Going REALLY old school

Bill Lewis, senior editor for ZweigWhite's newsletters, takes a step in to the Way-Back Machine to kick off the week:

"While wealthy Middle Eastern regions including Dubai and the United Arab Emirates have drawn interest— and billions in investment dollars— from Western architecture, engineering and construction firms, the area's poorest's nation has a rich architectural history of its own.

"That’s the take of an article in The New York Times on Sunday about architectural gems in Yemen, a country with a long history of poverty and isolation. Those factors, the article says, have blocked development booms, but have also helped preserve centuries-old building arts and create an architectural landscape that 'often makes it feel like a refuge.'

"Indeed, building seems to be in the life-blood of Yemeni citizens. The result has been traditional homes that prove to be sturdier and more efficient than their modern counterparts and that have helped Yemen avoid housing crises that have plagued other developing nations."