TRANSFORMATION OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE OLD CITY OF

SULAIMANIYAH (NORTHERN IRAQ) FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF

OWNERSHIP PATTERNS

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLEIED SCIENCES
OF
MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

BY

HANAW MOHAMMED TAQI MOHAMMED AMIN

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR
THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING
IN
URBAN DESIGN

MAY 2010
 Approved of the thesis:

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE OLD

CITY OF SULAIMANIYAH (NORTHERN IRAQ) FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF OWNERSHIP PATTERNS

Submitted by HANAW MOHAMMED TAQI MOHAMMED AMIN in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in City and Regional
Planning in Urban Design, Middle East Technical University by,

Prof. Dr.Canan Özgen

Dean, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Prof. Dr. Melih Ersoy

Head of Department, City and Regional Planning

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Baykan Günay

Supervisor, City and Regional Planning Dept., METU

Examining Committee Members:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Barlas

City and Regional Planning Dept., METU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Baykan Günay

City and Regional Planning Dept., METU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahar Gedikli

City and Regional Planning Dept., METU

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berin Fatma Gür.

Architecture Dept., METU

Assist. Prof. Dr. Müge Akkar Ercan

City and Regional Planning Dept., METU

Date: 04. 05. 2010

I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and
presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare
that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced
all material and results that are not original to this work.

Name, Last name: Hanaw Mohammed Taqi Mohammed Amin

Signature :

iii
 ABSTRACT

TRANSFORMATION OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE OLD CITY OF

SULAIMANIYAH (NORTHERN IRAQ) FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
OWNERSHIP PATTERNS

Amin, Hanaw Mohammed Taqi Mohammed

M.Sc., Department of City and Regional Planning in Urban Design
Supervisor: Assoc.Prof. Dr. Baykan Günay

May 2010, 108 pages

The main objective of the thesis is to study the forces that built up the morphology of
the old city of Sulaimaniyah and the reasons of its existence. It focuses on the
morphological elements of property (ownership elements of streets, blocks and
parcels) and their existence in spite of the impacts of modernism in the
transformation of these elements.

Modernity in Sulaimaniyah city affected the city in terms of the transformation of

traditional life pattern and traditional structure into modern function. Modern
function covers a new administrative system and new commercial functions. The city
adapted itself to these new institutions. As a consequence, the power of state
displayed itself in the form of building roads, and then the new larger and regular
parcels were created to adapt new functions.

Furthermore, the study aims to establish the historical evolution of the city starting
from its foundation and the periods, which are signified by the introduction of
modernism concepts. This study is analyzed through a morphological research
depending on the physical elements as quantitative characteristics. It starts with an

iv
evolutionary plan analysis, which is a tool of morphological study and covers the old
part of the city in macro scale, mezzo scale, and consequently, micro scale. The old
fabric of Sulaimaniyah city as organic fabric faced the modernism's impact gradually
due to the construction of streets. In spite of this fact, preserving old fabric's
morphology behind the power of ownership pattern is still surviving.

In this thesis, typology is another research method, which is used to analyze the
evolution of the building fabric of the city in both functional and formal
configuration. In addition, a comparison of traditional and modern building types in
the old city shows that there are similarities between these types, which suggest that
these types are part of the old fabric of the city and they define the morphology of the
old city. The study concluded that the morphology of the old city is the product of
property in two dimensions (ownership parcels), and the building types on them.

Key words: Morphology, Ownership pattern, Old city, Typology, the city of
Sulaimaniyah

v
 ÖZ

ESKİ SÜLEYMANİYE (KUZEY IRAK) KENT MORFOLOJİSİNİN MÜLKİYET

İLİŞKİLERİ AÇISINDAN DÖNÜŞÜMÜNÜN İRDELENMESİ

Amin, Hanaw Mohammed Taqi Mohammed

Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Kentsel Tasarım Bölümü
Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. Baykan Günay
Mayıs 2010, 108 sayfa

Tezin ana amacı Süleymaniye’nin eski kent morfolojisini oluşturan kuvvetleri

incelemektir.. (Çalışma), modernizmin sokak-ada-parsel gibi mülkiyet elemanlarının
dönüşümü üzerindeki etkisine rağmen , mülkiyetin morfolojik elemanları ve
varoluşu üzerinde yoğunlaşacaktır.

Ayrıca, çalışmadaki diğer amaç da modernizm kavramlarının giriş kısmında da

gösterildiği gibi, kentin kuruluşundan bu yana olan tarihi evrimini, ve geçirdiği
dönemleri tespit etmektir. Bu da sayısal karakterli fiziksel elemanlara dayanan bir
biçimsel araştırma ile analiz edilebilir.Morfolojik araştırmanın bir aracı olarak,
evrimsel bir plan analizi bakış açısı ile başlanılmıştır. Kentin eski kısmı büyük
ölçek, orta ölçek ve sonuç olarak da küçük ölçekle ele almıştır. Organik doku olan
Süleymaniye kentinin eski dokusu, yolların oluşrurulması nedeniyle modernizmin
etkisine yavaş yavaş maruz kalmıştır. Bu gerçeğe rağmen mülkiyet yapısının gücü
ile eski dokunun biçimini korumak hala mümkün.

Tipoloji, kentin yapı dokusundaki evriminin hem fonsiyonel hem de resmi

biçimlendirilmesi açısından incelenmesinde ek bir yöntemdir.( Çalışmada ) Ek olarak
geleneksel ve modernin, eski dokudan modern bölgelere doğru olan karşılaştırılması
da sergilenmiştir. Tiplerin benzerliği; mülkün düzenliliğinin görsel olduğu ve yapı
vi
paylaşım şekillerinin kentin morfolojisini tanımladığı gerçeğini kabul eder. Çalışma;
eski doku morfolojisinin, parsel sahipliliği ve bunların üzerindeki yapı hakları gibi
mülkiyet biçimlerinin ürünü olduğu sonucunu çıkarmaktadır.

Anahtar kelimeler: Morfoloji/ Biçim, mülkiyet düzeni, eski kent, modernism ,

Süleymaniye şehri

vii
To My Family

viii
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the following who read parts or the whole of the thesis and
provided me with invaluable advice in developing a comprehensive thesis.

This work would not have been possible without the continuous encouragement and
support of my supervisor; Dr. Baykan Günay, Associate Professor in Department of
City and Regional Planning and also Planner of New university campus in Iraq at my
home town Sulaimaniyah. His valuable comments were crucial to substantially
shaping the contents of the thesis. In this process, he motivated me on the fact that
there was no published resource on the Urban Planning notes of Sulaimaniyah city
development.

I am grateful to Urban Design department Staff: especially, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan
Barlas, and Inst. Mr. Erhan Acar. Their support during my study is unforgettable. I
also wish to thank them for their expertise and encouragement that helped to mould
my interests in pursuing higher education in premier Educational University –
METU. I would also like to thank my other committee members: Assist. Prof. Dr.
Müge Akkar Ercan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Berin Fatma Gür, Assist. Prof. Dr. Bahar
Gedikli. Many thanks to all those whose support needs special mention is office staff
at the Municipality: Master plan and GIS department and head of the department Mr.
Nyaz Faraj.

I am thankful to all members of my family for their endless love and support
throughout all my life. Special thanks to Mr. Uma Maheshwar Reddy, his precious
help at some junctures in preparing the thesis will be amiss if not mentioned.

Finally, it is a pleasure to acknowledge Erasmundus funding agency of European

Union to carry out Masters at METU for 2 years in Urban Design Department.

ix
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………........iv

ÖZ………………………………………………………………………………........vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………….. ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………….x

LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………….xii

LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………...xiii

CHAPTERS

1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………1

1.1 Definition of the Problem………………………………………...2

1.2 Scope of the Study………………………………………………..3

1.3 The Method of the Study…………………………………………4

2. MORPHOLOGICAL APPROCH…………………………...…………….7

2.1 Morphological Study and Morphological

Approach as a Method……………………………………………7

2.2 Morphological Study…………………………..…………………8

2.3 Typological Study and Method of Approach…………………....11

2.4 Typological Study…...…………………………………………..12

x
 2.5 Methodology……………………………………………………14

3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND……………………………...................17

3.1 Geographical Location………………………………………….17

3.2 Historical Development…………………………………………19

3.2.1 Social Structure……………...…………………………19

3.2.2 Economical structure……….……….…………………20

3.3 Macro Scale Analysis: Urban Characteristics of

Sulaimaniyah………………………………………………........21

4. THE STUDY AREA: MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE OLD

CITY …………………………………………………………………….29

4.1. Mezzo Scale Analysis……………………………………….….30

4.2. City in Different Administrative Periods………………….........48

4.2.1 Dynasty of Baban (1784-1850)……………………... . 48

4.2.2 Ottoman Empire (1850-1918)…………….…………...49

4.2.3 British rule (1918-1932)………………………….........51

4.2.4 Iraqi rule (1932-1991)………………………………....54

4.3. Morphological Analysis of the Study Area from the Maps…….57

4.4. Micro Scale Analysis of the Study Area…………...……..…… 66

4.5. Typological Analysis of the Study Area….………….….…..….78

5. DISCUSSION OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE

STUDY AREA…………………………………………………………. 91

5.1 Macro Scale Discussion…...…………….……….………………91

5.2 Mezzo Scale Discussion of the study area……………..…...……93

xi
 5.3 Micro Scale Discussion of the study area…...……………...……95

6. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………..…..100

6.1 Findings…………………………….…..….…………………..100

6.2 Conclusion………………….……..….………………………..103

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………….....106

xii
 LIST OF TABLES

TABLES:

Table 4.1 The floor area ratio of central block in 1927…………………………….69

Table 4.2 Similarities and dissimilarities of the central block in 1927, 1960, and

2009…………………………………………………………………..…..70

Table 4.3 The floor area ratio of central block in 2009………………..………..…..72

Table 4.4 The floor area ratio of residential block in the Sabwnkaran

district, in 1927………..………………………..…………….....……......74

Table 4.5 Similarities and dissimilarities of the residential block in 1927, 1960, and

2009............................................................................................................75

Table 4.6 The floor area ratio of residential block in the Sabwnkaran

district in 2009.……………......................................................................77

Table 4.7 The classification of residential types………………………........………82

xiii
 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Conzen's fundamental elements of town plan: town plan, streets and plots
(land use pattern), and streets, plots, blocks (building fabric) (Kostof,
1991, p.11)…………………………………..…….……………………....9

Figure 2.2 The Burgage cycle in the study of Conzen. The development of Newcastle
from 1723 until 1954 (Whitehand, 1981, p.45)………………………....10

Figure 2.3 The five key elements of urban form (Lynch, 1959, p.47- 48)………….11

Figure 2.4 Different types of a block ( Eren G. Ş., 1995, unpublished master

thesis)……………………………………………………………………13

Figure 3.1 Sulaimaniyah location and its road connections with surrounding cities.

…………………………………………………………………………….…18

Figure 3.2 Sulaimaniyah topographical formations.………………………………...18

Figure 3.3 Sulaimaniyah from Goizha mountain……………………………...….…18

Figure 3.4 Sulaimaniyah trade roads in 1910 ( Meena, 2007, p.207)………..……...22

Figure 3.5 The macro form development of city in the 1950s. Source:

aerial photograph of city in 1944, 1952 and map of the city in 1958... ....24

Figure 3.6 The macro form development of city in 1958s and 1960s. Source:
xiv
 map of city in 1960s…...............................................................................25

Figure 3.7 The map that defines the 31.352 km2 and 73.113 km2 areas. Source:

73.113 km2 map………………...………………….……….…………….26

Figure 3.8 Today's macro form development of city. Source: map of the city in 2009

…………………………………….……………………………………..27

Figure 4.1 The plan of the study area………………………………………….........29

Figure 4.2 The neighborhood has its own religious institution: Church or

Mosque…………………………………………………………………..30

Figure 4.3 The The shape and plan of the study area in 1921 (DOX-QA 78, 1958,
P.22)…..……………………........………………………………….…...31

Figure 4.4 Malik Kandi neighborhood in 1927. Source: map of city in 1927………32

Figure 4.5 The urban fabric of Malik Kandi neighborhood.………………………..33

Figure 4.6 The paths and node in the Malik Kandi neighborhood.…..………..........34

Figure 4.7 A view of Goran Road in the 2009…..………………………….……….35

Figure 4.8 A view of Peramerd Road in 2009.……………………..…….…………35

Figure 4.9 A view of Sara Square in 1940s (Historical archive).…….……………..36

Figure 4.10 A view of Hamdi Road to the north of Shexan neighborhood.…...…....36

Figure 4.11 A view of Kaka Ahmadi Shex Road, which leads the neighborhood

towards the Great Mosque ……………………………...……………...37

Figure 4.12 A view of Sara Building in the 1940s. (Historical archive).…………...37

xv
Figure 4.13 A view of Great Mosque in the 1958. (Historical archive).……...…….38

Figure 4.14 A view of Square in front of Great Mosque as a gathering place.

(Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.images.google.com)......38

Figure 4.15 Sabwnkaran neighborhood in the 1927………..……………………….39

Figure 4.16 Sabwnkaran neighborhood. Source: aerial photograph of 2007…….…39

Figure 4.17 The plan of Kani Askan neighborhood…..………………………….…40

Figure 4.18 Hamdi Road is separated Kani Askan and Shexan neighborhoods from a

modern neighborhoods……………………..….………………………..41

Figurer 4.19 A view of Mamostayan Road, which is separated Kani Askan from

modern neighborhoods……………………..…………………………..41

Figurer 4.20 The modern block in the Kani Askan neighborhood………….………42

Figurer 4.21 Plan of Dargazen and Bazrgani neighborhood…………………….…..43

Figurer 4.22 The gate between old and new city. Source: Author, 2009……..........43

Figurer 4.23 The Connection of three neighborhoods: Dargazen, Sabwnkaran, and

Malik Kandi in 1920s. Source: map of city in 1927 and British RAF

image in 1924…………………………….……………………………44

Figurer 4.24 A view of Mawlawi Road in 2009…………………………….………45

Figurer 4.25 A view of Bazrgani neighborhood…………………………….………45

Figure 4.26 The modern blocks in Sarshaqam neighborhood (Edge of the

neighborhood)……………………………………………………….…46
xvi
Figurer 4.27 The study area survey in 2006. (Municipality, 2006) ……...........……46

Figurer 4.28 The plan of Jwlakan neighborhood………………….…………….......47

Figurer 4.29 The plan of Mosul Villey (Mahir Nakip, 2007, p.24)….……………...50

Figurer 4.30 Sulaimaniyah in 1924, British RAF image. (Devitt P., personnel
communication, November 2009)……………….………………........52

Figurer 4.31 Sulaimaniyah map in 1927. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from municipality:
Master plan department..………..…………………………...…….......53

Figurer 4.32 The plan of Sulaimaniyah in 1958. (DOX-QA 78, 1958, P.22).............54

Figurer 4.33 New proposed modern settlements around the old city. Sulaimaniyah
master plan in 1958. (DOX-QA 78, 1958, P.22)…..…..………..……..55

Figurer 4.34 The new investment projects in the surrounding Sulaimaniyah city.

