Examining the Hashim Chalbi House’s Spatial Aspects in Erbil Citadel: Understanding the Museum’s Configuration Potential via Depthmap Analysis

Abstract

The Hashim Chalbi house, a historic private residence with notable architectural features located within Erbil Citadel—a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014—was turned into a museum. This study utilizes space syntax analysis (depth maps) to explore the spatial configuration of the Hashim Chalbi house, aiming to evaluate its potential and provide guidance for conservation strategies that maintain its architectural and cultural integrity as a museum. Space syntax offers both a theoretical and analytical tool to map and interpret the spatial formation of heritage buildings. A commonly recognized limitation has been the lack of broader-scale spatial analyses of houses that can shed light on social and cultural interaction. This approach aims to provide a better analysis to inform conservation and restoration.