Abstract
Tripoli, the principal sea port of Libya on the Mediterranean Sea and the gateway to the old city of Tripoli, is one of the most rapidly growing cities in Libya. In only eight decades, it has been transformed from a small town enclosed by walls into a metropolitan area. Housing construction has taken place everywhere in the city. This study describes the chronological development of housing in the Tripoli region. The study intends to identify the housing types, and to analyse and illustrate the changes occurring in residential units. It comprises four parts. The first part provides general background information about Tripoli. The second discusses the housing in its socio-physical context within the city, including the environment in which houses were built (the neighbourhood), and housing types and their spatial concepts and construction techniques. The third deals with the main factors promoting change in housing and the physical structure of the city. The fourth is an attempt to present an overview of the architectural styles and trends in the city.