(Author, 2009)………………………………………………………….56

Figurer 4.35 The master plan of city. (IGCO, March 2009) Retrieved July 4, 2009

from Municipality: Master plan department. ………….…………........56

Figurer 4.36 The diagrammatic evolution of the city…………………..…………...57

Figurer 4.37 The structure of a neighborhood represented by religious plot………..58

Figurer 4.38 The morphological evolutions of city in the 1920s. Source: map of city

in the 1921…...………………….……………………………………..60

Figurer 4.39 The morphological evolutions of city in 1930s. Source: map of the

city in the 1927…...…………..….…………......…...…………………61

xvii
Figurer 4.40 The morphological evolution of city in 1940s. Source:

aerial photograph of the city in 1944. ………..……………………….62

Figurer 4.41 The morphological evolution of city in 1950s. Source:

aerial photograph of city in the 1952…………………...…...………...63

Figurer 4.42 The morphological evolution of city in the 1960s. Source:

map of the city in 1960 and 1958…….…………….………....………64

Figurer 4.43 The morphological evolution of city in 2009s. Source:

map of the city in 2009 …..………………..……………………..……65

Figurer 4.44 The central block and residential block inside the study area. Source:

British RAF image in 1924 and aerial photograph in 2006…………...67

Figurer 4.45 The urban fabric of central block in 1927………………..…….……...68

Figurer 4.46 The number of parcels of the central block in 1927…………………...69

Figurer 4.47 The morphological transformation of the central block in 1927, 1960,

and 2009……………………..………………………………...............71

Figurer 4.48 The number of parcels of the central block in 2009…………………...72

Figurer 4.49 The urban fabric of the residential block in 1927……………..............73

Figurer 4.50 The number of parcels of the residential block in 1927…………….....74

Figurer 4.51 The morphological transformation of residential block in the

Sabwnkaran district, in the 1927, 2003, 2009……………….………...76

Figurer 4.52 The number of parcels of the residential block in

xviii
 2009.…………….…………………………………………..……........77

Figurer 4.53 The location of the building types…………….…………………........79

Figurer 4.54 The building types in 1924. Source: British RAF

image……………………………………………………….…….……80

Figurer 4.55 The division of ownership parcels based on the different building
types. (Courtyard types and modern types)………………………........81

Figurer 4.56 Traditional residential types…………………………………………...83

Figurer 4.57 The traditional residential type (Courtyard house)……………………84

Figurer 4.58 The functional parts of the courtyard houses. (Tarma and Aiwan)…...85

Figurer 4.59 A view of the family and service part from the courtyard ………........85

Figurer 4.60 The first type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s)…………...86

Figurer 4.61 The second type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s)………..87

Figurer 4.62 The third type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s)……….….88

Figurer 4.63 The Semi-detached houses (1960s_1980s).…………………………...89

Figure 5.1 The city expansion in the 1920s. Source: map of the city in 1927…...….92

Figure 5.2 The comparison between central and residential blocks………………...96

Figure 5. 3 The south-east of the residential block………………………………….97

Figure 5.4 The northern part of the central block……………………………...……97

Fıgure 5.5 The comparison between traditional and modern building types………..99

xix
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This particular study is about morphology of the old city of Sulaimaniyah (northern
part of Iraq) from the perspective of ownership pattern. The Old city of
Sulaimaniayh, which was created by the ruler of dynasty of Baban, consists of
narrow roads, cul-de-sacs, irregular blocks, and parcels. Towards 1920s, the
morphology of the old city was transformed by the power of state in the construction
of roads. In spite of this transformation, the old fabric of the city is still remarkable.
In the framework of the thesis, this transformation marked a modernism for
Sulaimaniyah city, which means the transformation of traditional life pattern and
structure pattern towards modern function. Modern function in Sulaimaniyah city
reflected itself in the new administrative system and new functional system. As a
consequence, the structure of the city expanded by the creation of the regular parcels
and blocks to adapt new functions.

The existing morphology of the old fabric of city throughout history is interrelated
with the ownership pattern by their resistance against transformation. The power of
protected ownership elements of streets, blocks, and parcels are the forces that define
the morphology of the old city. Through morphological analysis, the comparison of
the ownership elements of blocks in the old city defines the limited power of state in
the transformation of the morphology of the city. At the same time, it shows the
power of ownership elements against the transformation of morphology of the old
fabric of city.

1
The evolution of the city and its transformation are analyzed based on the
Morphological method. Conzen's town plan analysis as a method of morphology is
the method of this study.

In this study, Typology also shows the role of buildings in defining morphology of
the old city. The formation of the buildings from 1920 until 1980s is the subject of
typological analysis. However, the changing user in the interior of the buildings and
the new constructed buildings in side the old city are also the subject of
transformation in the formation of building types, but they are not concerned in the
framework of this thesis. This is besides social and political structure, which played
important role in the formation of the city, but they are not the subject of this study,
as well.

In addition, this study establishes the evolutionary steps of historical development of

the city. Consequently, it shows the existing morphology of the old fabric of
Sulaimaniyah city.

1.1 Definition of the Problem:

In spite of the gradual transformation of the city towards modernity, the existence of
the old fabric of Sulaimaniyah city is remarkable. Modernity affected the old fabric
of the city and its morphological elements of ownership pattern. From 1930s until
1960s, several roads were constructed to connect the city to the surrounding major
cities and help the growth of trade and industry, leading to the modification of
physical structure of the city.

The study enquires the forces that built up the morphology of the old city and the
reasons of its survival against modernism's impact on its ownership elements. It
analyzes the gradual evolution of city’s morphological elements of streets, blocks,
and parcels. It starts from the creation of the city until today, especially the impacts
of modernism, which introduced the construction of straight roads in sequential time
periods.

2
To study the progress, morphological analysis is used to define the city in a macro
scale to figure out the alteration of city in different stages, from traditional to modern
times, and then from mezzo scale to micro scale. The investigations of this study
compare the transformation and existence of the ownership elements of blocks,
parcels and building types.
The analysis of the map in the1927, and British RAF (Royal Air Force) image in the
1924, shows the old fabric of the city before the impacts of modernism in terms of
the road construction. In addition of that, the maps of the city in the 1958 and 1960
are also used in the morphological analysis of the evolution of the old city. The aerial
photographs of the city in the 1944, 1952 and the recent satellite image are the basis
to discuss the evolution of the morphological elements. The study shows the reaction
of the ownership elements against the impacts of modernism as a new thinking in
terms of the regulation of these elements.

Thus, the thesis establishes stepwise growth of the city from its foundation until
today, and also sheds light on the visibility of the morphology of the old fabric
behind the roles of ownership pattern.

1.2 Scope of the Study:

The main aim of the study is to define the existing morphology of the old city
through the power of property in two dimensions (ownership elements) and the
building types on them. Furthermore, another aim of the study is to establish
historical evolution of Sulaimaniyah city.

The old part in Sulaimaniyah city, which hosts the oldest neighborhoods in the city,
is chosen to discuss the forces behind its survival as an old fabric. The old city is
affected by modernism in the development of road construction. Through the
morphology, ownership elements of streets, blocks, and parcels are analyzed in
different time periods. For instance, to observe the evolution of the old city from the
1920s until today, maps and aerial photographs are analyzed with a focus on the road
construction activities. In addition, for the specific years of 1927, 1960, and 2009,
the ownership elements of blocks and parcels are examined through the
3
morphological method. These analyses show the existing morphology of the old city
throughout history except its transformation in terms of the road construction by
state. Furthermore, typological analysis is used to define the role of building fabric in
the morphology of the old city. It classifies building types into different types that
represent the impacts of modernism on the typological formation of the old city. The
formal configuration of the residential building types is studied from the 1920s until
1980s. The selected years, show the gradual evolution of the study area towards
modernity. The rules of different administrative periods and their roles in the history
in terms of morphology is a part of the study, as well.

1.3 The Method of the Study:

The methodology refers to the analysis of morphological elements of streets, blocks,

and parcels. In the thesis, gradual morphological steps are analyzed: in the chapter 2,
the literature review describes the morphological, typological analysis and their roles
to define the urban fabric of the city. The brief description of morphology is analyzed
with a focus on property (ownership elements), and then the role of property in the
existence of morphology is studied, as well.

From this perspective, methodology is divided into two parts: morphological and
typological analysis. The morphological method is used to analyze the plans of the
city and to define the old fabric of city. Conzen's morphological analysis (town plan
analysis) provides the morphological tool to define the evolutionary steps of the
morphology of the old city. Typology is used to show the role of building types in
the morphology of the old city. It also defines distinctive types of building based on
the functional and formal configuration.

In the chapter 3, the framework of macro form and abbreviated historical evolution
of Sulaimaniyah, are analyzed. The factors of political, social and economical
structure are exposed in relation to the historical evolution of the city. These factors
affected on the different evolution of the city, from the past to present. The growth of
the city, from its creation until the recent years, is defined through the interpretation

4
of historical and recent maps of the old city. The findings show, the gradual
distinctive development of the city, in different time periods.

The morphological analysis of the ownership elements of the study area is illustrated
in the chapter 4. The alteration of morphological elements, are exposed in the period
of the rules of Ottoman Empire, British, and Iraqi rules. However, these rules are
important in the transformation of the city, but they are not in the aim of this thesis.
Study area is examined in the two levels: mezzo scale and micro scale. Mezzo scale
analysis relies on the characteristics of the morphological elements and the gradual
evolution of these elements in terms of the morphology. In addition, the image of the
study area defined the old city in accordance with the past. Thus, based on the study
of Lynch, the study area is illustrated to define the districts, nodes, landmarks, paths
and edges. Furthermore, based on the maps and aerial photographs, the analysis of
the study area as a whole shows the gradual evolution of the old city towards
modernism. It shows the transformation of the old city in terms of road construction.

In the micro scale analysis, two ownership blocks are examined in the study area; the
quantitative elements of blocks, parcels, and their floor area ratio are illustrated. The
existence of these elements against the impact of modernism, show the survival
morphology of the old city. The illustrated large ownership parcels and small
ownership parcels are compared with respect to the impact of modernism. In
addition, typological analysis shows the role of building types in the definition of
morphology of the old city. Based on the typology, traditional and modern building
types are classified. Traditional building types and their transformation towards
modernism are defined in the morphology of the old city. The buildings, which are
erected on the regular parcels in the modern period, are compared with the traditional
types. They are analyzed, to define their role, in the morphology of the old city and
then, separate the old city from the new city by producing the edge for the old city.

Finally, in the conclusion, the forces that built up the morphology of the old city and
the reasons of its existence will be discussed. Based on their existence and
transformation, the different consequences from the comparison of the two
distinctive ownership blocks in the study area will be explained. For instance, the

5
central block shows the transformation of ownership elements due to the construction
of roads by the state, while; the residential block exposes the power of ownership
pattern in the existing morphology of the old city.

Thus, the existing power of the ownership pattern defines the existing morphology of
the old city. The comparison of building types in the old city, defines their role in the
morphology of the old city. In spite of the fact that, they are affected by the
regularity of ownership elements (parcels, blocks, streets) in the modern periods,
they keep the characteristics of traditional building types in the old city and then, its
morphology. Thus, the building types are part of the old city in defining its
morphology. The conclusion means, the morphology of the old city consists of the
ownership elements and the building types on them.

6
 CHAPTER 2

MORPHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Theoretical framework of this thesis depended on the morphological and typological

analysis. Morphological analysis provides a comprehensive interpretation of the
physical evolution of the ownership elements of streets, blocks, and parcels.
Typological concept explains the physical characteristics of the building fabrics in
the micro scale analysis based on their functional and formal configuration of types.
Furthermore, Morphological analysis is used as the main principal target to define
the old city in the macro scale: it is used to figure out the gradual transformation of
the old city from traditional to modernity. The study identifies urban fabric of the old
city, its ownership elements of streets, blocks, and parcels, In addition, the impacts of
modernism is defined in the sequential time periods. The study of literature provides
the brief description of the morphology with a focus on property (ownership
elements), and then the role of property in the existence of morphology is studied, as
well.

2.1 Morphological Study and Morphological Approach as a Method:

The morphological approach is characterized systematically by different kinds of

elements (their organization, and their evolution over time), and their association
with space. These elements resulted from the historical development and functional
requirements (Whitehand, 1981). Based on geographer and planner M.R.G.Conzen,
who started to examine morphology in the late nineteenth century, the morphology is
expressed in the townscape, building fabric and pattern of urban land use.
Townscape is the combination of town plan, pattern of building forms, and pattern of

7
the urban land use. "Building fabric is the actual three dimensional mark of physical
structure on the land ownership parcel." (Kostof, 1991, p.11). Conzen describes town
plan as " itself subdivided into three constituent parts or elements: streets and their
arrangement in a street system, plots and their aggregation in street blocks, and the
block-plans of buildings" (Conzen, 1960, p.5).

Town plan described in the study of Conzen (as cited in Kostof, 1991, p.11) showed
that: town plan as "the cadastre or matrix of land divisions functionally differentiated
by legally protected ownership". From this point of view, which marks the power of
ownership elements of morphology (parcels and blocks); in his particular study of
property relations, Günay, defined the power of legal ownership pattern in the
traditional society towards modernity. In his book, he mentioned that state has its
impact on the regulation of real property, and its influence is restricted. In the
contrast, the traditional ownership was free from any interference of state, and once it
is established, it is difficult to change (Günay, 1999, p.3).

The role of building types in the morphology of city is defined: according to

Conzenean School, the study of urban landscape form is the basis to develop a theory
of the city-building process, which is not only explicit, the historical evolution, but
also guides future planning efforts. There are three schools of urban morphology in
England, France, and Italy. One of the schools: British school focuses on the work of
M. R. G. Conzen and his town plan analysis as a base of the study of urban
morphology (Moudon, 1997). Hence, holistic understanding towards the history and
morphology of the city is prerequisite for this study. Planning of the city without
control mentioned by Günay "The duality between spontaneity and planning has
been introduced into the fabric of today's cities" (Günay, 1988). Duality of urban
fabric is the concept of different urban pattern of the city, and then different
formation of morphology. Neighborhoods exhibit recognizable patterns in the
ordering of buildings, spaces and functions. "Intuitively the environment of unique
cities like London, Venice, Amsterdam, and Bologna is recognizable by the way
these elements are knit into familiar patterns, systems, and building types".
(Habraken, Teicher, 2000).

