"quartz"..a milestone in decorating the facades of Asir houses
Traditional stone buildings are preserved in the area Asir with one of its most prominent aesthetic elements, represented by "quartz"It is a shiny white stone that has formed a landmark in Decoration House facades, and embodied an aspect of the Asiri builder’s ingenuity in employing elements of the local environment to produce architecture in which function and beauty blend.
In ancient times, builders relied on collecting stones "quartz" From mountainous sites, then breaking them into small pieces that are carefully arranged inside the stone facades, to form geometric decorative units that adorn the doors and windows, and extend to the top of the buildings, in patterns that vary between triangles, squares, and vertical and horizontal lines, to give the building a distinctive visual contrast between the white of the quartz and the color of the dark stones.
The architectural identity of the Asir region
The use of quartz was not limited to the aesthetic aspect, Rather, it represented one of the elements that reflected the architectural identity of the Asir region, as it contributed to highlighting the specificity of traditional buildings, and demonstrated the skill of craftsmen in implementing delicate decorative formations using local natural materials, without the need for manufactured materials or modern techniques.
The marr was accompanied by a number of decorative vocabulary for which Asir architecture was famous, among them "Outgoing"and"Vegetables"and"The scratch"and"Balconies"and"The rod"and"Tar"Together, they form an integrated artistic system that reflects the taste of Asir society, its close connection to the place, and its keenness to give its homes an aesthetic character.
Traces of these decorations are still present in many heritage villages in the Asir region, where the gall continues to perform its role as a witness to the authenticity of local architecture, with its solidity and natural shine that enabled it to resist the elements of time, and maintain its presence above Facades of historic houses.
Preserving urban heritage
The increasing interest in preserving heritage buildings comes within the framework of national efforts aimed at preserving urban heritage, reviving traditional crafts, and enhancing cultural identity, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in protecting the national heritage, highlighting its cultural value, and transforming it into a cultural and tourism tributary that contributes to enriching visitors’ experience, and transferring the legacy of Asir architecture to future generations.
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