ABSTRACT
This book is a unique set of contributions on the subject of the courtyard house mainly in the Arab Muslim world. It examines in considerable detail the characteristics, evolution and variation of this house type in the different cultures of the region. It also includes some material on contemporary issues such as climate control. The content of this book is not only scholarly but it is also interesting reading about a subject which is at a heart of urban life and settlements in the Arab Muslim world. It is of importance for future urban and regional development, practices and policies, and it will promote better understanding of Arab Muslim urban culture outside the region. The chapters show great variety in both the richness of courtyard houses in history and in living vernacular traditions. However, it should not be viewed as only research. The real challenge is to use this information to develop a new generation of modern courtyard houses for contemporary needs and evolving Arab Muslim life styles. If this is not done, the type will remain anchored to the historical past and Western concepts of housing will fill the vacuum in growing Arab Muslim urbanization.