8
2.2 Morphological Study:
The Combination of town plan, building fabric, land utilization pattern and the site
are forming morphological regions (Conzen, 1975). In his practical study, Conzen
used two dimensional plans (town plan) with all important characteristics of urban
form. In his study of Newcastle upon Tyne in England, he used the method of an
evolutionary plan analysis, which is the town-plan analysis in sequential time periods
to concentrate on the analytical process of three main elements of the town plan. The
elements can be analyzed over time in evolutionary periods, such as streets and their
street system, plots and their plot systems, and the building arrangement within these
patterns (Whitehand, 1981).

Figure 2.1 Conzen's fundamental elements of town plan: town plan or street pattern,
streets and plots (land use pattern), and streets, plots, blocks (building fabric)
(Kostof, 1991, p.11).

The evolutionary method of plan analysis provides comprehensive interpretation of

the physical development of ownership elements of the city. It defines factors that
affected on the morphology in different political periods (authority rules). Conzen
investigated different types of changes and developments, for example in the concept
of Burgage cycle and the Fringe belt. In the practical study of Burgage cycle in
Newcastle, he presented an evolutionary town plan analysis as a target to show
insight analysis of its physical development over time (Whitehand, 1981).

9
Figure 2.2 The Burgage cycle in the study of Conzen. (The development of
Newcastle from 1723 until 1954) (Whitehand, 1981, p. 45).

Thus, to understand visible changes of the morphology of city, Conzen started with
property analysis. In his work, the form of property explained through morphological
analysis. Burgage was defined in terms of property "defined in legal terms as a
property unencumbered with manorial services which could be bought, sold or
bequeathed freely without reference to any manorial authority" (Bond, 1990). He
showed that in the traditional society, the land contract between owners was
common. Conzen explained how the characteristic of morphological units in a
market town of medieval origin related importantly to the individual property units.
He defines that they were arranged as they were along the public thoroughfares and
market place. These properties characteristically developed with a dominant building
at the front, and in the back perhaps by several smaller buildings "trailing off". The
rear of the property is both enclosed and made accessible by a back lane. Thus, in
Conzen's work, the property pattern, and its role in the formation of morphology was
physically presented. He relied on the Burgage property units, and their relationship
with the building patterns.

Taylor used sort of various maps in addition to some relevant sources to study the
black ghetto-formation process in Cincinnati in the nineteenth century. He advocated
that the maps do not only support the descriptive data in the various historical
sources, but also enrich the data by providing a concrete and visual perspective. They
reduce complex data to simpler data, easily understandable terms, and modeling.
They make various types of spatial relations in the urban environment (Taylor, 1984,
p. 45).

10
In his explanation of the physical elements of city, which determine the structure of
urban form, Lynch, divided physical forms of city into five elements. The elements
are paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. Path is the main dominant factor of
the city, which can be called road. It is linking all components of the city. District
represents the characteristics of historical, social, cultural and functional activity. It
creates the concept of differentiation between districts and individual characteristics.
Edge is a signal identity of the district and it shows the changes from one district to
another district. Different physical landscape represents the boundary between
districts. Node is an important focal point, which is used as a gathering place and is
related to people’s daily life. Center of the city or center of the districts is frequently
the nodes. Finally, landmarks are unique distinguished physical elements with
various forms. They provide an orientation and clue to the surrounding urban
structures. Thus, all these elements are describing the image of the city. From
Lunch's point of view, we can have interpretation of physical elements of the old
city.

Figure 2.3 The five key elements of urban form (Lynch, 1959, p.47-48)

Consequently, the study of literature in the morphology provides the study of

morphology with a focus on the property and its existing power in defining the
morphology of the city. Morphological ownership elements of streets, blocks, and
parcels are the elements of property to define morphology of the city.

2.3. Typological Study and Method of Approach:

11
The idea of type is used as an analytical tool for the classification of architectural
work. Based on literature, there are many criteria to classify elements into categories.
Buildings are classified into different types based on the criteria of functions, forms,
locations, styles, and materials (Schneekloth and Ellen, 1989). The word "type" is
used to refer to the architectural type with a standard of morphology, such as a
courtyard house and Italian Plazzo (Carmona M., Tiesdell S., 2007). According to
Albert Levy, studies of typology have taken in different approaches, for example the
typology of streets or the inventory of types of streets. Another feature of this
approach is the analysis of the relationships between different instances of the same
element, such as a relationship of plot to plot, street to street, building to building,
and square to square. (Albert Levy, 1999). Typological classification is often applied
to buildings. Practitioners of this study are topologists (Muratori, 1959). They study
pieces or cells of buildings and open spaces within the framework of discrete piece
of land in single ownership. The study of the physical characteristics of plots, streets,
building types, types of spaces, size of plots and height of buildings are the examples
of the typological study. In contrast, the practitioners, who call themselves as a
morphologist, are those who concern both generative pieces of the urban landscape.
They study the characteristics of groups and sum of cells that constitute the city
(Whitehand, 1981). Both groups agree that the historical process shape the
components of an urban landscape.

2.4 Typological Study:

Conzen examined building types as systematic aspects of urban morphology.

Alnwick was his field of study to determine the typology of the town. In his study
explained that in Britain, residential building types can be divided by period
characteristics into traditional, non traditional and modern building types. Traditional
building types are the buildings of Pre-Georgian, Georgian and Regency buildings.
Non traditional building types are the early and mid-Victorian, Late Victorian and
Edwardian buildings. Thus, according to social significances, each of these period
groups present number of types.

12
Schumacher classified streets based on user density, mixed land use, pedestrian and
vehicular interaction, and the configuration of streets (Schumacher, 1978).In the
same manner, as an example of typological method, street types are classified based
on land use, built-form characteristics, and circulation (including pedestrian and
vehicular access) (Anderson, 1978). Similarly, Eren Gülcen Şirin, in her master
thesis (1995), classified blocks based on forms, dimension, landownership pattern,
location, and then a characteristic components of a block based on density and
function. She defined different formation of ownership blocks, such as traditional
(organic), grids, radial, concentric, and amorphous.

Figure 2.4 Different types of a block. (Eren G. Ş., 1995, unpublished master thesis).

13
Thus, typology as a system of types is used to classify building types. Method of
typology will provide the brief information about town plan and building fabric.
They make an important contribution on the formation of urban regions within the
town (Conzen, 1932).

2.5 Methodology:

Two main methods of morphology and typology process the framework of the thesis
to examine formation and transformation of the ownership elements of the city.
Morphology is the principle analytical method to examine the transformation of the
old city and its urban fabric. This serves comprehensive understanding of the
ownership elements of the old city. It also establishes spatial historical significance
for the city that provides a tool to examine the morphological elements of street,
block, and parcel in the old city.

Typological analysis provides the clue to understand the physical characteristics of

building types, such as the physical characteristics of functional and formal
configuration, and their transformation towards modernity. It identifies the impacts
of modernism on the building types and their role to define morphology of the old
city.

Study of Conzen's town plan analysis, as a method of morphology, is a coherent tool

in this study. The evolutionary plans of the old city are analyzed to show ownership
elements of street systems in relation to the configuration of overall physical
settlements in the sequential time periods. For this purpose, the old city is chosen as a
whole to show its evolution from 1920s until today. Besides, the plan of two
ownership blocks in the old city is examined in the years 1927, 1960, and 2009.
These blocks are chosen to show the power of ownership elements in the existing
morphology of the old city. The first block is located in the center of the city, which
shows the administrative center of the city and its transformation into the commercial
center. The residential block is located in the Sabwnkaran neighborhood.

14
The morphological analysis of the old city of Sulaimaniyah starts from the
perspective of an evolutionary plan analysis as a tool of morphological study. The
morphology of the old city is analyzed to define the forces that built up its
morphology and the reasons of its existence as the old fabric of the city. The main
target is examined through the map analysis of the city in the 1921, 1927, 1958, 1
969, and 2009. The maps of the city in 1927 and 2009 are the land parcel maps,
While, the ownership parcels are not available in the rest of the maps. For the
analysis of the two blocks in the study area in 1927, 1960, and 2009, parcel map is
needed. Thus, for the analysis of 1960, the ownership parcels are drawn based on the
collection information about each parcel of the two blocks from the land registrar
office in Sulaimaniyah. The transformation of each parcel in the year 1960 is used to
draw the parcel map of the two blocks (center block of the city and residential block
in the Sabwnkaran neighborhood). Besides that, in the typological analysis properties
(the two dimension plan of the buildings) are drawing by relying on the aerial
photograph of 2007 and British RAF image in the 1924, because in Sulaimaniyah
municipality, the property map of the city is not available until today. Furthermore,
in this study, the maps and aerial photographs are superimposed to show the gradual
evolution of the city, which means that the information about transformation of the
city in terms of the road construction, attachment of the modern blocks (regular
blocks), and intrusion of the regular blocks inside the old city are obtained by
analyzing the produced maps in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960. The published
historical and political documentations in Kurdish language mostly served to show
the real facts in the transformation of the city in sequential time periods. The
analyses of the city are mostly obtained by the author due to the lack of planning and
architectural documentations about Sulaimaniyah city.

Thus, the forms of data collection are the maps of f 1921, 1927, 1958, 1960, 2009,
and aerial photographs of 1944, 1952 and 2007. The British RAF image of the city in
1924 is used to define ownership elements of the old city in the 1920s. It is the oldest
image to show three dimensional plan of the old city. The city has its first aerial
photograph in the 1944. From this perspective, as the first source in the history of the
city, the RAF image will provide the coherent explanation of urban fabric of the old

15
Sulaimaniyah city in the 1920s. This image is gained during this research from
British Royal Air Force (Devitt P., personnel communication, November 26, 2009).
In this study, political and historical books and photos from the past to the present
are used as a tool to explain the evolution of the old city. The general interpretation
from maps shows the morphological transformations of the old city in terms of the
road construction during the periods of modernity. The data utilized and analyzed in
this study is mainly qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data is obtained by
the interpretation of plans and aerial photographs. Quantitative data is collected in
the study area, and presented in the micro scale analysis. Consequently, the
evolutionary plan analyses are used as the analytical method of the morphological
study. They define the evolution of morphological elements of the old city.

Typological method examines the physical characteristics of the building types in the
old city as a tool to identify and study the process of the building types. In this
research, the buildings of the old city are analyzed according to functional and
formal configuration. The RAF image in the 1924 is used to analyze the functional
and formal configuration of buildings in the old city. The aerial photograph of 2007
is used to show residential typology based on their formation. Malik Kandi
neighborhood is chosen to study the formal configuration of the residential building
types from the 1920s until 1980s. The selected period is related to the gradual
evolution of the study area towards modernity. From this perspective, typology gives
the comprehensive interpretation of building fabric of the old city. It defines their
role in the morphology of the old city and classifies them into different types that
represent the impacts of modernism on the typological formation of the old city.

Furthermore, in this thesis, the work of Lynch provides the comprehensive

understanding of the physical characteristic of the morphological elements of the old
city. Five elements of the old city such as paths, edge, districts, nodes, and landmarks
are explained as the quantitative data of the physical elements.

16
 CHAPTER 3

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

3.1 Geographical Location:

Sulaimaniyah city is located in the north-east of Iraq by 40 km from the Iranian

frontier, 35.33N/45.26E (IGCO, 2009). In the south-east, the city is surrounded by
mountains of Zagros highlands, and the mountains of Azmar, in the north. The city
was initially founded at the western foothill of the Zagros Mountain, within the
province of the same name. By the end of 2002, (8) towns and (33) townships with
Sulaimaniyah as the core of the province, formed its province (Muhammad Jasem,
2008). To the north-western edge of the city, there is a river of Qlyasan, and then
there is a Tanjaro river to the south-western edge of the city.

The city was built at the skirts of the mountains towards the plain, which connects
both agricultural lands of Sharazwr and Bazyan. The agricultural lands have played
an important role in the economic viability of the city. Today, the city is in the
between north and south of the country. It is connected to the neighbor countries by
several roads: to the east, through Halabja and Penjwin Road, it is connected to Iran.
To the north-west, it is connected to Syria and, through Arbil province, to Dhoke,
and then to Turkey. From Chamchamal, Kirkuk and Arbil, is connected to Mosul,
Syria and Baghdad. The city expansion in the 1921 covered 132 ha. 50 years later in
the 1973, the area of the city has increased to 315.8 ha. In the1980, it reached 841.5
ha. Towards 1990, the urban development of the city reached 2,173.9 ha. , and in
2003 it reached a size of 3,891.2 ha. Finally, the last record is obtained in 2007 that is
5,858.0 ha. (IGCO, 2009).

17
Figure 3.1 Sulaimaniyah location and its road connections with surrounding cities.

Figure 3.2 Sulaimaniyah topographical formations.

Figure 3.3 Sulaimaniyah from Goizha Mountain.

18
3.2 Historical Development:

Sulaimaniyah, throughout its history, from its establishment until today, became part
of different administrative rules: the rule of Baban, Ottoman Empire, British rule,
and Iraqi rule. Based on the historical documentation, there were human beings in
this region. Loloyakan and Gotyakan were the two ancient communities, who lived
in this environment (Jamal Rashid Ahmed, Fawzi Rashid 1990). From its foundation
(1784) until 1850, the city was ruled by the dynasty of Baban. According to the
historical sources, evolution of the city was affected by a series of wars, which have
caused the decline of its urbanization and ruined the city structure. During the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Ottoman Empire became ruler in this area
until 1918. In this period of domination, for the first time, the municipal authority
was established to rule and organize the city.

In 1918, after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War,
the British started to rule this region. A series of rebellions took place. After an
upheaval in 1919, in this particular city, Independence was declared from the British.
Then, in 1920, the city became part of the Iraqi State, which is created by the British.
In March 1923, the British used Royal Air Force (RAF) against the rebellion in
Sulaimaniyah, and eventually, in July 1924, the British and Iraqi forces dominated
the city. After the independence of Iraq in 1932, in the Iraqi State period, in spite of
the political problems, the city has grown more or less normally with the
construction of roads, buildings and the improvements of social infrastructure of
education and health services. However, in the period of Iraqi rule, in lieu of political
consequences, the ring road was built surrounding the city to halt the evolution of the
city. Finally in 1991, Sulaimaniyah became part of the regional government authority
in the Iraqi rule.

3. 2. 1 Social Structure:

In the past, different social groups lived in Sulaimaniyah city. There were different
ethnic groups. The Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in this city. "Christians are
hardly distinguishable in their manner of lifestyle and customs from the Kurds, in
19
whose truculent and tolerant midst they had existed for many centuries" (Longrigg,
1953). According to Longrigg, Jews were a separated ethnic culture group following
their traditions in the city and they were different from the rest of the population in
the city. The city settlement pattern was formed by different ethnic groups. The
Jewish neighborhood was located in the south-west of the city, their neighborhood is
called Jwlakan. The Christian communities accommodated in the east part of the
city. Other parts of the city were occupied by the Muslim families. Together they
supported the poorer groups for their welfare, which is the best evidence to show
comfortable and secure relations between them.

