Arrakis Housing

[Davidu]

I wonder how do you picture the houses in the cities of Arrakis. Would they be different from the ones in the villages? How are they? How are their rooms disposed?

My view is of a central space, used as a living room, sorrounded by the rooms like dormitories, kitchen, etc. That is because as a starter, the desert dwellers' home was the tent. As they became ricther, or more prosperous, they would add other tents around the first one, thus the first one becomes a central space, and the new tents become adjacent rooms.

Also, I think there would be an inscription of some sort at the entrance with religious meaning, for protection. I say thins because of the inscription over the Arrakeen Starport. If people wanted to say goodbye in such a way, surely they would want to protect their homes and lives in a similar way. In the house there may also be a small shrine to a diety(s).

An important part of the house would be the entrance that has to be some sort of an airlock, to prevent humidity loss. Also, the family's water supply would have a separate room, like a vault, as the water was their most prized posesion.

The image of the building from the outside woudl be totaly unimportant. Only the homes of the rich would be different as style.

I might go in detail in the future if anyone is interested, but at a glance, this would be it.