Between Tradition and Modernity: Urban Courtyards and Canopies in Residential Areas of Historic Arab Cities

This paper discusses the functional, compositional and aesthetic role of urban canopies in the residential areas of Arab cities. Residential areas are understood across three problem scales: those of the district, the plot and the residential building itself. The objective of this study was to identify traditional and contemporary solutions in terms of spatial, functional and formal urban courtyard and canopy design. The study included an analysis of selected cases of various types of architectural and urban solutions present in residential areas with a focus on their accessibility, form of use, and architectural forms, as divided into traditional and contemporary solutions. The analyses resulted in recommendations for contemporary interpretations of urban canopies with the intent to preserve the value of local construction tradition, as well as modern needs linked to the necessity of implementing pro-environmental solutions on the architectural and urban scales.