In the old city, social network between Muslims was created by mystic orders, which
also acquired a political significance. The interwoven social links were created by
Tariqat (literary- the way, the path). The organization of life around this Tariqat, had
social aspects of human behavior helping to define a distinct kind of identity (Lukitz,
1995). For instance, in the 1860s, the dominant group was the holy family of Barzinji
Saydi (Sheikh). Sheikhs increasingly involved in town life and politics. The second
dominant group was the wealthy class. They were the merchants, the members of
authority and the large land owners in the city. The merchants were from the
different ethnic groups. Based on the tradition, the person, who became a Mutasarif
(head of municipality) candidate, had to belong to a wealthy family (large property
owner), besides that, the education accomplishments: Turkish and Arabic language
were pre-requested. Another class was normal inhabitants of the city.

3. 2. 2 Economic Structure:

Sulaimaniyah has grown as the market town of an agricultural community. It was the
market, which connected two agricultural lands of Shahrazwr and Bazyan. Based on
the irrigation method, crops, barley, wheat, fruit and tobacco were cultivated. The
products of wool, sheep, bulls, cows, foxes' skins, animals' skins, walnuts, hazelnut
and beans were being sent to this city's market, and then to Baghdad and to Europe
(Meena, 2007, p.163). Several khans and markets served the city as a trading center
for doing business with Mosul, Baghdad and some cities in Iran like Tabriz, Sna,
Bana and Hamadan through Halabja and Rawanduz trade routes. The goods from
20
Bana were marketed to Mosul and Bagdad through Sulaimaniyah market. Caravan
routes ran everywhere across the frontier zone (Longrigg, 1953). Gums, gall-nuts
were the goods for exporting. In addition, tobacco was the most important product
for trading. The goods, which were being imported, are: sugar, tea, ceramic ware
plates, aluminum plates and glasses from Baghdad. Cotton cloth was coming from
Diyarbakir and Halabja. Furthermore, in 1939, the tobacco factory was established in
the northern part of Sulaimaniyah province. "Rifles with Russian-made barrels were
also made in an old-established factory in Sulaimaniyah and thence distributed over
all places"(Longrigg, 1953). This impulse of urban development did not continue due
to the heavy taxation from the local government and dominating Shiekhs of the city.
Thus, around the 1880s, tradesmen left the city mostly for Iran.

The trade routes were: from Halabja and Rawanduz, to Iran, and through Kiruk to
Mosul and Baghdad. They were laid at different times depending on the types of
products in demand. The trade route from Qara Dagh, was mostly used to go to
Baghdad. In the later periods of 1957, due to the establishment of factories, the
economy developed. For instance, the sugar factory was established in the 1950s,
tobacco factory in 1958 and cement plant in 1961. Today, with the effects of
modernization of lifestyle, the city transformed from a town market to social, cultural
and political centre. With growth in the literacy rate thank to major projects like
schools, universities, hospitals, and free-trade-zones near Turkish and Iranian
borders, all these aspects marked the impact on the economic development,
reforming and reorganizing the city.

3. 3 Macro Scale Analysis: Urban Characteristics of Sulaimaniyah:

In the year 1784, when the city was founded, according to the historical
documentations, the original population of the city was 1000 people. Different tribes
were asked to send some of their families to settle there in order to expand the
horizons of the city. After 36 years in 1820, the population grew by 10,000 people,
and the city had 2144 houses. There were about 2033 Muslim households, and about
144 of the other religions. Traces of historical records show that mosques, churches,
houses, markets, baths and khans were built surrounding the Pasha’s palace as a
21
compact structure. The city had 5 mosques, one Catholic Church, 5 baths and six
khans. In 1868, Lycklama estimated that the city had 6000 Kurds and 45 Catholic
and Jewish families (Rasha, 1987, p.46). On the other hand, Soane mentioned that
before WWI, the city had 23000 Kurds and 600 Christians and Jews (Meena, 2007,
p.24). After the census of 1987, there is no actual record of the population, according
to this census, the total population was 364096. However, by depending on the 2009
master plan documentation, in 2005, the total population of Sulaimaniyah was
670838, and in the 2008, its population was 729633.

In terms of function and structure, the city composed of compact organic

arrangement around the palace. It was influenced principally by the traditional
architecture depicting community's culture bearing the principles of Islam. Initially,
the city consisted of the dominant central part, and then different neighborhoods
surrounded it. The map in the 1921 shows that initial pattern of the city covered 132
ha. The residential patterns that surrounded the core of the city were distributed
based on the routes that led to the trade activity at that period.

Figure 3.4 Sulaimaniyah trade roads in 1910 (Meena, 2007, p.207).

22
The trade routes influenced city expansion towards north-east, north-west, south-
west and south-east, at a different rate. For instance, the recent route to Kirkuk in the
north-west was not attracted by the city expansion as much as the following routes:
Halabja and Qara Dagh. Halabja route was located to the south-east, which led to the
trade route towards Iran, and Qara Dagh route to the south, which was the nearest
trade route to Baghdad as the biggest trade center. This route was through Sargirma
and Ibrahim Khanchi (see figure 3.4: grey line). Thus, at that period, south of the
city, was the most attractive direction for extension. The map of the city in 1921 and
1927, are the evidence of this expansion.

After 1950s, the city was influenced by the main highway to Kirkuk in the north-
west of the city. In addition, with the needs of traffic, vehicular roads were
constructed. In contrast, originally, in the city, transportation depended on the
organic routes. With the construction of Mamostayan (Amin Zaki) road, the new
expansion along this particular road and towards Kirkuk road started to mark the
modern era. For instance, the new public and administrative buildings, recreational
areas and Main Park, all mark the city expansion towards the north-west. In addition,
they provided avenue for the public, administrative, commercial and industrial
activities. In spite of this, in the north-west direction of the city, the residential
developments were taking place. Consequently, new modern blocks were attached to
the traditional city (see figure 3.5).

Besides the construction of Sulaimaniyah-Kirkuk Road, the reasons that attract new
developments towards that direction were the appearance of several new factories.
Although Sulaimaniyah–Kirkuk Road was built in 1956, the road to Halabja still
remained to connect the city to the south-east. The Sulaimaniyah–Kirkuk Road
connected the city to Kirkuk as an active trade center and close to Baghdad as a
center of Iraq's geography for authority. The Chwarta Road to the north-east,
Sarchnar Road to the north and Qara Dax Road towards the south were connecting
the city to the other parts of the country (see figure 3.6).

23
Figure 3.5 The macro form development of city in the 1950s. Source: aerial
photograph of the city in 1944, 1952 and the map of the city in 1958.

From this perspective, the city grew with modern enterprises. New modern
neighborhoods were attached to the traditional city. Shorsh, Darogha, Goisha,
Saiwan and Chwar Bagh neighborhoods were built as a new modern zone, and
surrounded the traditional city. As a result, in 1957, the built area of the city covered
216 hectares (2.16 kilometer square) (DOX-QA 78, 1958).

In spite of these developments, the city was still expanding towards the south-east
and north-east, and it was more effective for the residential expansions. Iskan, Majid
bag, Twi Malik, and Xabat neighborhoods also appeared. Furthermore, the
24
residential expansions took place in every part at the same rate. To the west direction
of the city, administrative, commercial, recreational, industrial and residential
expansions appeared. The oldest route to Halabja, which was located in the south-
east of the city, was shifted to the south, through Qara Dax Road as an alternative
road for the surrounding towns in the south and south-east of the city, while Kirkuk
and Chwarta Roads were still connecting the city to the surrounding cities and towns.

Figure 3.6 The macro form development of city in the 1958s and 1960s. Source: map
of the city in1960s.

25
In 1968, the construction of the new university, hospitals and neighborhoods, made
the continuous growth of the city. The city grew in a circular way until the 1980s. In
that period, the city expansion was defined by 52,54km2 (Sulaimaniyah
municipality's archive). In spite of the growth of city, the construction of the ring
road (60 Meter Road) around the city obstructed the growth of the city. The
expansion of the city out side the ring road was only allowed for the military uses. As
a consequence, in 1981, with the needs of political decision, city's future expansion
area decreased to 31,352 km2. Towards 1991, that decision was cancelled by the
municipality. They increased the area based on the map, which defined the city by
73,113 km2 as a future expansion. In that map, city was surrounded by the second
ring road: 100 Meter Road, which was suggested in the Sulaimaniyah master plan of
Doxiadis in 1958 (Sulaimaniyah municipality's archive). As a consequence, the
villages around the city became new neighborhoods of the city such as, Kani Spika,
Zargata, and Wlwba. In addition, the 60 Meter Road (ring road) around
Sulaimaniyah, which was built in 1973, lost its function as a boundary element.

Figure 3.7 The map that defines the 31.352 km2 and 73.113 km2 areas. Source:
73.113 km2 map.

26
Thus, today, the city is growing circularly with a focus on the expansion towards the
north-west direction. However, the directions of the north-west, south and south-east
are occupied or partly occupied by designed settlements, the geographical barriers
and several cemeteries to the east direction of the city will limit its expansion. The
mountains, foothills, and agriculture regions will obstruct the development in the
directions of south and south-east. In the south-west, the agriculture areas will limit
the city expansion, especially by the new planned highway in that direction. Thus,
future urban development will continue towards north-west direction of the city,
particularly because of the construction of the new Sulaimaniyah, and American
Universities. In spite of this, the 2009 master plan, proposed new CBD in the north-
west direction of the city.

Figure 3.8 Today's macro form development of city. Source: map of the city in 2009.

Thus, with the expansion of the city and its road networks, Ibrahim pasha Road, as
part of the boundary of the study area is with this much of the development of the
city. It becomes the intersection road of the study area along with the roads of
Ibrahim Ahmad, Baban, Mamostayan, and Hamdi.

The macro form analysis defines the old city (study area) in terms of its morphology
within Sulaimaniyah city from 1920s until today. Before 1920s, the residential
27
pattern of the old city was distributed towards trade routes of north, east, and south.
The city expansion was affected by these trade roads. After the impacts of
modernism in the construction of roads, the city expansion was more affected by the
north western direction of the city. From this perspective, the modernity affected the
city expansion and then the direction of its expansion.

28
 CHAPTER 4

THE STUDY AREA: MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

OF THE OLD CITY

Figure 4.1 The plan of the study area.

29
4.1 Mezzo Scale Analysis:
The study area is the old city, which shows initial morphology of Sulaimaniyah city.
It is surrounded by two intersections. The first intersection is to the east of the city,
which is the intersection of Ibrahim Pasha and Ibrahim Ahmad Roads. The second
intersection is to the north-west of the city, which is provided by the Mamostayan
and Hamdi Roads. Today, the study area consists of eight neighborhoods: Malik
Kandi, Sabwnkaran, Kani Askan, Sarshaqam, Jwlakan, Dargazen, Bazrgani and
Shexan. They cover 2.19851 km². Generally, the old city (study area) consists of
plots, which are served by narrow alleys and cul-de-sacs. Each neighborhood has its
own religious institutions and one or two-storey houses. Muslims, Jewish and
Christians accommodated themselves in the different directions of the old city. South
and east of the study area were accommodated by Jewish and Christians. These
neighborhoods were called Jwlakan and Gawran. The neighborhoods were arranged
based on the trade routes that led the distribution of the city. Malik Kandi
neighborhood is the oldest part of the city, which was supported by the central part
(administrative part) of the city and surrounded by the residential neighborhoods.
Malik Kandi is located in the north-east of the study area. It is in the intersection of
the main roads of Ibrahim Pasha in the east, Sabwnkaran in the south, and Peramerd
in the west. According to the historical records, the history of this neighborhood
started when, Ibrahim Pasha turned it from the small village to the first neighborhood
of the city.

Figure 4.2 The neighborhood has its own religious institution: Church or Mosque.

30
Figure 4.3 The shape and plan of the study area in 1921 (DOX-QA 78, 1958, P.22)

Malik Kandi is deemed to be the oldest neighborhood in the city. This neighborhood
is still holding the traditional characteristics of the old city. It has compact organic
morphological elements with mixed ownership pattern of religious, residential,
commercial and light industrial buildings. Such patterns were applicable for even
medical centers and schools. According to the map of city in 1927, the

31
neighborhoods of Malik Kandi, Shexan and Sabwnkaran were separated by narrow
alleys to the north and north-east of the city and defined as a one neighborhood of the
city. However, today the neighborhood is mostly turned into the commercial and
residential mixed uses, but in 1920s, the structure of the neighborhood shows that it
depended on the commercial center in the south of the study area as the main bazaar.

Figure 4.4 Malik Kandi neighborhood in 1927. Source: map of city in 1927.

32
Figure 4.5 The urban fabric of Malik Kandi neighborhood.

33
Both the roads of Goran and Peramerd have the functional characters, which are
dominated by the commercial activities. Based on the study of Lynch in the image of
the city, in this study, they are considered as the paths for the study area. The road
that connects both Goran and Sabwnkaran is a civic space of the traditional city,
where people are gathering for social meetings. It is facing the central square, which
is called Sara Square. This Square connects all the neighborhoods together. As a
consequence, the road has the character of node for the all neighborhoods. Blocks
that face the Ibrahim Pasha Street are the edge of the Malik Kandi. They are
separating old city from the new districts due to the manifestation of modernism.
Thus, Malik Kandi is regarded as a neighborhood of mixed functional uses and the
oldest part of the whole traditional city. It is connected to the central part of the city
by the paths of Peramerd and Goran Roads.

Figure 4.6 The paths and node in the Malik Kandi neighborhood.

34
Figure 4.7 A view of Goran Road in 2009.

Figure 4.8 A view of Peramerd Road in 2009.

35
Figure 4.9 A view of Sara Square in 1940s (Historical archive).

The west of the Malik Kandi is called: Shexan neighborhood. It is located to the
north part of the old city between Malik Kandi and Kani Askan neighborhoods. It is
defined by Hamdi Road in the north, Peramerd Road in the east, and Kak Ahmadi
Shex in the west. The blocks in this neighborhood are mostly used for commercial
purposes. Kak Ahmadi Shex Road leads this neighborhood to reach the Great
Mosque in the south. This mosque is the land mark with the wide square front,
commonly is used as a gathering space. The Great Mosque was built with the
foundation of the city. It is both functionally and visually dominating the old city.
Special characteristics of this neighborhood are defined by the Sara Building, which
is located to the east part of the district. It is also the land mark for the old city. The
blocks from northern part of the neighborhood with Hamdi Street produce the edge
of the neighborhood.

Figure 4.10 A view of Hamdi Road to the north of Shexan neighborhood.

36
Figure 4.11 A view of Kaka Ahmadi Shex Road, which leads the neighborhood
towards the Great Mosque.

Figure 4.12 A view of Sara Building in1940s. (Historical archive).

37
Figure 4.13 A view of Great Mosque in 1958. (Historical archive).

Figure 4.14 A view of Square in front of Great Mosque as a gathering place.

(Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.images.google.com).

