The traditional vernacular architecture of Sarat Abidah in Saudi Arabia comprises mud houses with distinctive slates protruding from the walls. The area receives rain all year round, and the east wind carries dust from the desert. Therefore, the locals developed a kind of vernacular architecture comprising stone homes in the hills and mud houses in the valleys. The walls of the mud buildings are 50 cm thick and get thinner as the wall gets higher. There are also slates placed in parallel lines on the walls to drain the rainwater, protecting the clay walls.
In modern mud hoses in Sarat Abidah, it is also possible to see colorful decorations between the slates such as the home of Bin Hamsan. This kind of wall painting is recognized by UNESCO thanks to the women of the region, as well. On the other hand, some other tall mud buildings served as granaries until recently. Moreover, these mud towers also served as fortresses and watchtowers against the local tribe’s enemies. Nevertheless, the tribal feuds ended with the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.
