](DSC04411_t.jpg) Room where one
wall has collapsed into the courtyard |
![DSC04412.jpg](DSC04412_t.jpg) Ventilation
window features colored glass |
![DSC04413.jpg](DSC04413_t.jpg) Window with four
shutter panels and unshuttered ventilation holes above |
![DSC04414.jpg](DSC04414_t.jpg) Hamrah was one
of the first communities to feature electricity |
![DSC04415.jpg](DSC04415_t.jpg) The popular
'bugle' design |
![DSC04416.jpg](DSC04416_t.jpg) Exterior view of
shuttered window |
![DSC04417.jpg](DSC04417_t.jpg) Unusual
horizontal glazed window featured |
![DSC04418.jpg](DSC04418_t.jpg) Expanded
ventilation hole suggests use of wall-unit air conditioning |
![DSC04419.jpg](DSC04419_t.jpg) Iron ring
cemented into wall suggests animals were tethered |
![DSC04420.jpg](DSC04420_t.jpg) Collapsed wall |
![DSC04421.jpg](DSC04421_t.jpg) Neatly
constructed door |
![DSC04422.jpg](DSC04422_t.jpg) Lower pivot
hinge of door |
![DSC04423.jpg](DSC04423_t.jpg) Detail of
carving on door |
![DSC04424.jpg](DSC04424_t.jpg) Well and toilet
in unusually close proximity |
![DSC04425.jpg](DSC04425_t.jpg) View of interior
of doorway leading to street |
![DSC04426.jpg](DSC04426_t.jpg) Latch of door |
![DSC04427.jpg](DSC04427_t.jpg) Street
entrance |
![DSC04428.jpg](DSC04428_t.jpg) Early evidence
of automobiles! Double doors on right are for automobile |
![DSC04429.jpg](DSC04429_t.jpg) Tower in an odd
location in middle of street |
![DSC04430.jpg](DSC04430_t.jpg) An old
Chinese(?) lock |
![DSC04431.jpg](DSC04431_t.jpg) Machine-made
hinges a sign of modern construction |
![DSC04432.jpg](DSC04432_t.jpg) Small wooden
latches to keep garage doors closed |
![DSC04433.jpg](DSC04433_t.jpg) Streetscape
showing electricity poles and crumbling coral wall |
![DSC04434.jpg](DSC04434_t.jpg) Distant view of
one restored tower |
![DSC04435.jpg](DSC04435_t.jpg) Small storeroom
immediately inside entrance to family compound |
![DSC04436.jpg](DSC04436_t.jpg) View from below
of the square tower |
![DSC04437.jpg](DSC04437_t.jpg) Metal doors
leading to family compound |
![DSC04438.jpg](DSC04438_t.jpg)
Graffiti covers
many walls of the buildings at Hamrah |
![DSC04439.jpg](DSC04439_t.jpg) General view of
house appears to show repaired wall where air conditioner was removed |
![DSC04440.jpg](DSC04440_t.jpg) Open air mosque,
perhaps for the Eid prayers |
![DSC04441.jpg](DSC04441_t.jpg) View across
rubble field of the round tower |
![DSC04442.jpg](DSC04442_t.jpg) Streetscape with
square tower in the distance |
![DSC04443.jpg](DSC04443_t.jpg) Doors, often
made of steel, were brightly painted |
![DSC04444.jpg](DSC04444_t.jpg) This garage had
been renovated to be used as a shop |
![DSC04445.jpg](DSC04445_t.jpg) Metal doors
leading to overgrown courtyard |
![DSC04446.jpg](DSC04446_t.jpg) Detail of the
metal doors |
![DSC04447.jpg](DSC04447_t.jpg) Single-storey
house with covered porch |
![DSC04448.jpg](DSC04448_t.jpg) Another view of
the porch in front of the single-storey home |
![DSC04449.jpg](DSC04449_t.jpg) Hamrah featured
municipal addresses |
![DSC04450.jpg](DSC04450_t.jpg) Wash basin
indicates widespread use of modern interior plumbing |
![DSC04451.jpg](DSC04451_t.jpg) Plywood and
lumber ceiling, along with ceiling fan and air conditioning hole, all indicate
modern construction |
![DSC04452.jpg](DSC04452_t.jpg) Electricity
panel |
![DSC04453.jpg](DSC04453_t.jpg) View from
covered porch to a subsidiary building |
![DSC04454.jpg](DSC04454_t.jpg) Detail of
decorated door |
![DSC04455.jpg](DSC04455_t.jpg) Detai of
decorated door |
![DSC04456.jpg](DSC04456_t.jpg) Second-storey
majlis of the 'pearl merchant's house' |
