Evaluation of the Sustainable Aspects In Housing Sector To Overcome Housing Stress In Northern Iraq

Northern Iraq as part of Iraq, has been witnessed a great population increment last
few decades. However, housing stress in Northern Iraq has risen due to that.
Environmental, economic and social sustainability became crucial in the movement
towards a more effective built environment and community nowadays. This research
seeks to evaluate the presence of sustainability aspects (environmental, economic,
and social) in housing sector, which makes them acquired and affordable for low
income earners in Northern Iraq. Housing projects as case studies were
investigated in Erbil, the capital of Northern Iraq. The research examined, the
presence of sustainability aspects. Field observations checklist have been prepared
based on the theoretical analysis through literature review and applied to collect
data on the case studies. The results demonstrated that applying the aspects of
sustainability for the buildings is weak and not clearly familiar in Northern Iraq.
The study concluded that, the housing projects focusing on the case studies not
sustainable. The findings show that the application of sustainable principles in the
housing projects at Northern Iraq is very weak. It is highly recommended to achieve
sustainability, because it is the significant way to produce acquired and affordable
housing and overcome the housing problems, socially, environmentally and
economically. The recommendations have been suggested to formulate new ways for
implementing sustainable principles in the housing sector to overcome housing
stress in Northern Iraq.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2019), 3(1), 67-81.
https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.4684