The Development of Housing in Qatar: An Impression by Oral History

The architecture of Housing in Muslim societies has changed dramatically throughout the years and has lost its identity in various aspects such as the external appearance and the internal space planning. It has also lost the aspect of privacy of the occupants as well as that of neighbors. The architecture has had huge impact on the interaction of its users and their relationship with the surrounding community. The aim of this research is to analyze the interaction for the users in traditional housing and contemporary modern housing by studying space patterns in traditional and contemporary housings in the Gulf region. In addition, the research proposes a housing design that will be used to study the effects of its space planning on the users’ interaction. The research will include a case study that allows a comparative analysis of various parameters in the traditional and contemporary housing designs. A comparison of the interaction patterns of the occupants will take place in order to find out the differences and commons. Data for this study will be collected using interviews where the occupants of both houses will be asked particular questions regarding defined criteria. The study will help to understand the connection between users’ interaction and the housing design. This will raise awareness regarding different Islamic housing designs and their impact on the occupants’ interaction and life style. Finally, it will help explain how some Islamic housing architecture can build strong relationship between the family members and surrounding community, as well as maintain good values in the society.