Abstract
This study aims to examine the heritage houses in the city of Mosul and analyze their role in achieving sustainable environmental development, with a focus on the innovative architectural treatments employed by Mosuli architects from the early Islamic periods through the Ottoman era. The research demonstrates that traditional building elements, including windows, entrances, mashrabiyas (projected balconies), iwans and side rooms, internal courtyards with fountains, cellars and underground passages, as well as blind vaults, were intelligently designed to achieve energy efficiency, thermal insulation, natural ventilation, evaporative cooling, and lighting modulation, while ensuring aesthetic quality, privacy, and security for the residents.
The study further shows that Mosuli architecture successfully utilized these elements to achieve environmental, social, and economic sustainability by reducing resource consumption, protecting buildings from climatic factors, improving air quality, and organizing interior and exterior spaces in an integrated manner. Moreover, these architectural treatments contributed to enriching the urban fabric of streets and alleys by providing shade, enhancing visual aesthetics, and maintaining privacy, reflecting the heritage architects’ awareness of sustainable development principles.
The research concludes that the heritage houses in Mosul represent a practical and exemplary model of traditional architecture capable of combining beauty, functionality, and environmental and social performance. This underscores the importance of preserving these buildings and utilizing their architectural expertise in modern urban planning to promote sustainable environmental development while safeguarding the city’s cultural and architectural identity.
