The courtyard house is one of the most enduring architectural forms, transcending regional, historical and cultural boundaries. Its balance of simple appropriate construction, environmental control and social and familial structures continues to engage architects and architectural historians. That the courtyard house is still relevant today is indicated through its ability to accommodate continual transformation without losing any of its formal integrity and cultural roots. This book presents a series of viewpoints on courtyard houses from different periods and in different regions around the world; from the Harem courtyards of the Topkapi Palace and the low-cost housing settlements of Protectorate Casablanca, to contemporary design strategies for courtyard houses in the arid Gulf region. Together, the essays illuminate issues of particular relevance in architectural, art historical, and conservation discourses today.

About the Author
Nasser O. Rabbat, Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Architecture, Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Reviews

'This volume, edited by Nassar Rabat, is the most ambitious book on the subject of the courtyard to date... By extending the range of discourse and deepening the methodological frame, the essays in The Courtyard House move its subject squarely into the global arena.' Traditional Dwellings & Settlements Review

'... students of vernacular architecture will find the earlier essays especially valuable [and] the book will also appeal to those with interests in the particular regions and cities discussed.' International Journal of Islamic Architecture

Book Information
ISBN 9781138246850
Author Nasser O. Rabbat
Format Paperback
Page Count 290
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g