The Architectural Design Values for the Internal Spaces of the Iraqi Host in the Marshes Region

Architects and interior designers rely on architectural design values to create unique and innovative designs that meet people's needs and reflect the identity and spirit of the place. Therefore, such values must be considered in building and interior design. Despite this, the local host buildings (reed houses) in the southern Iraqi marshes region lack focus on the architectural design values of their internal spaces. Thus, the importance of this research is highlighted in preserving and highlighting the architectural design values ​​of the internal spaces of the Iraqi local guesthouse building. This comes with the aim of benefiting from them in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in order to enhance the architectural identity of this region. To achieve the research objectives, this research adopted a descriptive and analytical approach. The most important results of the research show that the reed guesthouse (the host) in the southern Iraqi marshes region represents the peak of the social and cultural system of the local population. It was built with the same Sumerian design that lasted for (5000) years, and they relied heavily on the surrounding environment in its construction. All architectural design values ​​apply to the internal spaces of the host and play their role in creating unique designs that meet people's needs and reflect the identity and spirit of the place; partially achieving the values ​​of security, comfort, innovation, and technology, as it is built by hand without using technology, equipment, or heavy machinery in its construction. Accordingly, shedding light on the architectural design values ​​of the internal spaces of the Iraqi reed guesthouse helps to fill the gap in the literature on research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in this area. Further, decision-makers can apply them in sustainable and environmentally friendly urban projects in the southern Iraqi marshes region. Humans have chosen the Marshes region in southern Iraq as a habitat since ancient times, due to its wetness, connection with nature, fertility, biological and ecological diversity, abundance of fishing, birds, and animal husbandry. The inhabitants of these areas remain connected to and live harmoniously with the environment around them, particularly the marshland environment. This ecological setting is reflected in the architecture of this region, represented by the reed houses, and also influences the way of life within them (Newman, 2007, p. 317).The reason for choosing the Marshes region in southern Iraq is its possession of the qualities that make it an ideal environment for studying the architectural design values of Iraqi hospitality interiors and their suitability to this building. The local inhabitants (the Ma'dan) of this area have inherited a lifestyle influenced by the surrounding environment, closely resembling the ancient Sumerian way of life as they rely on fishing, bird hunting, buffalo milk products, and the use of reeds for building homes. The reed-built guesthouse (the Mudhif) represents the pinnacle of the social and cultural system of the local inhabitants, built with the same Sumerian design that persisted for 5000 years, relying significantly on the surrounding environment in its construction. This area was included in the World Heritage List on July 17, 2016, becoming one of the unique sites that must be preserved and protected from the risk of disappearance (Al-Zaidy, 2018, p. 67). Architectural design values are the principles and standards adopted by architects during the design of buildings and interior spaces. These values aim to create an architectural environment that provides comfort, aesthetics, and functions suitable for the needs of users and society (Garg, 2017, p. 54). Several architectural design values converge on the external form and internal spaces in the construction of the Mudhif in the Marshes region of southern Iraq, depending on the method, style, type of building materials, and the purpose of its establishment. These values include functional value, aesthetic value, flexibility and adaptability value, sustainability value, communication and interaction value, safety and comfort value, cultural identity and heritage protection value, community and interaction value, as well as innovation and technology value. These values were adopted in the research because the guesthouse meets people's needs and reflects the identity and spirit of the place, which must be considered in building and interior design. Research problem: Lack of light on the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in the marshes region in southern Iraq. research importance: Preserving and highlighting the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host. Research goal: The research aims to benefit from shedding light on the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in the marsh's region in southern Iraq, in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in the southern Iraqi marsh's region, in a way that enhances the consolidation of the architectural identity of the region. Research Methodology: The research relies on the descriptive method and the analytical method. Research results: 1- The guest house built of reeds (the host) is in the marshes region of southern Iraq. It represents the pinnacle of the social and cultural system of the local population of the region. It was built with the same Sumerian design that lasted (5000) years, and in its construction they relied heavily on the surrounding environment. 2- The architectural design values and the design values of the interior spaces all apply to the host's interior spaces and play their role in creating unique designs that meet people's needs and reflect the identity and spirit of the place. However, the value of safety and comfort applies partially. This is because of using dry, highly flammable natural materials as fuel that would cause fires. The value of innovation and technology also applies partly, as it does not play its role in constructing (the host), because it is built by hand and there is no use for heavy equipment and machinery. Rather, simple or low technology is used in its construction. The importance of these results lies in the fact that they provide insight into solving the research problem, which is the lack of highlighting the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in the southern Iraqi marshes region, especially after this region was included in the World Heritage List in 2016, so it has become one of the unique sites that must be preserved and remove the risk of their extinction. The result confirmed that the guest house built of reeds (the host) in the marshes region of southern Iraq represents the pinnacle of the social and cultural system of the local population of the region. It was built with the same Sumerian design that lasted (5000) years, and in its construction they relied heavily on the surrounding environment. The researcher's analysis came through his agreement in realistically observing the architectural character and internal spaces of the host with Mr. Jassim Muhammad Al-Asadi, a consulting engineer, director of the Iraq Nature Organization in the (Al-Chibaish) area in the Iraqi marshes and the coordinator of the natural aspect of Iraq in UNESCO (an Iraqi citizen), and Mr. Rafi' Abd Al-Rida Toma Al-Majidi (an Iraqi citizen), and Mr. Abdul-Amir Ashour Al-Asadi, a craftsman (an Iraqi citizen), one of the most famous reed bed builders in the region, who inherited the craft from his family; However, the architectural design values and the design values of the interior spaces all apply to the host's interior spaces and play their role in creating unique designs that meet people's needs and reflect the identity and spirit of the place. However, the value of safety and comfort applies partially, because the use of dry, highly flammable natural materials as fuel would cause fires. The value of innovation and technology also applies partially, as it does not play its role in creating (the host), because it is built by hand and heavy equipment and machinery are not used, but rather technology is used. Simple or low in construction, according to the opinion of the American researcher Julia Watson). Thus, the research hypotheses are achieved in that shedding light on the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host helps preserve them, and can be used in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in this region. Conclusion: Through the results presented and discussed in the research, we can conclude that solutions can be provided to the research problem in the lack of highlighting the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in the southern Iraqi marshes region, and its importance lies in preserving on the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host, and highlighting them, with the aim of benefiting from research and studies on local buildings (reed houses) in the marshes region in southern Iraq, in a way that enhances the consolidation of the architectural identity of the region. The research relied on the descriptive method and the analytical method. The researcher recommends the importance of adopting the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in the marsh region in southern Iraq in research and studies to increase cultural awareness of this region, especially after it was included in the World Cultural Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Heritage Organization (UNESCO) in 2016 by applying the provisions of the World Heritage Standard. Accordingly, decision makers can apply the architectural design values of the internal spaces of the Iraqi host in sustainable and environmentally friendly urban projects in the southern Iraqi marshes' region, because of their environmental, economic, social and cultural importance