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Uniqueness in G1obalization: Physical Development of Traditional Settlements in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

College of Architecture and Planning and a professor ofarchitecture and building sciences at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ebnsaleh{at}ksu.edu.sa

The traditional settlements of the Asir region of southwestern Saudi Arabia were developed primarily for agriculture and the utilization of available natural resources. During the last four decades, the economy has moved away from its agricultural base, although it still contributes an important share to the economy. The rapid development and growth of the building industry in Saudi Arabia has resulted in an emerging globalization trend, whereby the settlements witnessed drastic changes in their social and physical structures. This paper focuses on globalization and coflicts surrounding the modernization of tradtional societies and identifies development issues likely to dominate the future of Asir. The globalization process, mainly the result of foreign (mostly Western) influence and the rapid expansion of the Saudi economy, has been detrimental to the preservation of local traditional architecture and to the quality of life in traditional communities, especially the settlements of the Asir region. This work views the effects of this process and proposes some areas, including government policy, climate and terrain, and religion, that may be exploited to help the country maintain a sense of uniqueness in a global world.

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