![DSC04457.jpg](DSC04457_t.jpg) Built entirely
of coral, the first storey of this house is deteriorating quickly |
![DSC04458.jpg](DSC04458_t.jpg) General view of
the family rooms of the main building, kitchen on the right |
![DSC04459.jpg](DSC04459_t.jpg) End wall of
second storey majlis, showing original wind catchers |
![DSC04460.jpg](DSC04460_t.jpg) Detail of some
of the finishing work on the wind catchers |
![DSC04461.jpg](DSC04461_t.jpg) Another angle
shows where second storey floor apparently entended |
![DSC04462.jpg](DSC04462_t.jpg) View of interior
of majlis |
![DSC04463.jpg](DSC04463_t.jpg) First story of
the majlis building |
![DSC04464.jpg](DSC04464_t.jpg) Beams, palm
matting of ceiling of first story of the majlis building |
![DSC04465.jpg](DSC04465_t.jpg) Hole in the wall
of the main house |
![DSC04466.jpg](DSC04466_t.jpg) Indications on
wall that the room went through at least three stages of design |
![DSC04467.jpg](DSC04467_t.jpg) Sarooj falling
from wall exposing coral beneath |
![DSC04468.jpg](DSC04468_t.jpg) View of side of
majlis showing how windows, doors and wind catchers have been modified over
time |
![DSC04469.jpg](DSC04469_t.jpg) View through
doorway of kitchen to the storage room beyond |
![DSC04470.jpg](DSC04470_t.jpg) One of the ovens
in the kitchen area |
![DSC04471.jpg](DSC04471_t.jpg) The top of the
interior wall separating the main family rooms was open |
![DSC04472.jpg](DSC04472_t.jpg) Classic ceiling
construction in the family rooms |
![DSC04473.jpg](DSC04473_t.jpg) Small privacy
room at one end of the family room |
![DSC04474.jpg](DSC04474_t.jpg) View of doorway
leading to exterior (right) and door to privacy room (left) |
![DSC04475.jpg](DSC04475_t.jpg) View to
exterior; note how plastering is separating from wall |
![DSC04476.jpg](DSC04476_t.jpg) View of privacy
room in another family room |
![DSC04477.jpg](DSC04477_t.jpg) Side view of
majlis building |
![DSC04478.jpg](DSC04478_t.jpg) Beach coral was
likely sawn into blocks for use in construction |
![DSC04479.jpg](DSC04479_t.jpg) A number of
small rooms (storage, family, servants?) extends perpendicular to the main
building |
![DSC04480.jpg](DSC04480_t.jpg) General view of
family rooms (left), kitchen (center) and majlis (right) |
![DSC04481.jpg](DSC04481_t.jpg) View of family
rooms (left) and kitchen (right) |
![DSC04482.jpg](DSC04482_t.jpg) Modern building
(school?) now occupies one side of the compound |
![DSC04483.jpg](DSC04483_t.jpg) Another view of
the modern building |
![DSC04484.jpg](DSC04484_t.jpg) Main side wall
of majlis |
![DSC04485.jpg](DSC04485_t.jpg) View from
entrance into compound |
![DSC04486.jpg](DSC04486_t.jpg) Narrow
passageway between buildings |
![DSC04487.jpg](DSC04487_t.jpg) Collapsed
ceiling reveals palm matting and barasti used in construction |
![DSC04488.jpg](DSC04488_t.jpg) View of interior
streets that were once busy in the 1960's |
![DSC04489.jpg](DSC04489_t.jpg) Interior of the
modern building (school?) with paneling |
![DSC04490.jpg](DSC04490_t.jpg) View of majlis
showing numerous wall niches |
![DSC04491.jpg](DSC04491_t.jpg) Mosque with
unique minaret |
![DSC04492.jpg](DSC04492_t.jpg) Minaret |
![DSC04493.jpg](DSC04493_t.jpg) Public toilet? |
![DSC04494.jpg](DSC04494_t.jpg) Interior view of
minaret showing steps leading to top |
![DSC04495.jpg](DSC04495_t.jpg) View from mosque |
![DSC04496.jpg](DSC04496_t.jpg) Interior of
mosque |
![DSC04497.jpg](DSC04497_t.jpg) Interior of
mosque showing prayer niche |
![DSC04498.jpg](DSC04498_t.jpg) Hook in ceiling
beams to support ceiling fan |
![DSC04499.jpg](DSC04499_t.jpg) There were
