Mashrabiya & Decorative Screens

ABIYA Mashrabiya in Dubai, UAE provides architectural fabrication of mashrabiya and decorative screens on aluminium, stainless steel and wood.  

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Decorative Cast Aluminium Fence #castaluminiumfence #masterpiece #medinah #ksa #dubai #doha #abudhabi #jeddah #riyadh muscat #mashrabiya #abiya #decorativefence #jotun #powdercoating

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30mm Decorative Cast Aluminium Fence for Mosque #mashrabiya #decorativescreen #decorativefence #castalumimium #decorativecastaluminium

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Contemporary room divider... #roomdivider #decorativescreen #mdfscreen #mashrabiya #abiya #fretwork #contemporary #interiordesign #dubai #abudhabi #oman #qatar #doha #muscat

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Need some inspiration for a railing design? #mashrabiya #abiya #railing #stainlesssteel #muscat #oman #abudhabi #dubai #riyadh #decorativescreen #decorativepanel #fretwork #nickelplatedaluminium #architectural-steel-fabrication

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Elegant lobby design... #decorativepanel #decorativescreen #lobbydesign #mashrabiya #abiya #architecture #paneldesign #dubai #abudhabi #oman #riyadh #stainlesssteelscreen

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Do you need inspiration for a room divider? #decorativescreen #roomdivider #decorativepanel #mashrabiya #abiya #dubai #abudhabi #qatar #oman #riyadh #interiordesign #architecture

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Decorative Screens - Transform Plain Walls Into Decorative Art

Designing the exterior of a building can be a challenging experience. One needs to take into account the budget of the architectural project, as well as consider space requirements, and Client preferences. Sometimes there’s not a lot of budget for what the Client is demanding. The building needs to visually slip between others, yet stand out on its own. As well, the Client may want some traditional decorative design elements incorporated into the building.

ABIYA Mashrabiya is a producer of elegant decorative screens for commercial projects. Whether you need room dividers in a restaurant or decorative fretwork on the patio, ABIYA has a wide variety of options to help you complete your project. And, if you decide that none of the pre-made decorative screens fit, then ABIYA will design and fabricate to your design specifications. Decorative screens can be made from aluminum, stainless steel, and wood, to fit your space.

Exterior building facades can be affordably covered in mashrabiya to change the look of a building. This is especially beneficial for small spaces where boxiness wants to be avoided, yet a pleasing design aesthetic is needed to attract customers to a business. Outdoor mashrabiya screens are best made from metal, and are available in a wide range of colours.

Outdoor decorative screens are a great way to separate exterior space into sections, or divide away from surrounding businesses. The fretwork allows air circulation, yet maximizes privacy. An outdoor decorative screen can be a cost-effective method of extending the exterior of a building for a meeting space or patio. Mashrabiya styles are available in Arabic, Contemporary,  Circular and Rectangular types.

Another method of applying a decorative screen to an outdoor plain wall, transforming it into an elegant decorative screen design aesthetic is with Fotoblech. Fotoblech is comprised of thousands of tiny pointillist dots, arranged in a way that the aluminium screen appears to be a photograph. Fotoblech can be used to decorate an outside wall, or can be a unique method of presenting a company’s business logo on the side of the building. The design possibilities are endless when any photograph or graphic can be converted into a aluminium decorative screen via the manufacturing process. When viewed from afar, the photography or logo within the decorative screen comes to light. 

Mashrabiya screens are unique in their ability to be quickly installed, and changed, at the whim of your Client. When you know your Client will need something different next year, a mashrabiya screen is a great option that can quickly and easily transform any blank wall. 

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Decorative Screens - Which material thickness should my decorative screen have?

Architects and interior designers have long been aware of the functionality and aesthetic beauty that decorative screens can provide. They know that the addition of such a decorative screen can take an otherwise blank wall from blah to brilliant in a matter of moments. The materials used and the thickness of the decorative screen vary from project to project, with the decisions made usually depending on what the purpose of the decorative screen is meant to be. Is it purely for show, or are there privacy concerns? Perhaps it may even be a little combination of both.

