ABSTRACT
A comparative study of Iranian and Arab courtyard houses can be undertaken from many different points of view-religious, social, cultural, climatic, technological, economicall of which provide useful insights. The traditional courtyard house was the product of many diverse influences, but to deal with these adequately would take us well beyond the space available. To make the study manageable, we concentrate on the two determinants of built form: the architectural-climatic and the cultural-religious.
