Functional reuse of contemporary residential houses to private schools in Baghdad

Abstract

Recently, the concept of reuse is one of widespread concepts, it is considered as a result of variable human needs that clearly reflected in buildings with characteristic of development and multi-functionalities. Addition and deletion, with continuous functional changes, are considered as principal mechanisms that preserve buildings by reusing. Accordingly, the research focuses on functional reuse of contemporary residential houses which are reused into private schools in Baghdad according to field investigation and literatures analysis. Therefore, the research problem is extracted into (lack to clarify the role of functional reuse on contemporary residential houses and its impact on characteristics of form, function and structure according to designing and planning levels in the residential neighborhoods of Baghdad). Besides, previous literatures focused on fragmented vocabulary and separated indices. The research objectives were defined by investigation the current status of this concept on contemporary residential houses that reused into private schools, as well as its impact on characteristics of form, function and structure with internal and external organization according to designing and planning levels. The research proposed that (the variation of addition and deletion terms on characteristics of form, function and structure affects on internal and external organization according to designing and planning levels). After extracting the designing and planning indicators from theoretical literatures, these indicators were measured on (11) randomly selected samples of contemporary residential houses to private schools within (10) residential neighborhoods in Baghdad. The research adopted a qualitative measurement method according to descriptive and analytical approach to apply these indicators. The research concluded the inefficient methods of using this concept on contemporary residential houses that are functionally reused as private schools, and the lack of consideration of designing and planning standards at levels of internal and external organization for housing and education.