Common architectural characteristics of traditional courtyard houses in Erbil city

The courtyard house is a typical design plays a significant role in shaping traditional house’s physical layout, and climatic condition. The architectural characteristics of a traditional courtyard house led to a comprehensive clarification of its spatial and mass organization. Historically, the Erbil citadel has served as a symbol of Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan's capital. In addition, buffer zones around the citadel are defined by UNESCO to be within the World Heritage list. This study aims to analyze the spatial and geometrical characteristics of traditional courtyard houses in Erbil City. Then, it examines similarities and differences among the various architectural styles and explores the main key architectural elements. A qualitative inductive content analysis was used involving drawings, photographs. The findings show the variations in the house spatial- mass composition. The study concluded that three-sided courtyards, wooden doors, traditional windows, Arches, and brick ornamentation are the most common architectural components in traditional houses.