Upgrading Building Services of Mosuli Heritage Houses

Abstract

The old city of Mosul possesses a distinguished architectural identity developed through the ages. Updates and attempts to implement developed service systems in heritage houses has always been a challenge. Thus, heritage houses suffered deterioration, distortion, uprooted plantings, removed structure, changes in site, encroachments, ending with harmony deficiency between building services additions and the architectural characteristics. Insufficient integration between current building services and heritage houses represents a general problem. This research plans to meet inhabitant’s needs, provide conceptual residence compatible for current needs, and preserve architectural identity. It is pivotal to establish guidelines and methods for integrating building services with the characteristics of Mosuli heritage houses and to set rules as an approach for future work. Research problem is “Deficiency and necessity of effective guidelines to incorporate modern building services with original building systems in heritage houses, to preserve architectural identity while providing inhabitants needs”. Research aims building an integration methodology platform for upgrading building services with less impact on identity. Clear guidelines and methods for integrating and upgrading building services in Mosuli heritage houses were concluded through characteristics forming original services systems as a key to solve this issue and preserve architectural identity simultaneously.