Chapter 4: Case Study and Visitors’ Descriptive Analysis
4.2 Architectural Analysis of Physical Features and Interpretive
4.2.1 Al Khamis Mosque Visitor Center
Al Khamis Mosque was built over three phases between the 8th and 16th century (Insoll et al., 2016). At first, the mosque was a simple rectangular stone building. During the 11th century, the building was enlarged, and one minaret was added. A second minaret was added two centuries later (Heritage, 1993d). The complex has undergone several renovations during the past two decades by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. In 2017, Al Khamis Mosque visitor center was built nearby Al Khamis Mosque to preserve and exhibit artifacts found on site and document the Islamic urban heritage in Bahrain (News, 2017).
4.2.1.1 Site Level: Contextual Configuration
Al Khamis Mosque historic site is in the old city center, also known as “Bilad Al-Qadim” village, of the Capital Governorate (Figure 4.1).
98 Figure 4.1: Al Khamis Mosque location in relation to the country, the city and immediate surroundings
Southern Northern
Capital Muharraq
Country level City level Site level
Bahrain Capital Governorate
Manama Bilad Al Qadim village
(Al Khamis)
Al Khamis Mosque
The historic site is located within an area of national significance formed of different site components including a cemetery, remnants of dwellings and workshops (Insoll et al., 2016). The historic site is surrounded by modern residential and public buildings, such as schools, restaurants, and commercial facilities. The site can be accessed by foot and by vehicles. Access to the site is well defined by an effective road signage (Figure 4.2).
The historic site’s main access is to the south. This access was the former main entrance to the mosque courtyard. The courtyard used to be the praying hall and served in the past as a traditional market for the village. Besides the main entrance, there is a second entrance to the east that provides the visitors a shaded path starting right from the parking area, and acts as a background frame for building photo opportunities (Figure 4.2, d). The historic site is located about 75 meters away, a short walk from the visitor center (Figure 4.2, the site plan). This separation distance ensures the preservation and protection of the archaeological site. The visitor center is connected to the site through a perimeter paved pathway that allows the visitor to freely choose to visit the visitor center and/or the historic site as illustrated in (Figure 4.3).
Figure 4.2: Al Khamis Mosque surroundings - Site level analysis
1 2
4 3 5 6 7 8
9
10
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i From the main road
From the main road (Road Signage)
The main road and the surrounding
Walkway between the site and main road –
Walkway inside the historical site - Looking west
Closer view to the historical site
Between the site and the main road – Looking west
Between the site and the main road – Looking east
Overlooking the school – Looking south
The visitor center – From the car park j 75 m
Visitor center Visitor
center
Figure 4.3: Al Khamis Mosque visitor center architectural review
The overall contextual setting provides a paved pathway around the site. This configuration eases the site exploration visually and physically through walking
1 2 3
4 5
7 8
1 Al Khamis Mosque - From the visitor center
2 Al Khamis Mosque – Ruins
3 Outdoor shaded exhibition
4 Paved walkway towards the mosque 5 Man entrance - East 6 Shaded path between
parking and site 7 The visitor center –
Main exhibition entrance
8 The visitor center – West façade facing the site
9 The integrated glass panels over ruins 6
9 Al Khamis
Mosque
Cemetery
Main Entrance #1
Visitor center Shrine
Car park Entrance #2
Visitor Center Al Khamis Mosque
Paved Pathway Car Park
Historic Site Entrance Visitor Center Entrance
Paved / Unpaved pathway connecting the visitor center to the Archeological Site
around the archeological mosque’s features including arches, minaret, and other elements (Figure 4.4).
Figure 4.4: Al Khamis Mosque archeological vestiges
In addition, the site also provides a close visual contact between the visitors and the past, through the glass floor panels that cover the archeological excavations as shown in Figure 4.5.
Figure 4.5: Visual contact through integrated glass floor cover over archeological vestiges
4.2.1.2 Building Level: Architectural Review
The visitor center and the landscape layout were planned and designed through a partnership between an international firm, Wohlert Arkitekter, and a local private architectural firm, Plan Architecture and Design, known as PAD. The visitor center is a rectangular space, 40 meters long and 7 meters wide. The center sits on a pedestal 75 centimeters higher than the road level. The free-flowing plan mainly functions as an exhibition hall along with other supporting facilities such the information desk and a gift shop (Figure 4.6).
Figure 4.6: Al Khamis Mosque visitor center exhibition space
1 Main Entrance 2 Outdoor benches 3 Reception desk 4 Exhibition space
Main Entrance
Exhibition space 5 Gift shop space 6 Garden
7 Shaded path between – from the car park
Visitor movement inside the visitor center Visual connection to the historic site
The exhibition space is naturally lit through clearstory windows to attain different light levels throughout the visitor center and to ensure intensities of light exposure and readability of the artifacts. The exhibition itself was designed to be fluid and allows the visitor to start the visit at any section, while keeping a continuous visual connection to the historic site through the horizontal glazing that forms the entrance to the center (Figure 4.7).
Figure 4.7: Al Khamis Mosque visitor center daylighting strategies and visual connections
This design feature is clearly implemented to enhance the space and encourage the visitors to go and explore in more detail the historic site.
Unfortunately, the paved pathway around the historic site is unshaded. Therefore, it may be quite uncomfortable during hot seasons and consequently may well limit the visitors’ interest to navigate the site.
4.2.1.3 Interpretation Level: Exhibits and Presentation Techniques
Until the 1960s, Al Khamis Mosque was part of Al Khamis market, which took place every Thursday. Most of the objects in display were originally found in the nearby historic site and stand as a testimony to people’s life at that time. On this basis, the exhibits can be categorized as (1) archival documents (i.e. drawings and
Visual connectio n to site
Clearstory windows
historic documents), (2) small objects (i.e. ceramics, metals, and stones) and (3) large objects (i.e. gravestones associated and a single shrine for the entire graveyard).
Al Khamis Mosque visitor center offers different presentation strategies. For instance, the first type of exhibits which are archival documents depends on textual captions and visual illustrations. Additionally, an audio system provides the visitor with voice recording of the original people’s interaction in Al Khamis Market. The second type of exhibits made of small objects in glass showcases, and large objects placed on elevated platforms, depends solely on textual captions and visual presentation qualities. In addition, the visitor center exhibits illuminated wall panels, data screens and wall projection facilities. These interpretation strategies are intended to promote and enhance the overall understanding of the historical site and offer multiple communication mediums that address the needs and interests of different visitors. For example, some artifacts such as painted ceramic plates, vases, seals, and stones give evidence about materials, skills, abilities, and ways of communication of the era, (Figure 4.8). However, using textual captions to interpret such fragments may reduce the value of such objects, since these objects are displayed out of their original context.
Figure 4.8: Presentation techniques at Al Khamis Mosque visitor center Additionally, the archeological site has only one information panel at the entry point on the south with general information about the site (Figure 4.9), inclusive of a worded invitation to discover more at the visitor center. This strategy is intended to encourage the visitors to approach the visitor center for further information.
Fragmented piece
Vase
Seals
Shells Textual caption
Painted plate Stones
Plate with calligraphy
Textual interpretation Artifacts/ Antiquities
Figure 4.9: Information panel at Al Khamis Mosque historic site