Traditional homes in Lebanon with red-orange tile roofs

KUN0020 4 GEN 0249 KUWAIT /KUNA-JVX0 HOU-LEBANON-HOUSES-TRADITION Traditional homes in Lebanon with red-orange tile roofs By Omar Al-Halabi (with photos) BEIRUT, Sept 29 (KUNA) -- Construction of traditional homes in Lebanon, consisting of white stone and red-orange tiled roofs in various areas of Lebanon mountains and Bekaa valley, symbolises the country's culture and history. Old traditional houses in Lebanon which are constructed with white stone and topped with red-orange tiles, hold great stories from the past, stories which the new generation talk of in similar modern homes constructed to coincide with the new generation development. Towns and villages of Rasheiya in the Bekaa valley, containing homes of red-orange tile roofs symbolise the residence keenness on following the steps of their ancestors. Municipalities of Rasheiya, Yanta, Deir el Qamar, Dibya and Al-Muaasir, area of Bekaa valley and Lebanon Mountains, encourage residents to construct homes of white stone and red-orange tiled roofs, which became model towns for other Lebanese areas, creating a beautiful and unique architectural view. Head of the Rasheiya Municipality Faris Fayiq told Kuwait News agency KUNA, "To create a traditional atmosphere in construction, there should be harmony between culture and modern construction." He added, "Therefore Rasheiya has a unique constructional atmosphere, and any maintenance or development of buildings and home, it comes within the traditional style framework." Fayiq said that most of the old town homes were built in the 19th century, topped with red-orange tiles, as is the case with modern homes which are built with modern materials. On the other hand, Head of Yanta Municipality Esam Halabi, said that the old homes of red-orange tiled roofs consist of wide spaces and are very comfortable for families because of the large hall, four to six rooms, and in some cases eight rooms. He added, those homes have very high ceilings, sometimes reaching four and a half meters high surrounded with a garden. He said the development of the trade market and entry of capital into the country, coincided with the return of immigrants which transformed the traditional red-orange topped homes to a more western style. Halabi added that tile topped homes form more than 65 percent of homes in the area. Meanwhile, a resident of Deir el Qamar asserted that he cannot live in a home which does not remind him of his parents and grandparents and that traditional homes reflect the best of modern construction. He also referred to the wide spaces and warmth of such a construction which holds "history, present and future", adding that each year he restores some of the roof tiles which were damaged by natural causes. (end) oh.asa KUNA 291155 Sep 03NNNN