Privacy in Arabian Architecture: Past and Present Differential Understanding—Part I: Egyptian House Designing

Abstract

This study tackles the issue of privacy in Arabic house design with reference to aspects such as form, style and design in the past and present. Through a historical review of Arabic house design with particular focus on the Egyptian model, attention will be paid to different factors affecting the issue of privacy in house design. The study will emphasize current considerations resulting in the contemporary status of the privacy. The findings and recommendations of this study are presented as additions to the existing knowledge base in the design process of the Arabic house, and provide data that may be used as a guideline by architects, designers and researchers with regards to the issue of housing privacy.