Typology : Country : Tent Syria 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 Tents are still used by Bedouins as a complimentary place of dwelling. The life of the Bedouins is linked to pastures and migration. This time of life still exists in Badia (in the desert) and in the region of Djazira, from the Euphrates river and Turkish border, towards the river of Oronte. ANALYTICAL GROUP OF THE TYPOLOGY Rural Scattered Mobile Changing Permanent «rooted» Low/medium Basic house (Environment ) (Implantation) (Character) (Origin) (Use) (Cultural) (Economic level) (Morphology) FORMS OF THE TYPOLOGY Tent made for dwelling and servicing tent INVENTORY OF THE COUNTRY S TYPOLOGIES Rural house with court Urban house with court Basic house Lebanese house House with Liwan House with Riwaq Tent This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. /7
FORMS OF THE TYPOLOGY Variation: Tent made for dwelling Implantation Nomadic lifestyles are common throughout Syria Use/associated activity The tent is a family household living space Dating This typology goes back to the dawn of times Altitude From sea level to 000 m Orientation The tent opens onto the north side Ground surface covered Between 30 and 50 square meters Surface area of housing Between 30 and 50 square meters Functional outline The tent is a complementary household unit. It is constituted of a multiangled room, with a series of wooden posts; the room is covered with a large piece of the canvas taut with rope. It is divided into two sections: one for men and entertaining hosts, and another for women. The first section is divided from the other with supply bags and thin canework. The inside organization of the tent is as follows: a single place to both sit, dwell and sleep under the arris (the highest point between posts), the roofing and door, the curtain made with felt or woolen material, a chest and metal stakes to store and press clothes, and on the left side of the tent, saddles and materials. Implantation ±0 Number of floors Number of homes Number of families Average number of members per family 8 Cross section Elevation This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 2/7
Walls The material is made with waterproof wool, and resists rain, sand and wind. Framework Multiangled room, different dimensions from one tends to another. The height changes from one point to another, from about two meters to greater heights. The material is laid blindly on top of a central post; it is then taut with rope and side posts. Rendering Openings and projections in the facade The main opening is a northern door made with a piece of material that flaps open. Traditional systems of air-conditioning Natural air-conditioning through the door in the sides of the tent. Drinking water supply systems Water is carried on animal back in leather bags and bottles, it is then destroyed in barrels near the tent campsite. Waste water drainage systems Directly into the ground. This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 3/7
FORMS OF THE TYPOLOGY V ariation: servicing tent Implantation Nomadic typologies are found throughout the Syrian territory. Use/associated activity These tents are associated to household needs, like cooking or breeding. Dating This typology dates back to the dawn of times. Functional outline The tent is small: it is a multi-purpose area for servicing-kitchen-oven-and storage for farming materials. The tent has may corners. It has wooden stakes in various positions, covered and topped with woollen canvas, pulled outside with rope to fasten and secure the tent. ±0 Altitude From sea level to about 000 m Orientation The entrance is usually on the north side. Ground surface covered Between 5 and 30 m 2 Surface area of housing Between 5 and 30 m 2 Number of floors Cross section Elevation Number of homes - Number of families - Average number of members per family - This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 4/7
Walls Woolen material. Framework Volume can differ considerably from one tent to another, the various angles can be made with different sized wooden posts, the height of each side can be different from that of the center. The woolen material is taut in the center of the tent, at the crossing of the various structure elements. Rendering Openings and projections in the facade The only protruding element is the door. Traditional systems of air-conditioning Of the air naturally blows through the sides of the tent. Drinking water supply systems Water supplies are carried in leather bags, on animal back: this water usually comes from nearby wells at camping sites. Waste water drainage systems Directly into the ground. This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 5/7
CURRENT STATE OF VITALITY AND PRESERVATION TRANSFORMATION PROCESS Typological transformations Effect / cause Volume The dimensions of the tent can be enlarged by adding extra material or by adding smaller tents around a large central one. Facades partitioning These elements have not changed and are still made with wool and without any specific predetermined structure: they are however more and more often made into rectangles or squares. Structure Space organization The organization of the tent depends on its inhabitants and their social or financial status. The tent is usually divided into a section for men and another for women. A tent s role or attributions varies according to inhabitants. Change in use Change in use of construction materials and techniques Used, live The materials used have not changed: woolen fabric, wooden stakes and rope. Little used The materials used inside the tent are more and more modern: the chests, mattresses, agricultural materials and tools. The ground is covered with insulating materials. No longer used New use Plastic. This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 6/7
CAPACITY FOR REHABILITATION Aspects of the typology Score from 0 (very poor) to 0 (excellent) Capacity for sale or rental on the property market 0 Capacity for adaptation to present-day family and social requirements 6 Capacity for adaptation to present-day comfort requirements 5 Score from 0 (insignificant) to 0 (major) Technical difficulty of rehabilitation 0 Administrative difficulty of rehabilitation 3 Financial difficulty (very high cost) of rehabilitation 0 Obstacles preventing rehabilitation/causing the user to decide not to rehabilitate Score from 0 (does not represent an obstacle) to 0 (represents a major obstacle) Administrative difficulties Major technical difficulties Irreversible deterioration of the structure Listed/protected building High cost of rehabilitation Absence of aid/subsidies Cost of the project and permits Status of building/lease Inflation of property prices Social decline (delinquency, ) Poor environmental conditions (absence of minimum infrastructures, ) Desire to change the building for a modern one Lack of sensitisation/appreciation on the part of the users Not considered necessary (by the user) Comments LEXICON File created:.0.2003 Last modified: 3.05.2004 This project is financed by the MEDA programme of the European Union. The opinions expressed in the present document do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or of its member States. 7/7