WARIS RESEARCH GROUP

1. WARIS RESEARCH
GROUP
THE IRAQI TRADITIONAL COURTYARD HOUSE: MORPHOLOGICAL
EXPLORATION
BY HAYDER HARATY

2. THE IRAQI TRADITIONAL COURTYARD
HOUSE: MORPHOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

3. WHAT IS THE COURTYARD HOUSE?
• Rectangular in its form
• A centered courtyard or on the side
• Vegetation and water source
• Flat roof
• Corridor (Tarma)
• Ursi
• Basement (Serdab)
• Projections (shanasheel)

4. REGIONAL

5. PATTERNS - FORM

6. EXTERIOR

7. MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY
Three case studies will be examined, Baghdadi House, Babylon House and Karbala
Those houses are representing the typical construction of the Iraqi traditional courtyard house
3D figure demonstrates the external
form of the Babylon house
3D figure demonstrates the external
form of the Baghdadi house
3D figure demonstrates the external
form of the Karbala house

8. CASE STUDY NO1 – BAGHDADI HOUSE
• This case of Iraqi traditional
courtyard house is located in the
capital Baghdad in the center of Iraq,
and it belongs to Shashoor’s and his
family. The house is within an
adjacent city texture that surrounded
by multiple houses
• The house is irregular in shape with a
centered square shaped courtyard. It
is three story high that includes
basement floor, ground and first. The
size of the unit is approximately 30 x
30 meters. Spaces organized evenly
around the centered courtyard
where all the rooms are looking
directly onto it

9. BAGHDADI HOUSE - DRAWINGS
Basement Floor Ground Floor First Floor

10. CASE STUDY NO 2 – BABYLON HOUSE
• The house is located in the central
part of Iraq, Hilla city (80km far from
Baghdad). The house within urban
city context, surrounded by houses
from three sides and limited land
space
• The house is two story high, ground
and first floor. The unique design of
this case gives a liner shape where
the all rooms located in the front and
the rear of the house. The entrance
located to the south of the house
with a transition space between the
street and the courtyard area

11. BABYLON HOUSE - DRAWINGS
Section

12. CASE STUDY NO 3 - KARBALA HOUSE
• The house is located in the southern part of Iraq, in
Karbala city and it belongs Shamand Al Danlah.
• Besides the basement, the house is three story high,
ground, first and second floor
• The house is irregular shape with few cantilevers
looking on the street
• The house has two regular courtyards; one small and
the other is large. The south courtyard, which called
Diwan Kana, is serving the guests and located on the
south side of the house. The north courtyard; Harim, is
the family space
• There are two entrances in this case study; one from
the north corner and the other from the southeast. The
north entrance is the private access (family), the south
one is the visitor’s access.

13. KARBALA HOUSE - DRAWINGS

14. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE?
•In relation to the Islamic architecture, the case
studies have been analyzed and studies according
to 4 essential factors; Form, Accessibility,
Segregation and projections
•The study has found that the Islamic architecture
has been represented in the function of the house
•Originally, those house have been transferred
over the years from different reasons and been
adapted by Muslims
•Although some of the cases showed various
elements and designs, the function of the house
did not change.

15. PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

16. PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

17. LINKAGE TO ISLAMIC TEACHING
“I benefit from the place in front of my door is which you want to open yours.
I open my door on one intervening my privacy, and I bring my loads near my
door without causing inconvenience to anyone. Thus, I wouldn’t let you open
a door in front of mine or near to it since you may use it as a reception and
entertainment area or comparable matter”. (Ibn. Al-Qasim)
“If anyone removes a curtain and looks into the house before receiving
permission, and sees anything which should no bet seen, he has committed a
sin. But if a man passes a door which has no curtain, and is not shut and looks
in, he has committed no sin, for the sin pertains to the people inside”.
(Mishkat Al Masabih, 3526)
“And Allah has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for
you from the hides of animals tents which you find light on your day of travel
and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing
and enjoyment of a time”. (Al Nahl 16:80)

18. CONCLUSION
•The analysis and discussion revealed few points related to the role of Islam in contributing the guidelines of
housing in Iraq
•It is essential to understand that the Islamic architecture is driven by the Holy Qur’an saying and the
prophet’s teaching.
•It does not matter how many courtyards the house contains, but it is essential to ensure that the
movement and accessibility inside the house are efficient whilst providing certain degree of segregation
when guests are visiting
•Islamic built principles highlighted the benefits of good house arrangement to serve householders. It does
provide a better environment and comfort to the family
•Doors and windows of opposite should not face each other. It is necessary to ascertain the visual privacy of
residents. Islam and Qura’n has certain verses explain this matter

19. THANK YOU