Mutation or Reusing: A Decision Based on Functional Analysis of Historical Houses’ Configurations

Quantitative spatial analysis emerges as a powerful tool for assessing the adaptive reuse potential of historic residential architecture while preserving cultural value. A study focusing on courtyard houses within Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iraq, demonstrates that this approach can effectively evaluate spatial performance and circulation logic to inform conservation strategies. By integrating functional analysis with statistical validation—using Euclidean distance and Pearson correlation—the research identifies key characteristics compatible with adaptive reuse across different contexts. This method offers a rigorous model for sustainable planning in similar heritage settings, bridging theory and practice to guide informed decision-making.

Goriel, W. A. S., Molnár, T., & Zoltán, E. S. (2026). Mutation or Reusing: A Decision Based on Functional Analysis of Historical Houses’ Configurations. Buildings, 16(10), 1871. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16101871