VISUAL CORRIDORS: Views – from primary windows, balconies and terraces – of houses-of the sea, mountains, gardens and orchards were considered important in Byzantine and later Greek culture. Accordingly, stipulations and codes were devised to protect these assets. Evidence of such codes exist since the Roman period and from the late 5th century Constantinople. Figure 7 shows the major consideration of views of the sea in Julian’s treatise.
In Islamic culture, protection from visual intrusion into the private realm of houses was the paramount consideration. Views were appreciated when available, but they took second place to the blocking of visual corridors into the private realm. Figure 8 was developed using the treatise of Ibn al-Rami in Tunis from the early 14th century. Roof terraces in many traditional towns in the Muslim world would be screened by parapets to discourage overlooking neighboring terraces. Bay windows towards the public realm, usually located at upper levels, would be screened by wooden lattices which allowed views of the outside but prevented those outside from seeing in.
Figure 1: Sid Bou Sa’id, Tunisia. A village located about 12 miles north-east of Tunis the capital, and is about 400 feet above sea level. The air photo was taken in 1970, and was published in the author’s book: Sidi Bou Sa’id, Tunisia: A Study in Structure and Form (1978). Courtesy Office de la Topographie et de la Cartographie, Tunis.
Figure 2: Pyrgi, village on the island of Chios, Aegean sea, Greece, whose origins date back to the mid-14th century. The air photo is of the northern half of the village, taken in 1934. Courtesy Ministry of Public Works, Aerial photos Department, Greece.
Figure 3: A street in old Tunis, Tunisia. Note the steps for the house on the right are within the fina. Windows are above eye level, and the
Figure 4: (right)A street in Amorgos town on the island of Amorgos, Greece. Note the steps to the houses on the right, the balconies on the upper level, and the upper level room projection are all within the fina space of the houses. Sketch by author after a photo in Greek Island Villages by Norman F. Carver Jr.
Figure 5: A street in Ostuni, Puglia region, Italy, near the Adriatic coast. Note the projecting lamp is high enough for traffic below and it, and it is within the fina of the house. The sabat belongs to the house on the right. The arch spanning the street is built to reinforce the stability of the walls, implemented after agreement between owners of the houses across the street. Sketch by author after a photo in Italian Hilltowns by Norman F. Carver Jr.
Figure 6: A street in Casares, Andalucia region, Spain. Note the steps to the front doors of the houses on the right are within the fina space of the houses. Photo courtesy: www.justcasares.com