Common architectural characteristics of traditional courtyard houses in Erbil city

Traditional courtyard houses in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, predominantly feature three-sided courtyards, wooden doors, traditional windows, arches, and brick ornamentation as their most common architectural elements. These characteristics not only define the spatial and mass organization of these structures but also reflect their adaptation to local climatic conditions. A qualitative inductive content analysis, utilizing drawings and photographs, revealed variations in house composition while identifying key architectural styles. The Erbil Citadel serves as a backdrop for this study, which highlights the enduring influence of traditional design on urban architecture.

Ali Mustafa, F., & Abubaker Ali, L. (2024). Common architectural characteristics of traditional courtyard houses in Erbil city. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 15(11), 103003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2024.103003