Purpose This study examines the impact of post-war conditions and modernity on the architectural identity of residential environments in Iraq. It aims to explore how contemporary housing practices have diverged from traditional socio-cultural and spatial principles, leading to the erosion of local architectural identity. By analysing historical development, post-war transformations and current residential patterns, the study seeks to highlight the role of academic institutions, planning policies and architectural practice in shaping identity within post-conflict Iraqi cities. Design/methodology/approach A comparative analysis between traditional and contemporary cases will be employed to display Iraqi architectural reality. A quantitative survey covering a range of society segment including students, lecturers, architects, planners and stakeholders is reliable in providing adequate answers to research questions: “Does post-war architecture rise to the formation of an architectural or cultural identity?” and “whether academic and research institutions live up to ambition or contribute to creating what can be called a local architecture?” Furthermore, field surveys, in-depth interviews and personal observation of selected models with a clear influence in creating a local identity play a key role in achieving research main objectives. On the other hand, in comparing social, cultural and environmental dimensions of the courtyard in traditional homes and hall-based layouts in contemporary ones, a literature review and empirical study, in multiple places in the research, demonstrate the role of the courtyard in creating a unique identity due to its role in consolidating community’s values and ethics. Findings The study demonstrates that post-war residential architecture in Iraq lacks a coherent architectural identity and fails to engage meaningfully with its socio-cultural and historical context. Contemporary housing practices are dominated by formal fragmentation, façade-oriented design and unregulated material use, resulting in environments disconnected from inherited spatial principles and cultural values. The findings highlight a critical rupture between traditional Iraqi domestic architecture and post-war developments, driven by weak planning policies, declining architectural education and the absence of institutional leadership in guiding identity-based architectural production. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to selected residential contexts and relies on qualitative surveys, interviews and observational analysis conducted under post-war conditions, which restrict broader generalization. However, these limitations underline important research implications by opening avenues for comparative studies across other post-conflict Islamic and Arab cities. The findings encourage future research on the role of academic institutions, planning governance and heritage-informed design frameworks in reconstructing architectural identity within post-war urban environments. Practical implications The study emphasizes the necessity of integrating socio-cultural values and traditional spatial logics into contemporary housing policies and design practices. Urban authorities and professional bodies are urged to establish context-sensitive design regulations and to reinforce the role of architects in the approval and monitoring of residential developments. Adopting identity-driven design frameworks can improve the quality of post-war reconstruction and contribute to more sustainable and culturally grounded urban environments. Social implications The erosion of architectural identity in post-war housing reflects and reinforces wider social fragmentation, loss of belonging and weakening of collective values. The study reveals how architecture has shifted from a socially embedded practice to an individualistic expression of status, undermining traditional concepts of privacy, social interaction and neighbourhood cohesion. Reconnecting architectural production with local cultural values can play a critical role in restoring social continuity and reinforcing collective identity in post-war Iraqi cities. Originality/value This study contributes original insights by framing home architecture as a critical lens for understanding identity loss in post-war Iraq. Unlike descriptive studies, it offers a critical, theory-informed analysis that links architectural form, socio-cultural change and post-conflict conditions. The study enriches discourse on architecture in the Arab and Islamic world by providing a grounded case from Iraq, offering transferable lessons for post-war reconstruction and identity-driven urban development in similar contexts.
Al-Neama et al. (Wed,) studied this question.