Architectural identity is a vital topic that raised many arguments recently, within maintaining the traditional architectural style of ancient cities.
This paper discusses identity for the purpose of studying the absence of identity and characteristic style of traditional Yemeni architecture in contemporary tourist buildings, represented by hotels.
This paper aims to study the reasons and factors that led to the absence of architectural identity from tourist buildings in an attempt to root civilization values and features characterizing the architectural identity of
traditional buildings in Yemeni cities. This was achieved by reviewing the distinguishing features of traditional Yemeni buildings in Almukalla city, as a tool to measure and compare the identity elements of contemporary
Touristic Buildings in Almukalla city, with the items characterizing the architectural elements of traditional buildings.
This paper uses the analytical method, by presenting views of local architects (practicing and academic), by the questionnaire that treated in detail the points of identity, beside analyzing the results of a field survey for a selected sample of hotels in Mukalla to recognize the extent to which touristic buildings could maintain elements and items characterizing architectural identity of traditional buildings in the city.
This paper attempted to set some frameworks based on studying and evaluating the traits of local traditional architecture characteristic of Yemeni cities. They include functional spaces (varying from general to private use), and façade treatments (including building pattern, openings, ornaments, and building materials).
This paper is concluded with a number of results. The main points of results aim to maintain the characteristic style of traditional Yemeni architecture, and pay attention to the architecture of contemporary touristic buildings in Almukalla city. This is done by implementing the technical, and architectural Hadrami elements and create their own style; so that they achieve individuality and identity – characteristic of this type of buildings to express the style of their surrounding Yemeni environment.