In the past, the south of the Malik Kandi was called Gawran, which is today one of
the neighborhoods in the old city and is called Sabwnkaran. It is located in the east
part of the study area. In the north part is defined by Sabwnkaran road and the
intersection of: Ibrahim Pasha and Ibrahim Ahmad Road. South of the neighborhood
38
is the intersection of the Ibrahim Ahmad and Nali Road. This neighborhood is
separated from the surrounding modern neighborhoods by having blocks in different
characteristics as the impacts of modernism and they are the edge of the
neighborhood. Sabwnkaran and Nali Roads are paths, which connect the
neighborhood to the heart of the city. Catholic Church is located in this
neighborhood. In the past and even today, this neighborhood was mostly dominated
by Christians.

Figure 4.15 Sabwnkaran neighborhood in the 1927.

Figure 4.16 Sabwnkaran neighborhood. Source: aerial photograph of 2007.

39
The north-west of the study area is Kani Askan neighborhood. To the north-west of
the neighborhood is the intersection of Hamdi and Mamostayan Roads and to the
west is the intersection of Mawlawi and Bekas Roads. The blocks, which are facing
Mamostayan Road, are edge of the neighborhood. They are representing clear
transformation from the old city to the new city. In the past, this neighborhood was
the rest place and it was used by caravans because of its spring water, trees and
deers. The British RAF image in 1924 shows that there was a large garden in this
neighborhood and it seems that it was the Main Garden of the old city (study area).

Figure 4.17 The plan of Kani Askan neighborhood.

40
Figure 4.18 Hamdi Road is separated Kani Askan and Shexan neighborhoods from
modern neighborhoods.

Figure 4.19 A view of Mamostayan Road, which is separated Kani Askan from
modern neighborhoods.

41
Figure 4.20 The modern block in the Kani Askan neighborhood.

Towards south of the study area is Dargazen: Residential blocks in the Dargazen
neighborhood are separated from the modern blocks by Ibrahim Ahmad Road. In the
past, west of Dargazen was the only commercial center for the old city. In this part of
the study area several khans were located as the commercial heart of the old city.
Due to which it was transformed into a big trading center in modern times.

It is surrounded by Mawlawi Road from the north, Kawa from the east, Mamostayan
from the west and Saiwan from the south. Two Roads of Mawlawe and Kawa are
nodes for the neighborhood with the various functional infrastructures of retail shops,
hotels, cafés, flats, services and small workshops. Especially Mawlawi Road is the
connection road between new and old districts. It has the beginning symbol as the
characteristics of the gate of the old and new city. Today, Kawa Road is separating
Bazrgani and Dargazen as a two neighborhoods in the old city.

42
Figure 4.21 Plan of Dargazen and Bazrgani neighborhood.

Figure 4.22 The gate between old and new city (Author, 2009).

43
RAF image shows that in 1920s, Dargazen, Sabwnkaran and Malik Kandi were
separated from each other by narrow alleys. In spite of their separation, they were
connected by continuous alleys. From this perspective, the old fabric shows that, the
availability of some principles to organize the residential houses in the past in terms
of neighborhoods is possible. According to this speculation, each residential group of
houses was separated and connected with each other.

Figure 4.23 The Connection of three neighborhoods: Dargazen, Sabwnkaran, and

Malik Kandi in 1920s. Source: map of city in 1927 and British RAF image in 1924.

44
Figure 4.24 A view of Mawlawi Road in 2009.

Figure 4.25 A view of Bazrgani neighborhood.

South part of Dargazen was called Sarshaqam, which is today one of the old city's
neighborhood. This neighborhood is located in the south-west of the study area. To
the north is the intersection of Mamostayan and Saiwan roads. Haji mala Ali Road
divided this neighborhood for two parts: east and west. Traditional characteristics
can only be seen in the heart of the each part. Residential houses are located in the
center of each part, and surrounded by commercial buildings. All of the attached
45
modern blocks separated this neighborhood from the surrounding neighborhoods. To
the north-west, six modern blocks attached to the neighborhood, they separate it from
the modern neighborhoods. In the past, this neighborhood was the Caravan's way
between Qara Chwalan (the previous center of Baban's dynasty), and Baghdad.
Sarshaqam neighborhood is described by Salhi Rasha, as the way of caravans to
Baghdad (Rasha, 1987). This means that Bazrgani neighborhood developed as the
central commercial part between administrative center and the way of caravans.

Figure 4.26 The modern blocks in Sarshaqam neighborhood (Edge of the

neighborhood).

In 2006, Municipality prepared land use for this neighborhood. According to the
survey, besides the commercial, medical, schools, and mixed use buildings, there are
residential, religious, and administration buildings.

46
Figure 4.27 The survey of Sarshaqam neighborhood in 2006. (Municipality, 2006).
Currently, the neighborhood is mainly composed of residential houses. Commercial
buildings, which faced the Mamostayan, Baban, and Saiwan roads, surrounded this
neighborhood. They are mostly mixed use buildings with two or three storey. The
religious institutions are located in the middle of the neighborhood, 5 mosques are
located in this neighborhood, and in addition, there are administrations, medicals,
services, and light industrial buildings.

Finally, Jwlakan neighborhood covers the south-west of the study area. From north is
defined by the intersection of Sivar Road and Mamostayan Road. In the past, Jewish
families lived in this neighborhood from the creation of the city until 1940s, and
then, it was called Jwlakan Neighborhood by people. Observation from the
neighborhood shows that the houses composed of small spaces with low entrances,
which give the distinctive characteristics to the neighborhood. The neighborhood
faced modernism, in the east part was surrounded by modern residential houses. In
addition, its residential houses are mostly replaced by the modern building types.

Figure 4.28 The plan of Jwlakan neighborhood.

Thus, these neighborhoods all together are the oldest neighborhoods in the recent
city. Based on the survey which, is carried out in 2006 by Sulaimaniyah
municipality, the Master Plan Team, and the Ministry of Culture (Museum of

47
Sulaimaniyah) defined that: there are 74 buildings under the heritage order in these
neighborhoods. 5 of them are in the Bazrgani district, 10 in Dargazen, 5 in Jwlakan,
6 in Kani Askan, 9 in Malik Kandi, 24 in Sabunkaran, 14 in Sarshaqam, and 3 in
Shekhan.

4. 2 City in Different Administrative Periods:

4. 2. 1 Dynasty of Baban (1784-1850):

The rule of this dynasty in Sulaimaiyah city, started from the date of the city's
establishment. Baban's ruler, Ibrahim Pasha, was the founder of this particular city.
Based on historical documentation, the original center of the dynasty was Sheher
Bazar (a small village of the district of Qalat Chwalan in the mountainous region of
Chwarta). Ibrahim Pasha moved his headquarters in 1784 to the plain region of a
village called Malik Kandi. Consequently, it became the center of his dynasty. Based
on political, economic, social and management factors, that place is better location
than his previous mountainous region Qalat Chwalan.

Afterwards, administration buildings, the market, mosques, baths, khans, were

erected, and surrounded by traditional residential houses. According to Kareim
Zandw Dashte, Palace was built as a Koshk for Ibrahim Pasha, and he started to
construct houses around the Koshk for his members of dynasty (Kareim Zandw
Dashte, 2000, p.12).

Thus, at the beginning, the city grew with the principles of Ibrahim Pasha. His
principles established compact organic form and irregular blocks. Narrow alleys and
cul-de-sacs were formed this particular city. The city had 5 mosques, one Catholic
Church, 6 khans: Karwan Sara, and 5 baths (Rasha, 1987). In that period, the
structure of buildings mostly depends on the Iranian craftsmen. According to Rasha
(1987), they were brought to decorate and build houses.

48
In his book, Akrami Salhi Rasha, mentioned that initially the number of people did
not exceed 1000 people. In 1820, Mr. Hart defined the population of Sulaimaniyah,
as 10000 people. In the same year, Mr. Rich, described the city, as having 2144
houses. 2033 households were Muslims, 144 of them were other religions. Among
the other 144 households, 130 were Jews, 9 were Kldani, and 5 were Armenians
(Rasha, 1987).

4. 2. 2 Ottoman Empire (1850- 1918):

During sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Sulaimaniyah was part of the Mosul
Villey, which was one of the three provinces ruled by the Ottoman Empire: Mosul,
Baghdad and Basra. The three provinces were under the direct rule of Istanbul,
opening them up to successive reforms in landholding, administration, conscription,
law and public education. These reforms were implemented at a different rate (Tripp,
2000, P.8).

In his book, Rasha mentioned that, in the city for the first time schools were opened
in the period of the Ottoman Empire. Rustiye School, which was built in 1892,
played an important role in the purpose of education. He states that this school was
only opened in the Sulaimaniyah and Baghdad city. After 3 years of education in the
Rustiye School, students could attend the Idadi Askari in the Baghdad, and Harbi
School in Istanbul. (Rasha, 1987, p.445).

In the period of Midhat Pasha, as a governor in the 1869, he implemented both Villey
(Vilayeti) Law: 1864, and Land Law: 1858. In the period of Ottoman Empire the
provinces of Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra were called Villey. The Villey law mapped
out the territorial boundaries of the three provinces (Tripp, 2000). He established a
new structure of administration from provincial down to village level intending to
bring the central administration to the provinces. One of the fundamental principals
of the land reform was Tapu: Sanad to any one who was in possession or occupation
of land (Tripp, 2000). During the rule of Ottoman Empire, four official yearbooks
were published, in the Mosul yearbook (1907, as cited in Sulaimaniayh yearbook,
1998) showed that: Mosul Villey consisted of four Sanjaxi: Mosul, Kirkuk,
49
Sulaimaniyah, and Hawler Sinjaxi Sulaimaniyah Sinjaxi consisted of 5 towns and 9
townships.

According to Abdulxalid Sabir (2003), in 1890, the authorities of Istanbul established

municipal council in Sulaimaniyah. They called it (Haiati Mashiwryat), which
included several small districts. They selected Ali bag Mohamad Bagi Xalid Bagi
Baban to become the head of the municipality. Municipality towards 1912, started to
regulate the city by implementing some projects such as waste water project and sub
base of roads in several districts. However, in this period municipality could not
supply the peoples demand, because of the shortage of financial sources. In spite of
this, the development of city was extended and new districts such as Sarkarez
appeared. Sulaimaniyah city is described in the 'Mosul Vilayeti:Resmi Salnamesidir
H.1330 (1912, as cited in Eroglu, Babucoglu, Ozdil, 2005) showed that: in the
H.1330, there were 36 mosques,7 Tekke (Dervish lodge),2 Madrasah, 2 Rustiye
School, 5 secondary schools, 1 synagogue, 21 fountain and kiosks(built for the
dispensing of free drinking water),1 administrative office (Hükümet Konagi),1
Barracks, 1 Redif Deposu, 1 hospital, 1 telegraph office, 2.982 houses, 13 khans,
1.155 shops, 25 cafés, 15 çayhane, 6 bakeries, 11 Tenvir, 10 bathes, 10 Debbaghane,
34 Mill, 24 gardens. Towards 1914, Ottoman Empire involved in WWI. Difficult
situations affected people. In that period of the war, many people died because of
hunger and diseases such as cholera. After the end of WWI in 1918, The British
started to rule the city.

Figure 4.29 The plan of Mosul Villey (Mahir Nakip, 2007, p.24).
50
4.2.3 British Rule (1918-1932):

British rule started from 1914, in the two Ottoman provinces: Basra and Baghdad.
Towards 1918, they expanded with the addition of Mosul. The British rule in
Sulaimaniyah was started by indirect rule plan. In December 1918, Sheikh Mahmud
Barzinji (tribal leader in Sulaimaniyah) was selected as a governor, and as a part of
the plan for indirect rule (Tripp, 2000, p.33). In this period, different administration
rules affected the evolution of the city. For instance, in 1919, in Sulaimaniyah, city
was dominated by Sheikhs and dominant rich families.

After the formation of the Iraqi state in 1920 by the British, the government was
formed. The Ottoman administrative units were restored in all provinces, as were the
municipal councils. Iraqi officials began to replace British political officers. They
were assisted in each case by a British adviser except Sulaimaniyah' (Tripp, 2000,
p.44).

According to Liora (1995), in December 1922, the possibility of installing a

government in Sulaimaniyah instead of previous administration was made by British.
This decision was a result of the reaction of rebelling and getting support from
Turkey by the Sulaimaniyah people. As a result of political problems, the city was
bombed by British RAF (British Royal Air Force) temporarily. Consequently, in
July, 1924, British and Iraqi troops relinquished control of the administration to the
High Commissioner.

From 1920 to 1921, as a reaction of modernism, Sulaimaniyah municipality

implemented the construction of roads, and covering sewage systems. Dam project
for winter's flood was built near the recent neighborhood of Twi Malik until the end
of Grdi Saiwan, but today it is one of the streets of city. The abnormal political
condition of 1917-1924, caused damages and the evacuation of the city several times.
As a result, its population by November, 1924, dropped to only 20000 people.
Consequently, at the beginning of the1924, Sulaimaniyah was officially connected to
the Iraqi government under the British.

51
Figure 4.30 Sulaimaniyah in 1924, British RAF image. (Devitt P., personnel
communication, November 26, 2009).

Towards 1925, after the opening Sabwnkaran road, the city was arranged in terms of
neighborhoods, Municipality divided the city into 7 districts: Goizha, Malik Kandi,
Kani Askan, Dargazen, Chwarbax, Jwlakan, Sarshaqam, and preparing map for the
city in 1927. According to the map, Malik Kandi neighborhood except itself
consisted of Sabwnkaran and Shexan, which they are two different neighborhoods in
the today's map.
52
Figure 4.31 Sulaimaniyah map in 1927. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from municipality:
Master plan department.

53
4.2.4 Iraqi rule since 1932.

In the period of Iraqi rule, after attaching the Mosul province to the Iraqi state,
kingdom of Iraq was established. From 1925, administration of Sulaimaniyah was
called Sulaimaniyah Liwa. In that period, several roads were built by the
municipality. New neighborhood of Kareza Wshk was planned. As a reaction of
immigration from villages around the city, Wlwba and Qalawa became
neighborhoods of the city. Towards 1950s, new settlements were planned. Grids and
straight road networks were introduced, especially with the affection of master plan
of the city in 1958. From that period on, two distinctive structures were appeared.
The first structure, and the bigger one, was the old town. The second one was the
new settlements. In that period, the city developed towards the west direction.
Consequently, central area of the old city was served by a trapezoid ring road. All
other main roads were radiated from it, and then, in all directions, residential areas
surrounded the central core.

Figure 4.32 The plan of Sulaimaniyah in 1958. (DOX-QA 78, 1958, P.22).
54
Figure 4.33 New proposed modern settlements around the old city. Sulaimaniyah
master plan in 1958. (DOX-QA 78, 1958, P.22).

