Interior Courtyard and its Impact on the Well-being of Inhabitants

Abstract

The aim of the present study has been to investigate the impact of the interior courtyard and garden on the wellbeing of inhabitants in Kuwaiti houses. The study seeks to test public acceptance of the courtyard house form and to measure public views of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the courtyard house. The Kuwaiti public holds the courtyard house type near and dear to their hearts; courtyard houses are among the traditional house types in Kuwait. In fact modern, contemporary free standing houses lack many of the strong elements embedded in the courtyard house. This research paper introduces the courtyard house with its definition and an overview of the historical development of the courtyard house form. The introduction also gives an overview of the courtyard house in the Arab world. As well, some advantages and disadvantages of courtyard houses are provided. Next, this paper establishes a relation between the concept of wellbeing and the interior design of the house lived in. The definition of the concept of the wellbeing is presented and therefore confirms that the building environment has a large impact on inhabitants and users both physically and psychologically. Applying the descriptive approach, this paper uses qualitative descriptions to explain the studied phenomenon. Jointly, this research paper employs the quantitative method to test public views and preferences. Questions for purposes of the research were designed and distributed to a sample of the Kuwaiti public. The responses were collected and analyzed from the sample which were studied to arrive at the general findings. The findings of this research are valuable to planners, designers, and decision makers who deal with housing and development in the state of Kuwait.