If you are thinking of using decorative screens for your architectural project, you need to seriously think about why you want it, as this will help you decide upon material thickness. Before getting to the material used for the decorative panels, you may want to give some thought to what should be used for the frame. Ideally, you should be using something that first with the existing or intended style of your space. Aluminum screens may look better in a more modern style, while wood may be more appropriate for older, more classic styles.

When it comes to the decorative panels themselves, you have a number of different options in terms of thickness. Acrylic panels can run the gamut from thin, delicate materials all the way up to thick glass that can essentially serve as a dividing wall, albeit one that is stunning to look at. If you are more interested in wooden panels that are decorative, you will be hard pressed to find anything more beautiful than Egyptian Mashrabiya. These are wooden panels crafted into a wide variety of patterns that are pleasing to the eye. As far as decorative screens go, this is a look that is hard to beat in terms of intricacy and real beauty. These are delicate patterns, though, and perhaps not best for those looking for a privacy type of screen.

If your main concern is using decorative screen to create a real wow factor, you would be hard pressed to beat the impact delivered by Fotoblech screens. These panels are very often made from thin types of metal that have holes punched in them to create a pattern or design. This is an excellent choice for both business and personal use, as you can choose to go with a unique personal design or logo of some kind that fits your specific needs.

At the end of the day, the materials that you chose for your screen will determine just how thick it is. If you are trying to convey a real sense of art or delicacy, you may be better served with decorative screens that are more on the thin side. If your goal is to convey a sense of strength or to create an aura of privacy, screens that are on the thicker end of the scale will be a better choice. The good news is that your options are basically limitless, no mater what you are looking to create.

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Define Mashrabiya Origins

It is believed that the use of mashrabiya originated centuries ago, from the need to cool water pots. The shade and open lattice of a screened mashrabiya balcony or window provided a constant current of air. This current was used to cool off the water inside the jars as the sweating evaporated from their porous clay surfaces.

From this original purpose mashrabiya balconies developed into an architectural feature that served multiple functions; as a room extension, window, curtain, air conditioner and refrigerator. These intriguing designs not only tamed the harsh desert sun, but also permitted breezes to enter homes thus cooling them.

image courtesy of wikimedia commons

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Looking for Mashrabiya to Buy?

If you are looking to buy mashrabiya then you have come to the right place. At ABIYA Mashrabiya we offer the largest selection in the Middle East. ABIYA offers a broad choice of materials including Wood, MDF, plywood, aluminium, or stainless steel. ABIYA works with our clients to provide customized designs and styles to meet their unique requirements. Whether you are looking for a simple half wall, a screen or a building facade we will be delighted to work with you. Please feel free to contact our office for more information.

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Abiya for Indoor Privacy Screens of Classic Beauty

Folding privacy screens were once limited in styling. Your usual choices were the plain wooden screens, that almost looked like a door panel from the Old American West, or there were the elaborately painted Asian screens. There wasn’t much choice in between and neither fits with many decors.

Mashrabiya brings a unique touch to privacy screens. They create a unique accent to any room while being used as either a room divider or to hide an unseemly area. We offer a wide range of mashrabiya patterns in both modern and classical designs that will suit any décor.

The use of decorative screening is one of the easiest methods to give your room a whole new look. At Abiya Mashrabiya we have a wide selection of mashrabiya screens for sale that can be customized to your specifications.

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Mashrabiya Room Dividers

A Mashrabiya room divider is both a functional and aesthetic addition to any room. Room dividers are a cost effective alternative to walls. By making use of room dividers a space can be organized more efficiently into smaller private areas, while still keeping the illusion of space. These beautiful partition wall panels not only separate rooms but also add an artistic quality.

When considering a room divider there are several factors to consider;

Budget - Abiya Mashrabiya will work within your budget to find the perfect room divider.

Pattern - We offer partition wall panels in a wide variety of patterns

Materials - Abiya has a wide offering of materials including Aluminium, Stainless Steel, Acrylic, Wood, MDF and Wallpaper

Color - The colours and finishes we offer are only limited by your imagination

This traditional Islamic lattice shading device offers a powerful visual impact while providing privacy and a visual distinction between areas.

