Reviving the Traditional House Architecture in Irbid City, Jordan

Abstract

This study highlights the importance of reviving the traditional houses architecture in Irbid city, Jordan. Every region has its architectural character, which is often influenced by the local context (the natural and cultural environments), particularly in Irbid city, which contains many traditional houses constructed hundreds of years ago. Between 1930 and 1960, most of these houses had been demolished and replaced with new constructions. The objective of this study was, thus, to propose plans and actions for reviving the traditional house as a cultural heritage. This paper presents a review of relevant literature, emphasizing the preservation concept and the heritage types; then, it briefs the history of Irbid city and highlights its population growth and urban composition. A field survey was conducted in the city. Based on it, four houses were selected to represent the different types of heritage houses, with emphasis on their design, building components, the technology used in their construction, the building materials, handling of the openings (arches), the ornaments of the buildings, and the urban form and its relationship with sustainability. The discussion in this paper summarizes the lessons learned from applying low technology in house construction and using natural building materials that can be recycled to achieve the sustainability of architecture. In addition, the discussion points out the challenges faced in the preservation of heritage. Afterward, the researchers suggest plans and actions that contribute to preserving this city's identity and heritage and conserving its heritage sites for future generations.