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Traditional Settlement in the Oasis of Ghadames in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

Abubaker Mohamed Shawesh
Abubaker Mohamed Shawesh*
Affiliation:
Centre for Architectural Research and Development Overseas, Department of Architecture, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
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Abstract

Traditional settlements in Libya reflect man's response to the harsh environmental conditions and the need to sustain the social organisation and respect social and cultural traditions. Thus urban dwellers have a strong desire for the morphology of settlements and the needs of indigenous habitats. This has played an important part in shaping the character of traditional Libyan cities and town. As far as people are concerned they are part of their community or neighbourhood. This paper reviews the old town of Ghadames to show how traditional settlement successfully responded to the geographical, environmental conditions and social needs. Attention is also focused on the architectural character, house form and building methods and materials, based on a survey carried out by the author in Ghadames oasis in August 1991. It attempts to establish the suitability of traditional building.

Type
Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 26 , 1995 , pp. 35 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1995

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References

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