Abstract
The courtyard house is a fundamental traditional structure in the Mediterranean and hot climatic regions. Despite the general understanding that the courtyard house is the appropriate solution to the hot climate region; several studies have indicated that such approach has not been adapted in contemporary architecture. In this light, this paper aims to investigate the reasons for the underlying reluctance to the use of the courtyard in contemporary architecture and answering the question of whether the courtyard house was the main climatic solution in hot climate region, or it is a result of other climatic, social and religion solution. The findings will provide architects, students and end-users with a better understanding of potential design strategies for using the courtyard concept and its relation to climate. To achieve the aim, the research adopts the triangulation approach to reduce the biases inherent in the case study strategy. An observation of traditional building and a field survey are applied to understand the professional „s opinion and end-users‟ satisfaction of their building in contemporary and local architecture in Tripoli–Libya, as well as measuring indoor temperature in traditional courtyard house (open and covered courtyard) and contemporary houses. Photos and drawings from traditional houses in Tripoli were used to examine the ways in which the people solved their comfort housing needs in the design of the courtyard house.