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The Benefits of Mashrabiya Over Other Materials and Products

The beauty of the Mashrabiya and its use in modern design is the same today as it was centuries ago.

The advantage of on the outer walls of a building is that Mashrabiya provides both light and shade. The shade helps with a cooling effect with the hot temperatures, which provides huge benefit. Many modern large buildings make extensive use of glass in their design rather than brick work. However, in regions like the Middle East - the use of glass means that the building also has to be equipped with a powerful cooling system. The shade provided by the Mashrabiya means that some of the weight can be relieved from such a cooling system. 

Equally, within a building the Mashrabiya can be used as a design feature. It can replace a solid wall while allowing light and fresh air into an otherwise dark and stuffy room. This is one of the main benefits for interior designers. 

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The Middle East's Leading Architects use Mashrabiya

The new rich cities in the Middle East are an architect’s dream playground. However, it may surprise you to hear that many firms and famous architects are very conscious of the need to reference the history of the region.

KEO International is one of the leading architects in the Middle East, they are using the mashrabiya in a new way on their buildings - as both a style feature and for climate reasons. 

Aedas developed the solar-powered Crystalline Twin Towers in Abu Dhabi - and again used the mashrabiya as both a design feature and as an addition to a highly-complex cooling system. 

Famous Architect Jean Nouvel used the mashrabiya on the Burj Qatar, which was voted the world’s best tall building in the Middle East and North Africa, by the Chicago Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. This building also uses the mashrabiya as part of its own eco-climate to grow a vertical garden.

Above are just a few of the leading architectural firms that have all made use of Mashrabiya in their projects.

Photo Credit: Sam Agnew

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Aluminium, Acrylic or Wood - Which is Better for Mashrabiya Projects?

Large architectural firms are building and revolutionizing the cities  in the Middle East, but are still using the traditional Mashrabiya design feature. Mashrabiya is used as a tribute to the rich history and culture of the area while adding benefits as a modern-day cooling system.

For the bigger projects, involving impressive and iconic towers and office buildings, the architects tend to use aluminium as their material of choice. An example would be the Al Bahar towers in Abu Dhabi. The use of mashrabiya in aluminium means that the buildings are less affected by the harsh elements and the regions pulsating heat. 

Acrylic and wood, although quite durable in such a dry climate, would not have as long a life span as aluminium. The aluminiumis also a less expensive material and is easier to mold for such large construction projects. For smaller buildings, such as residential projects, the wood and acrylic materials still have their place. Therefore, the material choice still depends on the building and the architect, but in many cases, Aluminium is the material of choice.

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Mashrabiya: Iconic Arabic Design Ahead of its Time

The mashrabiya is an iconic Arabic design. Mashrabiya’s come in all shapes and forms and can be used for many purposes. From its very conception, the mashrabiya has offered occupants a cooling shade from the harsh sun while offering privacy - an important aspect of the Middle Eastern culture. Occupants can see clearly outwards from within the mashrabiya but people outside cannot look in. 

Mashrabiya’s can add style but also functionality to a building. Often a ‘dead corner’ within a building can be turned into a central feature with the introduction of a mashrabiya, whether its an outside wall or an internal one. 

Despite advancements in building construction and cooling systems, the mashrabiya has still found its place as a quality solution for cooling even the largest and most high-tech of office buildings.

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The Middle East's Renowned Modern Mashrabiya Projects?

Modern architects  in the middle-east are conscious of making references to the region’s past. One of those references is the mashrabiya. Two of the most renowned instances of the modern-type mashrabiya are explored here.

The Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi are two towers held in high regard. These towers, marking the gateway to one edge of the city, use mashrabiya as a design feature. The mashrabiya is also a sophisticated cooling system which actually moves to create shade depending upon the position and the strength of the sun.

The Burj Doha in Qatar has been voted the world’s best tall building. This might have something to do with the beautiful mashrabiya on its outer-wall, which creates a hypnotising effect within. The mashrabiya further works fantastically as a cooling system against Qatar’s brutal heat. Another unique feature to this one-of-a-kind building is its vertical garden, which contributes to an improved micro-climate.