The whole, formed by a system of interconnecting fountains for the irrigation of the palm trees, the excavated hollows, below ground level, recall the spaces used by the artisans to sit and place their legs to perform the craftsmanship, all under a cover of "Arish", the craftsmanship that was made in the place.
Constructively, the project stands out for the use of local materials and the use of traditional methods and systems, as is the case of the "Arish" roof, a method of braiding palm leaves that creates a resistant structure for its constructive use. For the dedicated spaces, glass windows are used which, together with the wooden pillars, best replicate the date palm forests of the north of the country, creating the building's enclosures. Inside, the openings, fountains, and planted palm trees create a garden for the inhabitants of the area.
Description of project by Leopold Banchini Architects
Shaded by a light "Arish" structure, Bahraini weavers use to dig a hole in the ground to fit their legs. By this simple action, the ground was transformed into an endless table to tense the wires needed for their delicate work. Arish is a traditional building technique using the dry leaves of the date palms and weaving them into a strong surface. As such, both the textile and the architecture protecting the artisans were weaved onsite.
Al Naseej Factory is a textile weaving facility and social space for the local craftspeople of Bani Jamrah. It is a component of a broader effort by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities aimed at redefining and reinvigorating traditional crafts and industries across Bahrain.
A tight grid of timber columns and beams is applied to the site as both an organizing principle and reference to the date palm plantations of the north of the island irrigated by a complex network of water channels. The resulting building is a low and quiet gridded street elevation stretching the entire boundary of the site. Only the palm trees pierce through the horizontal ceiling and become the expression of the building.
Internally, however, the structure gains figuration derived from the below-grade pits in which the weavers sit whilst operating the timber loom. To this end, spaces for both the production of tapestries and weavings as well as social exchange are defined through a series of precise excavations below the finished floor level of the building. Date palms, ponds, and fountains are placed throughout the interior of the project to further break down the rigidity of the gridded structure. The structure is both a garden and a building, open yet protected. Specific functions enclosed solely by glass panels dissolve in the shaded garden.
Composed of regionally available materials, the construction of the building relies upon and celebrates local construction and craft traditions. The shaded structure, greenery, water network, and seating areas create a naturally refreshing garden for the inhabitants of the village.
