MUNA FAHED ABOU FAYAD 201310898
Al Ahmadeiya school the first national semi-regular school in the Emirate of Dubai
Location & Area Location: Deira – Al ras area Built up area : 528 square meteres
Surroundings
General Information
• Al Ahmadiya School takes you back to the historical ambience of education in the early 20th century of Dubai's history. • The first national semi-regular school in Dubai. • It was found and established by His Eminence, the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmouk in 1912. • The school attracted a number of scientists and scholars from neighboring Arab countries to teach at it. • Education went on at the school ever since its establishment until 1958. • In 1994, the Government of Dubai restored Al Ahmadiya School and transformed it into a historical museum.
Initial activities of The building • Teaching at the first curriculum was based on the Koran, Hadith and biography. Gradually it evolved its curriculum to include languages, literature, science, history, geography, mathematics and become a modern school 1950s.
• The social activities were mainly done in the courtyard. ( playing traditional games) • Reading activities were done at the library in the school.
The building today • The school today is a museum to remind the new generations about the historical education in the UAE
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23.3M
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1 Materials, decoration, functions and facilities
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Construction Materials
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Walls were built using petrified coral stones, which were easily found in coastal areas. Gypsum mortar held the stones together. Coral stones were sculpted into the required size and were hardened using a mixture of water and dissolved minerals. Gypsum was mixed with water and sand to form mortar and this is to hold the stones together.
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Decoration
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Old functional elements
WINDOW SCREEN
Functional side 5
These window screens help to bring in the cool breeze and leave out warmer air. inside
outside
The window screen will let the cool air in
The window screen will let the hot air go out
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Spatial organization of the building ( OLD PLAN) Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Liwan (arcade) Classroom
Classroom
courtyard
Classroom
Classroom
Classroom
Drinking room
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kitchen
C Classroom
entrance Ground floor of Al Ahmadiya school ( OLD PLAN)
• 24mX22m • 11 classrooms • courtyard around «Liwan» • Drinking water room • kitchen
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Spatial organization of the building Ground floor ( NEW PLAN)
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• Most of the classrooms today are galleries for all the things that were left from the school.
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1st floor ( NEW PLAN) Front part
back part for Qur’an sitting with al-Imam
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Drinking water room : water was stored in earthen pots, keeping it cool and safe for drinking. School staff served water to students and teachers.
Pantry or Kitchen: This pantry was mainly for the staff and teachers and it used to serve Dates and traditional Arabic coffee
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CLASSROOMS: Students used to sit in a circular way around Al Mutawwa’a (teacher) to repeat after him the Holy Qura’an. In 1950s the school introduced a new way of sitting which is the benches after adding new subjects such as languages, literature, science, history, geography, & mathematics.
Construction phases
• The school made of square building and strike through courtyard open, surrounded by rooms on all sides • first phase 1912: construction of the ground floor 24mX22m,inner courtyard around «Liwan», 11 classrooms
• second phase 1920: Stairs leading building to the top floor, and the construction of a room for overnight teachers • Third phase 1922: shaded areas were added to the entire surface
Tangible objects •
A sample of the furnishing of the school's classrooms, learning tools, and writing materials.
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Historical certificates & government documents and correspondence related to the educational system in the emirate. •
Materials used in this school.
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Internal and external classes, corridors, internal courtyard, utilities and facilities.
Intangible objects •
Spaces of the school are still available to show how the students used to study al Qur'an orally and the other subjects by writing and reading. The school shows the atmosphere & educational system of traditional education in different sections of the school
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The school was called Al-Ahmadiya referring to Sheikh Ahmad bin Damlouk who was the main founder of the school but he died before its accomplishment.
Best students of Al Ahmadiya school (8th grade) winning in scientific competition
Criteria leading to the classification of the building as heritage •
The impact of the school was very strong on the culture at that time, specially that this school is the first semi-regular school in Dubai and many students joined and this changed their future to better state.
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The school was a main reason for the civilization of Dubai, Specially that many other Arab teachers came from different countries to teach at it.
