Abstract
Islamic civilization, born in Medina, has created its own specific urban environment, producing enormous consequences for social life. The urban pattern and traditional houses are essentially influenced by the Islamic norms. Some important features like wooden screens covering window openings, called Roshan, had an important role for environmental conditions and the urban image of the city. This reflected a craft sensibility and fine skills using materials and natural colors.
The traditional facades in Medina were characterized by using these Roshan screens for light, wind and vision purposes. These large wooden structures, built with small slim columns, project a three-sided wooden structure onto a building's facade forming a sort of balcony, with a recognizable latticed component.
Modern urban regulation, the influence of the International Style and the physical transformation of built forms (due to new construction materials and building technologies) have substantially canceled the valuable role of Roshan, becoming just decorative elements attached to the facades of luxurious hotels in the old centre of Medina.
Arch. Paolo Portoghesi visited Medina in 2013; he formulated some important observations concerning the use of Roshan, which are documented in this paper. Other important architects have studied the original aspects of the traditional use of Roshan in Medina, recommending the revitalization of it use, in order to reassert an appropriate image of the first city of Islam and recover the social life of local people.