Climate in the Emirate of Ajman

Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Climate and Culture Research
Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Climate and Culture Research
 Culture

• Population Size: 238,000

• Social norms and expectations:
o Dress modestly with no tight or revealing clothing but swimwear at the beach is accepted
 Men wear loose-fitting ankle-length Kandoura from white cotton
 Women wear long-sleeved, full-length Kandoura and a gishwa covers the hair and face
o Friendliness and hospitality are prized virtues
o Strong relationships within extended families with an emphasis on respect to elders
o Businesses close on Fridays in accordance to the Islamic Holy Day
o Ramadan: month of fasting between dawn and dusk
 Visitors should refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public during these hours as a sign of respect
o Expected to not have public displays of affection or consumption of alcohol
o While Ajman is a city of Muslim majority, there is the freedom to practice any religion
• Architectural History
o Historical fortresses with courtyards
o Rectangular houses made of irregular stone blocks plastered with mud
o Traditional Emirati architecture: two-storied structure with long, shaded verandas
o Thick walls and small windows to insulate from temperature fluctuations common in desert biomes
o Architecture made of fossilized coral and stones bonded with a mixture of sand, mud, seashells and gypsum
 Materials with low heat conductivity
o Décor of walls distinguish royal family and employee living quarters
o Wind towers providing ventilation in hot, humid summers
 Iranian influence
o In recent years, there has been a shift from heavy fortification to seemingly light structures investigating new geometric forms
 Maintain use of materials with low heat conductivity
• Materials Trades
o Concrete
o High thermal mass materials (stone, mud blocks)
o Steel

Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Climate and Culture Research
Transportation Assumptions
• Public Transportation
o Taxis are the number one form of public transportation throughout the UAE. Drivers and fares are regulated by governmental divisions, however set fares are used when traveling to and from specific areas, including
airports.
o Metro lines are not available in Ajman, only running through the Emirate of Dubai
o Buses are commonly used to travel from emirate to emirate rather than throughout a singular emirate. Providing bus stations neighboring the airport can increase the scope of travelers, especially inter-emirate travelers.

Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Climate and Culture Research
 Drivers
1. Efficiency- no matter how aesthetic an airport is, if the end user experience is not satisfying, the architectural engineering has failed.
2. The use of natural spaces and fountains to create a pleasant environment capable of evaporative cooling
3. Create an appealing, unique form that still connects back to the historical architecture of the region

Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Climate and Culture Research
Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Sketches
 Progression of form and special planning

Ajman Regional Airport Project ARE 320L Spring 2019 Joe Dempsey, Carley Pera, Shukan Bhakta Sketches