From 2003, after the Second Gulf War, since 1991 until today, Sulaimaniyah became
part of the three integrated provinces Dhoke, Arbil and Sulaimanyah. In that period,
new districts were established surrounding the city. Towards north-west, the
settlements of Bakrajo, Raparin and Tasluja, were expanded. In addition, the building
of new Sulaimaniyah University, American University and International Airport, are
affected on the development of the city. From 2006, new master plan by IGCO is in
the process to develop the city. The master plan is expected to introduce sustainable
city and the development of transportation in addition of the light railway system
(LRT) and new CBD around the old city. The demonstration of its implementation
will introduce the distinctive morphology to the today's morphology. Furthermore,
the new investment planning projects of housing are planned in the surrounding the
city. High rise housing, in the new development districts, has been introduced to the

55
existing urban fabric, besides that, they are distinctive in terms of the ownership
pattern of plots and building types.

Figure 4.34 The new investment projects in the surrounding of Sulaimaniyah city.
(Author, 2009).

Figure 4.35 The master plan of Sulaimaniyah city. (IGCO, March 2009) Retrieved
July 4, 2009 from Sulaimaniyah Municipality: Master plan Department.

56
4.3 Morphological Analysis of the Study Area from the Maps:

The map of the city in 1921 and the RAF (Royal Air Force) image in 1924, illustrate
a three dimensional perspective of the city in that period. They show the original
morphology of the city. The morphology of the city consisted of the large ownership
parcels, which occupied the central part of the city as the authority's ownership. The
central part of the city was connected to the commercial center, and then, it was
surrounded by traditional residential houses.

The city was connected to the trade centers of surrounding cities by trade routes.
These routes were formed by narrow alleys and defined distinctive neighborhoods in
the city. The ethnic groups settled in the different neighborhoods of the city in terms
of the location of these neighborhoods. The south location of the city was occupied
by Jews, east by Christians, and the rest of the city, by Muslims. In addition, rich
families or members of the authority occupied large ownership residential parcels,
which surrounded central part of the city.

Figure 4.36 The diagrammatic evolution of the city.

57
In the commercial center of the city, small parcels were occupied by commercial
activities. Thus, central part of the city was accommodated by the large ownership
parcels of the public administrations. Sara Building in the central part is witnessing
that fact. Furthermore, the map of the city in 1927 shows that the residential patterns
were distributed based on the routes that led the trade ways. From this perspective,
several neighborhoods were distributed according to the direction of the trade routes.
The neighborhoods were represented by the religious plots like mosques or churches.
The commercial center extended towards the south to respond to the city's attraction
towards the nearest trade route to Baghdad.

Figure 4.37 The structure of a neighborhood represented by religious plot.

58
In the early 1930s, the city was introduced to the new regulation as a new way of
thinking in terms of modernism. Traditional city faced transformations: several paths
were widened to facilitate vehicular transportation. As per history, the development
of transportation occurred in different stages.

Originally, transportation depended on the carriage stage within organic routes, and it
was based on human scale. The motor vehicles were introduced to the city after the
World War I, when the city was ruled by the British. From that period on, expansion
of the roads started according to the needs of traffic. Consequently, carriages were
replaced by motor vehicles. In addition, the construction of vehicular roads affected
the ownership patterns in the old city. The property was changed in terms of blocks
and parcels. For instance, the building of roads by the state inside the old city played
an effective role to reshape the ownership of blocks and parcels.

Between the years 1920-1921, Sabwnkaran Road was created by widening narrow
paths from Sabwnkaran to the Kani Askan neighborhood. Creating the road of
Sabwnkaran was the introduction of modernism to the old city. Sabwnkaran Road
started from east of the city to the north-west of the city and connected east to the
west of the city. In that period, the building of Sabwnkaran Road as the first road in
the old city is due to the location of the main activities in the north-west and central
part of the old city, and their needs for a street system. For instance, the Great
Mosque to the north-west of the city was considered as a facility that was used as a
daily activity. Besides that, the administrative buildings such as Sara Building were
located in the north-east of the city.

59
Figure 4.38 The morphological evolution of city in the 1920s. Source: map of the
city in 1921.

Gradually, in 1930s, the municipality built Mawlawi and Kawa Roads.

Consequently, ownership parcels were redistributed, for instance, with the building
of Mawlawi Road, 34 ownership parcels were demolished by the power of the state.
Besides that, 19 ownership parcels in Kawa Road were demolished as well. Thus,
narrow paths were transformed into the straight roads, which carried the main street
system in the recent years.

60
Figure 4.39 The morphological evolution of city in 1930s. Source: map of the city in
1927.

Based on the aerial photograph of the city in 1944, the road network was expanded
by the building of Peramerd Road. With the construction of the Peramerd, Mawlawi
and Kawa Roads, morphology of the central block was transformed by its
subdivision of ownership parcels into the smaller blocks and parcels. Furthermore, in
the same period, the new road intersecting both Mawlawi and Mamostayan roads
was created. The modern blocks were attached to the old city. The intrusion of the
modern blocks in the south-east of the Jwlakan neighborhood is the example of these
blocks. This is also observed in the Kani Askan neighborhood with the construction
of modern residential block. This block consists of 10 parcels, and is occupied by
residential and public ownerships with the characteristics of large ownership parcels.
61
Figure 4.40 The morphological evolution of the city in 1940s. Source: aerial
photograph of the city in 1944.

Towards 1950s, Kawa Road was constructed to be a continuous road going towards
the south neighborhoods of the old city. Furthermore, several narrow paths were
widened, for example the road, which is parallel to Haji Mala Ali Road was widened
in that period. In the north-east of Kani Askan, Malik Kandi and Sabwnkaran
neighborhoods, new modern blocks were planned and attached to the old city. In
1954, municipality built Ashabaspi: Nali Street. According to Sabir, it was necessary
to include part of several ownership parcels into the street. However, people were
unhappy with this decision, which was made by municipality, but Ashapaspi Street
divided Sabwnkaran neighborhood into two neighborhoods: Sabwnkaran and
Dargazen (Sabir, 2005, p.64).
62
Figure 4.41 The morphological evolution of the city in 1950s. Source: aerial
photograph of the city in 1952.

In the 1960s, the street network was further widened by the building of Haji Mala Ali
and Goran Streets. Furthermore, Kak Ahmadi Shex Street was built. It ran from the
center to the north-eastern part of the old city, parallel to the Mamostayan Street, and
connected the northern neighborhood (Iskan houses) to the old city. The building of
this street, divided the north-western part of the old city into two parts: Shexan and
Kani Askan.

63
Figure 4.42 The morphological evolution of the city in1960s. Source: map of the city
in 1960 and 1958.

After 1960s, the road network continuously widened, as illustrated by the building of
a new road parallel to the Saiwan Road: Sivar road. Furthermore, the modern blocks
in the east direction of the Jwlakan district were planned and attached to the old city.
The neighborhoods of Dargazen, Kani Askan, Shexan and Malik Kandi were
surrounded by the modern blocks as well. The central part of the old city, which
consisted of large parcels, was subdivided to smaller and regular parcels. Besides the
regular attached blocks in the surrounding old city, the large ownership parcels inside
the old neighborhoods were redistributed to the smaller and regular parcels.

64
Figure 4.43 The morphological evolution of the city in 2009s. Source: map of the
city in 2009.

For short periods in 2009, Mawlawi Street was turned into the pedestrian way. This
decision was interrupted by the demands of vehicular traffic to the north-west from
the old city. Consequently, Mawlawi Street was returned to be the main street system
in the old city. The old city is connected to the new modern neighborhoods by the
following streets: In the north direction, Kak Ahmadi Shex connects northern
neighborhoods to the old city. Peramerd, Goran and Sabwnkaran Streets are
connecting the old city to the north-east of the old city. Furthermore, in the north-
west: Mawlawi, Kani Askan, Saiwan and Sivar are connecting old city to the
neighborhoods in the north-western direction. Consequently, Ashabaspi and Haji
Mala Ali streets are the ways to connect old city to the south-east.

65
Thus, the morphology of these periods shows that, few intrusions of modern blocks
occurred inside the old city, except when the state intervened to built roads. From
this perspective, the morphology of the study area is still the same as that of 1920s.

Besides that, the transformation of morphology in terms of the road construction

affected the land ownership parcels in terms of their demolition and their
transformation from the residential parcels into the commercial parcels, and then
large constructed buildings defined the boundary of the main constructed roads.
Consequently, the residential neighborhoods, which only consisted of residential
function and depended on the commercial center in the old city, were transformed
into the mixed- used functions of commercial and residential. This shows the impacts
of the road construction in the transformation of the old city.

4. 4 Micro Scale Analysis of the Study Area:

Morphological analysis covers the study of ownership elements of blocks, parcels,

and the structures on them. These elements were illustrated based on the micro scale
analysis. In the different time periods, the existence of the study area is evaluated by
depending on the ownership elements of blocks, parcels and floor area ratio. The
effects of the transformations on the formation of ownership pattern, and then, the
morphology of the old city, are also studied. Large ownership parcels and small
ownership parcels are illustrated, and compared with the respect of the growth of the
city. Central block of the old city and the residential block in the Sabwnkaran
neighborhood are taken for this study.

66
Figure 4.44 The central block and residential block inside the study area. Source:
British RAF image in 1924 and aerial photograph in 2006.

In 1927, the central block was functionally distinctive from the other blocks of the
neighborhoods. It was mostly occupied by the administrative buildings. This block
consisted of the large and small ownership parcels with different types of
commercial and administrative buildings. The commercial parcels were smaller than
the administrative parcels. The boundary of the block was defined by semi-circular
road.

67
Figure 4.45 The urban fabric of central block in 1927.

To the south of the block, commercial parcels were located, and administrative
parcels were located in the north of the block. This block was covered by fifteen
parcels with one storey buildings. The building coverage ranged from 183.2 until
910.1 m2 in the distinctive areas from 213.7 until 12536.2 m2. From this perspective,
the ratio of building coverage per each parcel area ranged from (0.1 to 1.0), see table
(4.1).
68
Table 4.1 The floor area ratio of central block in 1927.

Figure 4.46 The number of parcels of the central block in 1927.

69
Towards 1960, due to the intervention of the power of the state in the building of
Mawlawi Street, this particular block was divided into the several smaller blocks and
parcels. The new blocks were turned into the commercial buildings. For example,
Faisalya School, which was located in this block, was turned into the Asri Bazaar in
1940s.

From 1960s until 2003, the blocks, which located in the north, were divided into the
smaller ownership parcels, and then, open spaces were decreased. In spite of this, all
the buildings were attached back to back. Blocks in the south were hardly defined
because of the obscure circular ring road, which functioned as a circular road around
the block in 1920s. Narrow alleys between the distributed blocks were covered for
the purpose of bazaar. Thus, this block shows that central block of city in 1927, was
distributed to the smaller accessible parcels. Furthermore, the size of ownership
parcels was reduced again because of the Sara Square widening. In that period, the
buildings consisted of two-or three storey.

In 2009, the structure of the buildings was changed. North and south blocks were
covered by three or four storey buildings. The buildings are mostly erected after
2003 by replacing 1950's buildings. The floor area ratio reached 3.4 from 0.9, see
table (4.3). Thus, due to the demands of modernism, construction of the Mawlawi
Street by the state, divided large block into the smaller blocks. This fact defined the
intervention of state in the changing old fabric of city in terms of the road
construction.

Table 4.2 Similarities and dissimilarities of the central block in 1927, 1960, and
2009.

70
Figure 4.47 The morphological transformation of central block in 1927, 1960, and
2009.

71
Table 4.3 The floor area ratio of central block in 2009.

Figure 4.48 The number of parcels of the central block in 2009.

72
The second area of the study is the residential block, which is in the Sabwnkaran
neighborhood. The block consists of small and large ownership parcels, and is
defined by narrow alleys.

Figure 4.49 The urban fabric of residential block in 1927.

73
In 1927, the block was occupied by the residential ownership parcels. In this block,
some parcels, were accessed through cul-de-sacs. One-or two storey buildings were
constructed with the coverage building areas ranged from (61.1 until 1112.5) m2. The
size of the parcels was distributed from (59.8 until 1898.3) m2. This organization
produced different floor area ratio, which varied from 0.2 to 1.3, (see table 4.4).

Table 4.4 The floor area ratio of residential block in the Sabwnkaran district, in 1927.

Figure 4.50 The number of parcels of the residential block in 1927.

74
Towards 1960s, the block remained unaffected. The block was still defined by
narrow alleys and cul-de-sac. The large parcels in this block were only divided into
several smaller parcels by owners. In the block, one large parcel was divided into the
smaller parcels, while the rest of the ownership parcels were decreased or increased
in the size among each other. This block shows that the property is always surviving
and hardly changes even with the measures taken by the state government.

In 2009, however, the one parcel was changed from residential function to the
purpose of parking, but the block still remained as a residential block. The size of the
parcels was changed: they are distributed from 103 until 1061 m2. Furthermore,
interior and exterior facades of the houses were mostly changed. However, one
storey houses are transformed into two storey houses, but there are six houses, which
preserved historical values of the old city. As a consequence, floor area ratio varied
from 0.6 to 1.9, see Table (4.6).

Table 4.5 Similarities and dissimilarities of the residential block in 1927, 1960, and
2009.

75
Figure 4.51 The morphological transformation of residential block in the
Sabwnkaran district, in 1927, 2003, and 2009.

76
Table 4.6 The floor area ratio of residential block in the Sabwnkaran district in 2009.

Figure 4.52 The number of parcels of the residential block in 2009.

77
The block formation is still remaining without any subdivision, except the
transformation of parcels in the case of the land contracts between owners. This
block shows that how the ownership elements kept their morphology throughout
history except their transformation in the case of the state intervention in the
construction of roads. That is why, the morphology of the old city is still surviving
and it is separated from the morphology of the rest of the city. Besides that, the
transformation of the central block shows that the construction of roads transformed
morphology of the city in terms of function. For instance, the administrative function
in the center of city turned into the commercial function.

4.5 Typological Analysis of the Study Area:

Typology is used to analyze the evolution of the building fabric of the old city in
both functional and formal configuration. It compares traditional and modern
building types in terms of the physical characteristics of building types. In addition, it
defines the impacts of modernism, for example, the transformation of traditional
building types to modern building types. The buildings, which were constructed
before 1920s until 1980s, are classified to different building types. Those, which
were constructed before 1920s, are marking the traditional building types. After
1950s, buildings are modern types especially, the buildings in 1960s and 1980s.
Consequently, typology indicates the impact of morphological elements on the
formation of the building fabric and then, the typological analysis defines the role of
typology in the defining morphology of the old city. From the functional perspective,
buildings are divided into four types: administrative, residential, religious and
commercial types. From the RAF image of city in 1924, the following buildings are
observed: mosques and churches as a religious type; houses as residential types;
shops, khans, and baths as commercial types and authority buildings as
administrative types. The administrative types were located in the center of the old
city, and connected to the commercial center to the south of the old city. In addition,
residential types surrounded the center of the old city. Religious types were mainly
located in every neighborhood. Finally, commercial types were directly connected to
the central part. They harbor small ownership parcels, which were mostly arranged in
the rectangular shape and streamed towards south direction of the old city.
78
Figure 4.53 The location of the building types.