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The school is considered as an eminent example of a significant period in Architecture or technology where they used many techniques for cooling system and for building methods. The school is reflecting the traditions that we still do and believe in; such as learning al Qur’an and Al hadith.
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The building will increase recognition of the passion and interest in science along with knowledge of Dubai's traditional society, despite the scarcity of resources and hardships they suffered at the time.
 Approach adequate to the building Cultural Factors: We can see these factors through the way they used to teach, to dress, to enjoy their time, and to build to adapt with the hot environment.
Physical Explanation: Many techniques were used to reduce the heat during the day time at the school; they used the wind towers, many openings, the courtyard system and the shaded corridors.
Social explanation: the social structure of the building consisted of sons Senate and the public for the purpose of gaining science and knowledge. The school’s location is in the middle of a residential neighborhood close to the old commercial center and that’s what made it preferable. Some of the dignitaries that attended this school :
Vice president of the UAE Sheikh Rashid Bin Saed Almaktoum)
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai. (1971-2006)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Emir of Dubai
Juma al Majid is an Emirati businessman, political adviser, and philanthropist.
Spaces: the spaces were made to create interacting between all the children either inside the classrooms or at the courtyard.
Cause of deterioration of the building Climatic reasons: Humidity was mainly the reason why the faรงade is deteriorated specially after discovering that they have used gypsum mortar in such a weather as Dubai.
BEFORE
AFTER
Degrees of interventions
A. Rehabilitation • The physical structure of the building was kept, but the activity was modified from being a school to a museum to highlight the values of Al Ahmadiya school.
SCHOOL
MUSEUM
B. Restoration Wind-tower (Barjeel): The wind tower was removed in the fifties of the twentieth century due its poor structural condition. It was rebuilt according to the old drawings using the traditional method of construction using “Chandal� joists and Coral stones. Gypsum Decoration : Molds were prepared for the replacement of damaged decorative parts and these were replaced with newly cast pieces, which were Copies typical to the original and were mounted with great care and accuracy to blend.
• Doors and windows: Old doors and windows were replaced. Duplicates were made according to photographs of some of these doors and windows to reinstate the building condition as it was in 1920s when they were made. The main door of the school was conserved and reinstate to its original condition. OLD PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE
C. Consolidation (conservation) • Finishes: Traditional materials were used in the finishing works. These were primarily gypsum mixed with sand and lime to give the required strength
Floors: Floors were cast by using gypsum mixed with sand to get the natural traditional color of floors and to preserve the original character and give strength to it.
Roofs: The roof of the school was inspected. The Chandal joists used for the roof were replaced in every room separately, to preserve the structural system of the building. The palm tree-fronds were placed in the traditional way which in turn were covered with a special mix using coral stones bonded with gypsum.
• Foundation: Foundations in historical buildings have the same thickness as the walls and do not distribute the loads to the sub-soil in a uniform way. It was, therefore, essential to strengthen the foundations and support them using solid mountain stones with burnt mud “Sarooj” as bonding material which in turn does not allow the absorption of water. Walls: walls were restored by removal of old plaster. In order to identify the integrity of the walls, and to replace the eroded parts and fill the voids with coral stones and gypsum. Structural cracks were treated by using “Chandal” joists, that helped tie together two parts of cracked wall Lintels and sills: all lintels and sills of structural openings were supported. All plaster under lintels where “Chandal” joists were used was removed and the rotten pieces of wood were replaced by new ones
References
• http:// www.dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/Live-Our-Heritage/Pages /Al-Ahmadiya-School.aspx • http://www.dubai360.com/#! s=1669-al-ahmadiya-school-entrance&l=en • http:// www.emaratalyoum.com/life/four-sides/2012-09-05-1.50 9225 • http://media.emaratalyoum.com/images/polopoly-inlin e-images/2012/09/AR30-050912-111.jpg?_ ga=1.252696329.109802241.1406592266 • http://www.dariushzandi.com/Historical_Restoration /Pages/AL_AHMADIYA_SCHOOL,_ DUBAI-UAE.html#3 • http:// www.imgrum.org/user/emiratesbooks/184045003/10521 55123611996598_184045003