TAROUT CASTLE

Expression in Architecture - Tarout Castle



Expression in Architecture - Tarout Castle

Question 1

The structure that is selected is Tarout Castle. Tarout Fort is located in the center of the island of Tarout in the party district of Deira. Castle Tarout is one of the castles of coastal important to ensure the security and stability of the Oasis Qatif old.

Question 2: Architect/Designer

The ancient Phoenicians built the great castle, they called (Astaarot) in honor of the god of charges, the goddess of love and beauty.

Question 3: Structure

The Tarout Castle was built and designed by Portuguese. It was built in 16th century. Tarout castle also displays crenellations in exaggerated style along top of Tarout castle walls. Turrets often had conical roofing to deflect missiles more easily. Among the mechanisms devised to protect entry ways, for example, were iron portcullis gateways that could be dropped on short notice. Sharp spikes made these gates difficult to approach (Wolfgang 2008, 48).

Also introduced were passages which led to sealed courtyards inside the Tarout castle, from which intruders could be attacked from all sides. Among other improvements, finally, were folding doors which closed horizontally to block an advancing enemy. These are but a few of the innovations and refinements in gateway construction. After 1130, in fact, almost every aspect of the rectangular structure underwent a transformation. In some instances the changes were of such a magnitude as to no longer conform to the basic rectangular design.

The great hall of the Tarout castle was often the dining room, the conference room, and even the bedroom of the entire household. Such living conditions can readily be seen to have influenced the outlook of Tarout castle dwellers. Their communal lifestyle was but another aspect of the strong bonds of loyalty that held the noble and his retainers together. This communal style of living must have been instrumental in creating greater intimacy between the lord and his followers, a fellowship that not only bonded them politically, but set them apart from the other classes within feudal society, as well as rival noblemen. Further, the sons of a noble's vassals would often reside with the noble as pages and squires in an extended family, and in this way their loyalty toward their lord would be enhanced (Simpson 2009, p.24).

This, of course, is to be expected, and serves to point out how the Tarout castle could be both a force for loyalty toward a particular lord or domain, and less obviously, a psychological force in creating an adventurous, aggressive outlook. Another significant feature of Tarout castle life, aside from the aspect of communal lifestyle, was the comparative harshness of the Tarout castle's environment. But this too had important ramifications for those who resided within the Tarout castle's walls. The rigors of a military life were hardly diminished by life in the Tarout castle, and in fact, the physical conditions present there were probably helpful in maintaining a high level of physical readiness for combat (Sayers 2007, ...