windows on three sides of the mosque |
![DSC04500.jpg](DSC04500_t.jpg) Wet cement was
poured over barasti during construction causing imprinting on the rubble |
![DSC04501.jpg](DSC04501_t.jpg) Ventilation hole
in mosque wall |
![DSC04502.jpg](DSC04502_t.jpg) Another view of
the minaret |
![DSC04503.jpg](DSC04503_t.jpg) Mosque is
located only a few hundred meters from the beach |
![DSC04504.jpg](DSC04504_t.jpg) 'Main street'
near the mosque |
![DSC04505.jpg](DSC04505_t.jpg) One of the shops
along 'main street' |
![DSC04506.jpg](DSC04506_t.jpg) Concrete pillars
were decorated with plaster 'stones' |
![DSC04507.jpg](DSC04507_t.jpg) Windows located
close to the floor provided ventilation |
![DSC04508.jpg](DSC04508_t.jpg) These windows
show no evidence of ever being glazed |
![DSC04509.jpg](DSC04509_t.jpg) Main shutters
opening shop to street are falling off their hinges |
![DSC04510.jpg](DSC04510_t.jpg) View from inside
shop back up the street to the mosque and beach |
![DSC04511.jpg](DSC04511_t.jpg) View from front
of shop to mosque and beach |
![DSC04512.jpg](DSC04512_t.jpg) Distant view of
mosque (minaret - left, mosque - middle, washing area - right) |
![DSC04513.jpg](DSC04513_t.jpg) At least two
large family compounds feature classic vertical windcatchers |
![DSC04514.jpg](DSC04514_t.jpg) Doorway to
compound and windcatcher |
![DSC04515.jpg](DSC04515_t.jpg) This house was
evidently used as a set for a film or television crew |
![DSC04516.jpg](DSC04516_t.jpg) Exterior of
house; windows on the street suggest this room was the majlis |
![DSC04517.jpg](DSC04517_t.jpg) Main gate to
this compound |
![DSC04518.jpg](DSC04518_t.jpg) Windcatcher
(right) and classic roof corner design |
![DSC04519.jpg](DSC04519_t.jpg) Courtyard of
windcatcher house showed many signs of being used recently for filming |
![DSC04520.jpg](DSC04520_t.jpg) View from
courtyard back through main gates to the street |
![DSC04521.jpg](DSC04521_t.jpg) Interior of what
was evidently the majlis |
![DSC04522.jpg](DSC04522_t.jpg) Another view of
the majlis |
![DSC04523.jpg](DSC04523_t.jpg) Immediately
inside main gate platform where coffee would have been brewing for visitors |
![DSC04524.jpg](DSC04524_t.jpg) View from
courtyard showing two windcatchers used in this complex |
![DSC04525.jpg](DSC04525_t.jpg) House with
windcatcher |
![DSC04526.jpg](DSC04526_t.jpg) Another view of
house with windcatcher |
![DSC04527.jpg](DSC04527_t.jpg) Simpler
windcatcher design used on this house |
![DSC04528.jpg](DSC04528_t.jpg) View of ceiling
with openings at base of windcatcher |
![DSC04529.jpg](DSC04529_t.jpg) 'Porch' of room
that featured the modestly designed windcatcher |
![DSC04530.jpg](DSC04530_t.jpg) Vertical view
from base of windcatcher |
![DSC04531.jpg](DSC04531_t.jpg) Another view of
windcatcher construction and design |
![DSC04532.jpg](DSC04532_t.jpg) Windows extended
to the floor in most rooms |
![DSC04533.jpg](DSC04533_t.jpg) Ceilings were
classic beam and palm mating construction |
![DSC04534.jpg](DSC04534_t.jpg) Detail of
ceiling beams and palm matting |
![DSC04535.jpg](DSC04535_t.jpg) Decoration
around doorway |
![DSC04536.jpg](DSC04536_t.jpg) Wall niches and
decoration in family room |
![DSC04537.jpg](DSC04537_t.jpg) Inscription
inside wall niche |
![DSC04538.jpg](DSC04538_t.jpg) Courtyard with
reservoir on left |
![DSC04539.jpg](DSC04539_t.jpg) Another view of
the courtyard |
![DSC04540.jpg](DSC04540_t.jpg) View of several
family rooms cooled by this windcatcher |
![DSC04541.jpg](DSC04541_t.jpg) Exterior view of
majlis |
![DSC04542.jpg](DSC04542_t.jpg) View through
majlis window to interior |