The formation of different building types is typically courtyard. In the different

administrative types, the middle open space is directly connected to the out side.
They were built on the large ownership parcels. While mosques, khans and baths, as
a different functional type of building, are defined by the distinctive characteristics of
formal configuration. The architecture elements of dome and minaret are the
dominant formation of these sorts of buildings.

79
Figure 4.54 The building types in 1924. Source: British RAF image of the city in
1924.

To analyze the formal arrangement of the buildings, residential building types are
evaluated in the Malik Kandi neighborhood, which is located in the north-east of the
study area. It is the oldest neighborhood in the old city. The constructed residential
80
buildings are chosen from 1920s until 1980s. The selected period is related to the
gradual evolution of the study area towards modernity. Residential types are divided
into the traditional houses and modern houses. These types of houses were
constructed in the three sequential time periods: from the establishment of the city
until 1950, from 1950s until 1960s, and finally from 1960s until 1980s.

Figure 4.55 The division of ownership parcels based on the different building types.
(Courtyard and modern types).

81
The residential building types are outlined in the following table:

Table 4.7 The classification of residential types

Traditional residential types were constructed, starting from the establishment of the
city until 1950s. Generally, courtyard houses were built by a traditional society.
Today, they are located in the central part of the neghiborhoods. Despite the irregular
shape of the parcels; they show a distinctive arrangement of the closed and opened
spaces. There are two types of courtyards. In the first type of courtyard, open space is
surrounded by closed spaces, and is located in the middle of the parcel. In the second
type, the courtyard is shared by two or three parcels and is separated by walls. In this
type, open space is arranged in three ways: as a side yard, as a front yard or
backyard. The parcels are separated from each other by 1.80 or 2 meter wall as a
fence. In short, the location of closed spaces makes the different types of courtyard
houses.
82
Figure 4.56 Traditional residential types.

Typically, main functional parts of houses are around the central yard. They are one
or two storey houses. The access to the central yard is indirect: it begins from the
entrance space, which is in between the two closed spaces as a reception hall for
guests: Diwaxan and the main store. The kitchen, service and family part are in the
opposite direction of the court yard. The family part has central semi-closed space,
which gives the way towards court yard. In the first floor, it has columns, and is
called Tarma. Other closed spaces are arranged around it. The middle room is called
Aiwan. First floor has large windows and covered verandahs and whilst. Ground
floor is used for storage and winter accommodation.

83
Figure 4.57 The traditional residential type (Courtyard house).

84
Figure 4.58 The functional parts of the courtyard houses (Tarma and Aiwan).

Figure 4.59 A view of the family and service part from the courtyard.

Towards 1950s, new houses were constructed on the regular parcels (as the impacts
of modernism in the regulation of blocks). As a result of this, modern types were
attached to the traditional houses. This transformation of building types indicates the
impact of modernism on the regulation of parcels. According to Günay, in the
modern period, real property (parcel and building) are in relation with the control
mechanisms of state (Günay, 1999, p.9).
85
Thus, modernism regulated the shape of parcels. Consequently, it led to the
construction of modern building types. Attached and semi-detached houses are the
products of modernism. Attached houses were formed in three ways, and thus, they
produced three types of attached houses. The first type has the open space in the
front and back side of the parcel (see figure 4.60).

Figure 4.60 The first type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s).

86
In the second type of attached houses, the location of open space is in either right or
left side of the parcel. In spite of it is constructed on regular shaped parcels, it has the
same formation as the traditional houses. While traditional houses were constructed
on the irregular shaped parcels (see figure 4.61).

Figure 4.61 The second type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s).

87
The third type of attached houses is arranged as a courtyard houses. This type of
modern houses is located in the border of the neighborhood. They have similar
formation as the traditional houses. Three sides are attached and it has open space in
the middle of the parcel. The parcels are regulated: indicate the impact of
modernism. Gradual morphological transformation of the neighborhood towards
modernity is marked by these types of housing.

Figure 4.62 The third type of attached residential house (1950s_1960s).

88
In 1960s, until 1980s, in the north of the neighborhood, new residential houses were
built. They are semi-detached residential houses. This type of houses has open space
in the three sides of the parcel. In this type, the morphological formation of
traditional houses is losing. They are arranged accordance with the regular shaped
parcels.

Figure 4.63 The semi-detached houses (1960s-1980s).

89
Thus, in the modern periods, in spite of the regular shape of the ownership parcels,
the residential types in the borders of the neighborhood have the same formal
configuration as the traditional building types. As a result, these types participate in
the morphology of the old city because; they show the gradual transformation of the
traditional houses in relation with the straight transformation of the ownership
parcels. They were built on the regular shaped parcels and then, they separate the
morphology of the old city from the modern types in terms of different building
types. In short, constructed traditional houses on the regular parcels are part of the
morphology of the old city. From this point of view, the interpretation of old city’s
morphology is made up of property in two dimensions and the building types on
them.

90
 CHAPTER 5

DISCUSSION OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE

STUDY AREA

5.1 Macro Scale Discussion:

In this study, the oldest neighborhoods in Sulaimaniyah city are chosen to expose its
old fabric in different time periods. It is based on the evolutionary plan analysis to
analyze the visibility of the old fabric from its establishment until the recent years.
Morphological analysis is the method to define gradual evolution of the case study.
The method of Conzen's morphological analysis is used to analyze the study area and
to establish the historical evolution of the city. It defines the impacts of modernism
on the morphology of the old city. In the first phase of this study, morphology of the
study area is analyzed in the macro scale. In this phase, the gradual transformation of
the study area (old city), the recent location of the old city, and its connection with
the surrounding cities are defined. In the second phase, the study area is examined in
the mezzo and micro scale. In this phase, the morphological elements of ownership
are analyzed based on the sequential time periods.

The analysis of the study area show that in the past residential pattern distributed
according to the trade routes that led to the trade activity. Trade routes influenced the
expansion of the city based on the active trade routes at that period. The trade routes
to Iran through Halabja, Penjwn, Rawanduz, and to Baghdad through Qara Dagh,
affected the city expansion to the south-and south-east. The recent route to the
Kirkuk was not attractive as much as the routes of Halabja and Qara Dagh.

91
Figure 5.1 The city expansion in 1920s. Source: map of the city in 1927.

After 1950s, the city expansion was attracted by the main highway to Kirkuk to the
north-west of the city. The stream of public and administrative buildings a long the
Mamostayan Street and the highway to Kirkuk marked the city expansion to the
north- west of the city. In addition, they mark the impacts of modernism on the
evolution of the city towards modernity. Today, the central part of the old city is
connected to the modern city through the main streets of Mawlawi, Goran,
Sabwnkaran, Kak Ahmadi Shex, Peramerd, and Saiwan. Besides, the services,
administrations, and the main commercial center are still located in the old city.
From this perspective, the construction of roads affected the city expansion in terms
of direction.

92
5.2 Mezzo Scale Discussion of the Study Area:

In the mezzo scale, the study area (old city) is analyzed in terms of morphology: the
physical characteristics of morphological elements are defined based on their
organization and connection with each other within the old city. The study shows
that before the construction of roads inside the study area, the residential pattern in
the old city was divided into the different parts towards the trade routes. In spite of
their separation, they were connected with each other by continuous alleys. The
connection alleys, between neighborhoods, were long and continuous against the
narrow and cul-de-sacs, which defined the fabric of the old neighborhoods (see
figure 4.23).

As a consequence, the different neighborhoods were produced based on the

directions of the trade routes. In addition, in the past, each neighborhood, in terms of
the different locations of north, east, and south, was formed by different ethnic
groups. Muslim families dominated the north of the old city, the Jewish dominated
the south, and then the Christians dominated the east. The interpretation of the study
area shows that the formation of residential building types in the Jewish
neighborhood is different. It separated this neighborhood from the Muslims and
Christians neighborhoods. The closed spaces in the residential houses are narrow and
small.

Furthermore, the physical elements of neighborhoods are studied, referring to the

study of Lynch in the image of the city. The Great Mosque and Sara Building are the
landmarks in the old city. According to the historical records, and the British RAF
image, these two physical elements were visible elements in the old city. In addition,
the image shows the wide green area in the center of the neighborhoods, that area
could be the Main Garden for the all neighborhoods in the old city. Today, in the
north-west of the city, modern neighborhoods were separated from the old city by the
gate. The construction of that gate belongs to the period of modernism. It marks the
transformation of the old city towards modernity. Furthermore, this study defines the
new modern blocks, which attached to the old neighborhoods, as the edges of the
93
neighborhoods. New blocks, as the edge, they separate old fabric from the new
modern neighborhoods. They are considered as a transformation zone towards
modernity.

In the past, city was the market town for surrounding agricultural lands. In the
geographical location, the city was the active trade center with the cities of Kirkuk,
Mosul, Baghdad, and the countries of Iran and Turkey. Political and administrative
rules affected the development of the city, and consequently its morphology. In the
period of Ottoman Empire, municipality, as the administration office, was
established to take responsibility towards the city. In addition, with the introduction
of Tapo: Sanad, the land ownerships were organized. In the period of the British
rules especially in 1920s and 1930s, morphological transformation appeared in the
opening of new roads. Sabwnkaran road, which was opened in that period,
introduced modernity to the old fabric of the city. When Iraq was established, the old
city faced more transformations. From this perspective, the periods of 1930s, 1940s,
1950s, and 1960s, faced developments in the morphology of the city. In short, the
mode of transportation was changed.

The maps are used to analyze the morphology of the old city to show its gradual
evolution throughout history. From the map analysis: Morphological analysis proved
that the city was built based on the administrative purposes as the authority center,
and then, it was developed by the commercial and residential houses. The
commercial center developed the central part of the old city towards south direction.
The reason of its development towards south direction was the location of the nearest
trade route to Baghdad, which was located in the south of the city. In addition, the
residential neighborhoods depended on this south of the city as the main commercial
center in the city. In contrast, today each neighborhood turned into the mixed-used
neighborhood. This resulted from the transformation of the old city in terms of the
road construction. For instance, the constructed roads divided the old city into
several neighborhoods. As a consequence, the ownership parcels, which defined the
boundary of new constructed roads, mostly turned into the commercial functions.
This is defined the impacts on the construction of roads on the morphology of the old

94
city. However, the ownership blocks and narrow roads inside each neighborhood
have resisted against transformation.

Thus, the old city has undergone through transformation towards modernity. From
1930 until 1960s, the gradual evolution of the morphological elements occurred in
terms of the construction of streets. In these years, the old city was only transformed
in terms of the construction of new roads.

5.2 Micro Scale Discussion of the Study Area:

In the micro scale analysis, morphological elements of ownership are analyzed by

relying on the two different cases in the study area. These cases show the existing
morphology of the old city against transformation. The cases are two different
blocks, which represent small and large ownership parcels. The years 1927, 1960,
and 2009, are compared to show evolutionary steps of the morphology of the cases.
First case is chosen in the center of the city. The second case is a residential block in
the Sabwnkaran neighborhood.

From the morphological analysis of the study area: the central block was transformed
by the construction of Mawlawi Street. In 1927, the central block consisted of the
parcels, which were occupied by the administrative and commercial activities. The
buildings were all one storey with the various floor area ratios: from 0.1 until 1.0.
The floor area ratio differs based on the activity units according to plots. When, the
central block is compared with its state in 1960s, it is seen that the central block
turned into several smaller ownership blocks, for the sake of constructing Mawlawi
Street. This change was due to the intervention of the state in the construction of
roads and then, the division of the central block. The parcels were occupied by one or
two storey of commercial buildings. Towards 2009, the division of blocks into
smaller blocks was related to the distributed large ownership parcels. In addition, the
floor area ratio reached 3.5 from 0.9., which resulted from the construction of three-
four storey buildings. This is also related to the increasing population of the city.
Thus, the analysis of this block shows the power of the state, which is limited in the

95
construction of roads, and resulted from the demands of transportation in the modern
periods.

The central block is distinctive from the residential block, which has kept its
morphology. In 1960, the block remained without division except the small
transformation of the area of ownership parcels. The transformation was related to
the land contracts between owners. Towards 2009, the floor area ratio reached 1.9
from 0.6. This transformation resulted from the increasing and decreasing the area of
ownership parcels and the number of building floors. In 1927, it was occupied by one
or two storey buildings. The size of parcels ranged from 59.8 until 1898.3 m2. In the
2009, the residential ownership of parcels was occupied by one-or two storey
buildings with the various sizes of parcels from 103 until 1061 m2.

The differences between two blocks are comprehended by the fact that the central
block was transformed because of the intervention of the state in the construction of
roads. However, the residential block shows the power of ownership in the existing
morphology of the old city. The building coverage ratio, in 2009 was denser than in
the past. In addition, the central block was completely turned into the commercial
activities, towards wide and straight roads. This is the opposite of the changes of the
residential block, which remained as private houses and surrounded by the narrow
alleys.

Figure 5.2 The comparison between central and residential blocks

96
Thus, the central block was subdivided according to the street network, which was
constructed by the municipality, while the residential block kept its morphology.
This comparison, illustrates the limited power of intervention by the state. In
addition, it shows the power of ownership elements to stand against the
transformation of morphology. Consequently, the property pattern is dominated
power to define morphology, and to show the reasons of the existence old fabric of
Sulaimaniyah city.

Figure 5. 3 The south-east of the residential block

97
Figure 5.4 The northern part of the central block

For further development in this study, Building types are analyzed to define the
building fabric in the study area. The study shows the role of building fabric in the
defining morphology of the old city. Building types are analyzed by examining the
functional and formal configuration of buildings. Based on the British RAF image in
1924, different types of residential, commercial, administration, khans, and mosques
were distributed. These types defined distinctive building types based on the
functional configuration. The formal configuration of these types is examined in the
residential building types in the Malik Kandi neighborhood. The Malik Kandi
neighborhood is chosen to study the residential typology and their gradual evolution
towards modernity. The constructed residential buildings are examined from the
1920s until 1980s. The selected period is related to the gradual evolution of the study
area towards modernity.

Typological analysis provides the opportunity to make comparison based on the

evolutionary analyses of traditional and modern building types. Building of a
residential courtyard defined the traditional building types. Attached and semi-
detached houses are the modern residential types. The traditional type, which
consists of court yard houses, is arranged by the location of closed and open spaces.
There are two types of courtyard houses. The first type is determined by one parcel.
In this type, the open space is located in the middle of the parcel and surrounded by
closed spaces. In the second type, the open space is determined by more than one
parcel. In this case, Open space is located in the back or at the sides of the parcels. In
other words, the produced courtyard is shared by two or three ownership parcels.

