Reinterpreting Vernacular Cooling Methods for Contemporary Architecture: Mashrabiya Screens and Courtyard Strategies in Bahrain
Malak Jassim Alaiwi
Abstract
Malak Jassim Alaiwi
Abstract
In most vernacular buildings, there have been very effective strategies that responded to the harsh climatic conditions whereby buildings have been shaded from excessive exposure to sun. These ensured that the interiors of such buildings were cooler and more liveable. Indeed, they also provided character and identity to those buildings. In contemporary architecture however, such methods are often not employed. Instead, they use air-conditioning to cool the interiors while using large glass windows which even bring in direct sunlight as well as heat. Nevertheless, there is an emerging trend in incorporating vernacular traditional shading methods in contemporary architecture too. In this context, this research investigates how contemporary buildings in Bahrain reinterpret two vernacular shading strategies: the ‘mashrabiya screens’ and ‘courtyards’ and how effective these reinterpretations are for environmental comfort by controlling daylight and glare as well as a reduction in heat-gain, while providing privacy and cultural continuity. The study addresses the gap between using vernacular elements as visual motifs versus using them as climate-performing systems. The study adopted a mixed-method comparative case study approach. Three case studies were reviewed: two in Bahrain and one in the Gulf as a benchmark. Data were collected through architectural documentation and photo-based content analysis to extract design variables such as screen porosity, depth, coverage, and courtyard enclosure. Performance evidence was recorded through documentation-based observations and a simplified comparative simulation logic applied consistently across the cases. User perceptions were captured through a short Likert-scale questionnaire and three semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that effective reinterpretations combine measurable shading performance with privacy regulation and usable shaded space. The courtyard-based heritage case shows strong privacy and microclimate advantages through enclosure and self-shading, while the contemporary mesh “veil” demonstrates strong glare diffusion and privacy screening at the street edge. Overall, the research concludes that contemporary mashrabiya/courtyard reinterpretations perform best when design variables are aligned with climate exposure and user needs, supporting recommendations for performance-informed shading rather than decorative application.
Keywords:
Mashrabiya screens and courtyard, Vernacular shading, Daylight and glare control, Privacy, Bahrain.