Contextual Preservation and Contemporary Facilitation of Qaisaria in Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Qaisarias, traditional marketplace with rich cultural and architectural importance, are distinctive element of urban settings in the Islamic world and beyond. Integrating them into contemporary urban settings is essential to preserve their historical significance and practical purpose. The article examines the integration of Qaisaria's historic buildings in Iraqi Kurdistan's urban setting, highlighting the area's unique architectural legacy. This study highlights deficiencies in existing studies on the impact of formal and synthetic relationships in urban contexts. It emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive understanding and evaluation of how these relationships affect urban cohesion and architectural integrity. By examining how successfully Qaisaria buildings in Erbil and Sulaimanyah integrate with their urban contexts, this research aims to close this gap. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines data obtained from direct field observations, analysis of space syntax, and comprehensive case studies to assess the integration of Qaisaria buildings into their urban environments. The data reveal varying degrees of integration between formal and synthetic relationships. Some buildings display distinct disparities in their formal integrity compared to their synthetic integration, resulting in diverse integration outcomes within their urban surroundings—the discussion centers on the implications of these findings for urban planning and the conservation of cultural assets. The paper asserts that specific assessments are essential to enhance the incorporation of Qaisaria buildings into their urban environments.