The building in Yafa ‘, with its engineering, reflects a high level of the art of architecture that certain families of young people were famous for, on top of them the famous building masters of the (Bin Salah family) who live in several villages in the Upper Yafa’ plateau, who did not reach this position randomly, or by chance, but through accumulated experiences. Through successive times, it enabled them to understand the laws, measures, dimensions, angles and art of building this style of unique stone architecture, until they possessed the reins of this profession, and it became a monopoly on them, inheriting its traditions and secrets from an ancestor with perfection and mastery, and with innate calculations and measurements that were added to it and passed on it generation after generation, It is as though they have graduated from the most prestigious modern engineering colleges specialized in this field, in addition to the technical expertise they accumulate daily to be added to the balance of their rich experiences and inherited traditions. It was established at the hands of many generations, including the high-rise houses and palaces not only in Yafeh, but their skills extended to neighboring areas such as Al-Bayda, Halimin, Al-Shuaib, Radfan, Al-Dhali ‘and Bilad Al-Awadhil, reaching Shabwa and other regions.
The palaces of the sultans of the Al-Awadhil family are located at the summit of (Zara) near Lauder that was built by the building masters of the Bin Salah family in 1920 AD according to the standards of young building and in cooperation with some local builders there. Rather, we find traces of their ancestors from the skilled young builders in Tihama, represented by an elaborate and sealed majestic dome built on the famous tomb of Sheikh Ali bin Omar al-Shazli, the Wali famous in the city of Mocha, built by a people of Yafa ‘, the famous tribe of the Hamir al-Akbar tribes, Saba al-Akbar bin Yashbab bin Yarub bin Qahtan, they are called the Al-Salaam family, and they are a thigh from Klad, their village in Yafeh called “Barakat” west of Jabal Mufajah, and they are in it until now, including the Peace Al-Abadela family in Lahj () Building teachers from Al Bin Salah remained exclusive control over the technology and education of the building craft from ancient times until the eve of national independence in 1967 and the establishment of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, where after that the secrets and secrets of this profession were transferred from the Bin Salah family, in a slow and specific manner, to other families in Different areas of Yafeh who were students, such as the “Al Wardi family”, “Al Ammari” and “Al Sarhi family” (see their homes in the picture) … and others. Although the number of these skilled masons, whether from the Bin Salah family or others, has started to decrease year after year recently, and some have begun to leave this high profession, which they inherited and mastered, either to the diaspora or to other work that has nothing to do with this craft, which is what Threatens the future of young authentic architecture. However, what is reassuring and proud is that the young person is still linked to and preserved this unique human architectural heritage today.
Despite the introduction of cement, which began to invade the traditional Yafa` building and inflict some deformations in it, modern buildings and palaces are still constructed and stand tall, combining originality and modernity, but the improvement of the living conditions of many of the children of Yafeh, merchants and expatriates, made them compete to construct huge modern buildings at costs Expensive, with the same distinctive architectural style, taking into account the internal capacity and requirements of modern life, and in such a field let the competitors compete. The construction profession is highly valued, and its workers receive attractive wages compared to other professions, in addition to the special care they receive in their food and drink by the employer. They combine physical ability and engineering skill acquired through heredity and experience, as they transform stone blocks into a striking compact structure with its finite proportions, sizes and weights. Rather, they compete to add their artistic touches that distinguish each of them from others, and make the distinguished among them a place of pride and appreciation, whether among their peers or among the community, and people turn to them to build their beautiful homes. The builders transfer their experiences and experiences to their children, as the children pass on this craft from the generation of parents, and begin to learn it from their childhood, where he entrusted them in the beginning with some auxiliary or complementary works, such as filling the spaces between the stones with small pieces of stones called (mizar) and then gradually training them with some works Construction is under the supervision of skilled builders, leading to the most complex and delicate construction work of building pillars and contracts.