The modern residential types were erected in the modern periods, and attached to the
traditional building types. In modern types of attached houses, open space is located
in one side of the parcel, or is divided between two sides, or is located in the middle
of the parcel. These types of attached houses were erected on the rectangular shape
of ownership parcels. In spite of this, they have the same arrangement of the
traditional building types, because their arrangement of open space is the same as the
traditional residential types. This means that they are part of the old fabric of the city,

98
and then define its morphology. In addition, in the modern types of semi-detached
houses, the buildings have open space on three sides of the ownership parcels.

Figure 5.5 The comparison between traditional and modern building types.

The comparison of the traditional building types and the modern building types show
that the modern buildings have the same characteristics of formal configuration as
the traditional types, except their erecting on the regular ownership parcels. This
means that they are part of the old fabric of the city and its morphology. These
modern residential types were attached to the neighborhood. From this perspective,
they are the edge of the neighborhood: they erected on the regular parcels, which
separate them from the irregular parcels in the old city. Thus, this analysis shows that
the building types are part of the morphology of the old city. Although they are
affected by modernism in terms of regularity of parcels, they kept the characteristics
of the old fabric of the city. In addition, due to their characteristics, which consist of
the regularity of ownership parcels, and the characteristics of traditional building
types, the old city is separated from new city.

99
 CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION

5.1 Findings:

The morphological analysis of the city in 1920s shows that the old city of
Sulaimaniyah was distributed towards the trade roads. Before, the impacts of
modernity, the main active trade roads were located in the south, north, and east of
the city. The Kirkuk road was not attractive road as much as the Qara Dagh to
Baghdad, Halabja, and Chwarta. After the transformation of city towards modernity,
especially with the construction of Kirkuk Road, several roads were constructed and
new neighborhoods were planned in the surrounding of the old city. In that period the
Kirkuk Road attracted the city expansion towards north-western direction of the city.
It was constructed as an alternative road towards Baghdad. In the 1920s, the road that
led trade activities to Baghdad was located in the south of city. In addition, the
established factories, in the west of the city, were also the factors of its expansion
towards north-western direction of the city.

In Sulaimaniyah city, modernity is defined by the modern functions of new

administrative system and new commercial functions. After 1920s, the city was
adjusted to these new institutions. As a consequence, the power of state displayed
this transformation in the forms of building roads, and then the new larger and
regular parcels (rectangular parcels) are created to adapt new functions.

In addition, in the period of modernism, city was expanded by the regular

(rectangular) blocks and parcels instead of the traditional structure of these
100
ownership elements. They attached to the old city to adjust modern functions. As a
consequence, the city in that period appeared as a two parts: old city and new city (in
terms of the new modern function).

Another finding of this study shows that, the city was formed by different functional
activities: Before the period of modernity, the city was formed based on the
separated administrative center as a core of the city. The residential neighborhoods
surrounded the center of the city, which was supported by the commercial center
towards south direction of the old city.

In spite of their separation towards the trade roads, the residential neighborhoods
were connected with each other by the continuous narrow roads. Each neighborhood
was represented by the religious institutes of mosque or church. Besides that, the old
city was formed by different ethnic groups. The Jewish family formed southern part
of the city, and then east and north of the old city were formed by Christians and
Muslims. The formation of residential houses in the southern part of the old city
(Jwlakan neighborhood) is different from the rest of the old city. They mostly consist
of small spaces and narrow entrances.

The map analysis shows that the city is only transformed in terms of the road
construction by the power of state except the intrusion of one regular block in the
north-western direction of the city. Other than that the ownership elements of
irregular blocks, narrow roads, and cul-de-sacs are kept against transformation. For
instance, the comparison of central block and residential block showed the limited
power of state in the construction of Mawlawi and Kawa Streets, which resulted
from the power of ownership elements in the existing morphology of the old fabric
of the city against transformation. This is reflected in the existence of the residential
block in the Sabwnkaran neighborhood. The central block was divided into several
smaller blocks in accordance with the straight roads. Larger buildings were produced
by more than two-storey buildings especially, in 2009, the blocks were occupied by
four-storey buildings.

101
On the other hand, the residential block remains without transformation except the
changes of the size of parcels by the land owners. This is not affected the
transformation of the block. The block is still served by narrow roads and cul-de-
sacs. This is shows the existence of morphology of the block in defining old fabric of
the city in terms of narrow roads, cul-de-sacs and then irregular blocks and parcels.

The transformation of morphology in terms of the road construction affected the old
city. It changed the old city, which consisted of separated functional activities of
residential, commercial, administrative structure. For instance, due to this
transformation, the old city was divided for several neighborhoods and then turned
into mixed used of residential and commercial functions.

The finding of typology is the classification of buildings into modern residential and
traditional building types based on the formal configuration. Besides that, it shows
that residential houses, which are erected after 1950s participate in the formation of
the old fabric of the city and then, its morphology. For instance, after 1950s, the
construction of residential houses was on the regular (rectangular) land ownership
parcels. Besides their construction on the regular parcels, they have the same
formation as the formation of traditional building types.

In the traditional residential types open space is located in the middle or in one side
of the parcel: front part of the parcel, right or left side of the parcel, and backside of
the parcel. In the modern building types of attached houses open space is arranged
same way as the traditional residential types: front and back side, right or left side
and middle part of the parcel. From this perspective, the modern residential types,
which attached to the traditional residential houses define and separate morphology
of the old city from the surrounding modern neighborhoods. In the classification of
traditional residential types, there are two types. First type is produced by one parcel
and open space is located in the middle of the parcel. It is a courtyard houses.
However, the second type, courtyard is produced by more than one parcel and is
separated by fence among the parcels. The Open space, which is shared by each
parcel, is arranged in three ways: front part of the parcel, right or left side of the

102
parcel, and backside of the parcel.

Morphological and typological study defined the forces that build up morphology of
the old city and the reasons of its existence. The remarkable old fabric and its
morphology of the old city resulted from the forces of protected ownership elements
and the building types on them.

5.2 Conclusion:

The existing morphology of the old fabric of city resulted from the protected
ownership elements by their resistance against transformation. The power of
ownership elements of streets, blocks, and parcels are the forces that define the
morphology of the old city. In the conclusion of morphological analysis, the
comparison of the different ownership elements of blocks in the old city was
revealed that the transformation of morphology is only occurred by public force,
which reflects itself in the construction of roads. In the absence of the public force,
however, the morphology of city has resisted against transformation. The residential
block in the Sabwnkaran neighborhood was not interfered by the state in terms of the
building roads. As a consequence, the ownership elements are kept and then its
morphology. This is the reason of the existence morphology of the old fabric of
Sulaimaniyah city. The old city is only transformed in terms of the road construction.
Thus, the morphology of the old city is interrelated with the existence of ownership
elements by their resistance against transformation, besides the public force. For
instance, the public force had not concerned to transform the blocks inside the
neighborhoods of the old city. In contrast, the public force interested in transforming
the central block was administrative activities took place, which was reflected in the
road construction. As a consequence, the construction of Mawlawi and Kawa Street
changed the ownership pattern of the center of the old city.

In addition, the analysis of residential and central block also shows that, the core of
the city is affected by the transformation due to the location of main activities in the
center of the city. This is shows that the public ownerships as administrative center
are more concerned than private ownerships (residential) by the public force. In
103
contrast, the heart of the residential neighborhoods as private ownerships was not
interested by the public force in the construction of roads. Thus, the existence of the
ownership blocks showed the power of ownership elements against transformation of
morphology of the old fabric of city. While, the transformation of ownership block
defined the power of state in the changing morphology of city.

Investigation of the existing old fabric of the city by the morphological analysis
proved that the morphology of the old city is still alive. The protected ownership
elements of blocks are the dominant power to keep this morphology against the
transformation and then, the existing power of these ownership elements defines the
existing morphology of the old city. Thus, the forces that built up the morphology of
the old city and the reasons of its existence are defined through the morphological
analysis.

Thus, property marks the morphology of the old city. It is surviving as the
morphological elements of blocks without the intervention of the state, which is
limited in the road constructions. From this perspective, the morphology of the old
city consists of property in two dimensions and the building types on it. The existing
morphology of the city is also defined in the study of Goethert (1985, as cited in
Gunay, 1999) showed that:

The pattern of land subdivision is one of the more critical planning decisions
faced by those designing human settlements. Once established the pattern
essentially remains forever and can only be changed at great cost, efforts and
political will. The area and the geometric layout pattern effectively dictate the
infrastructure networks, which represent the basic capital costs in settlements
construction: water supply, sewage disposal, electricity networks, street
lighting, streets and side walks.

Consequently, the conclusion means the transformation of morphology of city only

requires the public force in the building of roads. Other than that, the old fabric of
city and its morphology will remain against transformation by keeping the original
traditional ownership patterns.

104
This study can be further developed by including the morphological analysis of
ownership elements of blocks and parcels in each neighborhood of the study area like
Malik Kandi, Shexan, Kani Askan, Dargazen, Bazrgani, Jwlakan, and Sarshaqam.
The subject of this thesis is explained by depending on the two ownership blocks of
the central and residential block in the Sabwnkaran neighborhood .from this
perspective, it will be interesting to study ownership elements in the all
neighborhoods of the old city. In addition, for further improvement, the study of
typology of new buildings, which are erected in the recent years inside the old city,
also enrich the framework of this research. The study of building types in this
research focused on the limited area in a limited time period (from 1920s until
1980s) in the Malik Kandi neighborhood. A further research can be focused on the
building types in the other neighborhoods of the study area in the same period.
Moreover, a further study can be concentrated on the morphology of the new modern
districts in the surrounding the old city like Majid Bag, Twi Malik, Darogha, Goisha,
Saiwan, Khabat, Chwar Bagh, Wais, Shorsh. The building types in these
neighborhoods mostly have the same formation as the traditional building types in
the old city.

105
 REFERENCES

Ali, J. M. M. (2008). Political factors role on the population distribution in

Sulaimani province.Kurdology center Sulaimani.

Ariga, T. (2005). Morphology, sustainable evolution of inner- urban neighborhoods

in San Francisco. (Vol. 4, No 1 pp. 143-150). Retrieved August 5, 2009, from
website: http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jaabe/4/1/4_143/_article.

Ahmad, K. A. (2006). Shari Slemani: Mlmlanei groupa komalayatyakan (1820-

1920). Slemani: Bnkae Zhin.

Bosselmann, P. (2007). Urban forms and metropolitan spaces. Retrieved August 10,
2009, from Roma website:
www.dau.uniroma1.it/.../forms_spaces_texts/@04Abstract_Isaacs.pdf –.

Banerjee, T. & Southworth, M. (1995).City sense and city design: Writings and
projects of Kevin lynch. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

Conzen, M.R.G. (1960). Alinwick, northumberland: A study in town-plan analysis.

Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the Royal
Geographical Society & the Institute of British Geographers website:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/621094

Conzen, M.R.G. (1960). Alinwick, northumberland: A study in town-plan analysis. In

Whitehand, J.W.R., Samuels, I. & Conzen, M. P. Retrieved January 19, 2010, from
SAGE website: http://phg.sagepub.com.

Doxiadis associated-consulting engineers [DACE] (1958). The future of

Sulaimaniya: Interim report issued to initiate discussions for the future of
Sulaimaniya.

Eren, G. Ş. (1995). Role of the urban block in the formation of urban form dialectical
relations between wholes and parts. Unpublished master thesis. Middle East
Technical University.

Gunay, B. (1999). Property relations and urban space. Ankara: METU Faculty of
Architecture Press.

106
Gober, P. & Burns, E. (2002). The size and shape of phoenix's urban fringe. (Vol. 21,
pp.379). Retrieved December 1, 2009, from SAGE on behalf of ASIE website:
http://jpe.sagepub.com

IGCO-group-Germany [IGCO] (2009). Slemani city master plan: Final report.

Kostof, S. (1991). The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings Through History.
London: Thames & Hudson Ltd.

Longrigg, S. H. (1953). Iraq, 1900 to 1950: A political, social, and economic history.
. London E. C. 4: Oxford University Press.

Lynch, K. (1960). Image of the City. The M.I.T. Press.

Lynch, K. (1981). Good City Form. The M.I.T. Press.

Lynch, K. & Rodwin, L. (1958). A theory of urban form. (Vol.24, Issue 4, p.201-
214). Retrieved January 20, 2010, from website:
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a787365436

Moudon, A. V. (1997). Urban morphology as an emerging interdisciplinary field.

Retrieved April 4, 2009, from website:
http://www.let.rug.nl/ekoster/isuf2/pdf/moudon011997.pdf

Moudon, A. V. (2000). Proof of Goodness: A Substantive Basis for New Urbanism.

Places, 13(2). Retrieved January, 4, 2009, from UC Berkeley, Places, College of
Environmental Design website: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/87f0q7p7

Moudon, A. V. (1995). Teaching urban form. Retrieved June 1, 2007, from SAGE
on behalf ASIE website: http://jpe.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/14/2/123

Naqip, M. (2007). Kerkük'ün kimliği. Ankara: Bilgi Yayinevi.

Rasheed, G. A. K. (1962). Development of agricultural land taxation in modern Iraq.

(Vol. 25, No.1/3, pp. 262-274). Retrieved December 4, 2009, from Cambridge
University Press on behalf of School of Oriental and African Studies website:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/610824

Rothwell, V. H. (1970). Mesopotamia in British war aims, 1914-1918. (Vol. 13,

pp.273-294). Retrieved December 4, 2009, from Cambridge University Press web
site: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2637939.

Rasha, A. M. S. (1987). Madinat al-slaimaniyah.Baghdad: Dar Al-Hryat Al-tibaat.

Soane, E. B. (1910). Sulaimania district of Kurdistan. In Meena (Eds), (translation of

the book Raportek lasar Slemani nawchayak la Kwrdstan). Kurdology center
Sulaimani.

107
Sabir, A. (2005). Sarok sharawaniyakani Slemani 1890-2003. Slemani: Chapi nwe
Kurdistan.

Tripp, C. (2007). A history of Iraq (3rd Ed). London: Cambridge university press.

Singh, K. N. (1968). Annals of the association of American geographers: the

territorial basis of medieval town and village settlement in eastern Uttar Pradesh,
India. (Vol. 58, No.2, pp. 203-220). Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Taylor &
Francis, Ltd on behalf of the Association of American Geographers web site:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/2561611

Shwani, A. A. (2008). Shari Slemani 1932-1945: Lekolinawayaki mezhwwie-syasiya.

Slemani: Malbandi Kurdology.

Whitehand, J. W. R. (1967). Fringe Belts: A Neglected aspect of urban geography.

(No.41, pp.223-233). Retrieved December 2, 2009, from Blackwell Publishing on
behalf of The Royal Geographical Society & the Institute of British Geographers
web site: http://www.jstor.org/stable/621338.

108