Spotlight: What were the sustainable design decisions of the traditional Syrian home?

Library > Community Presentations

Presenter: Amer Tabban

Delivered: NYC on October 15, 2023

Amer introduces us to the traditional Syrian home. He describes the courtyard as an open central courtyard that served as a natural ventilation and lighting source and how the breeze passing through the courtyard cooled the home. He also mentions the idea of the thick stone walls which moderated the interior temperature of the houses, and how homes were oriented and designed to maximize natural light and ventilation while minimizing heat gain when needed. 

Sources & Future References

• Response of Domestic Damascene Architectural Elements to the Climatic Factors between the Traditional and Modern Times

• Recreating paradise on Earth: Secrets of the traditional Damascene home

•  Western Islamic architecture by Hoag, John D

• Polished, Private, and Passive: Traditional Courtyard Houses and their Timeless Architectural Features

• Transforms Traditional Damascus House With Smart Technology In Syria

Note: All community presentations are prepared & presented by non-experts on the subject. They are sharing information in the hopes of spurring interest in that subject.

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About Afikra Community Presentations

Delivered and prepared by afikra Community members, the presentation’s goal is to showcase the presenter’s curiosity and research and share some knowledge on a ‎topic related to the Arab world’s histories and cultures. The presentation is the ‎culmination of the afikra coaching process to help identify a topic, find research, and develop the ‎presentation. afikra presentations come in two forms, a long question-driven afikra Feature, and a short afikra FWD with the purpose of sharing something interesting.