محمد شياح

Given the challenges Syria has faced post-war and the extensive destruction of infrastructure and housing, the need for reconstruction and provision of suitable housing has become a necessity. Post-war reconstruction requires innovative strategies that align with sustainable development standards and suitable building eva‎luation systems. Despite governmental efforts, significant gaps and weaknesses persist in building regulations, policies, and eva‎luation systems, and the absence of a local framework for sustainability assessment in the housing sector poses a major challenge. The objective of this research is to develop a comprehensive, locally adapted eva‎luation system for sustainable housing that aligns with Syria’s unique conditions, encompassing the five sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, social, cultural, and institutional. This study draws on both an analysis of global systems and a deep understanding of sustainable elements in Syria’s traditional architecture, while also taking into account Syria's current economic, social, environmental, and administrative conditions. Initially, sustainable architectural eva‎luation systems in developed countries and similar contexts were analyzed. Next, the sustainability features of traditional and local housing in Syria were examined through case studies to identify its sustainable architectural elements, principles, and patterns. In the third step, the study examined the economic, social, environmental, and institutional conditions in post-war Syria, as well as relevant housing development regulations, to formulate the initial conceptual framework for the research. The final conceptual framework for the proposed eva‎luation system was developed through multiple stages using the Delphi method, with input from a group of 12 Syrian experts. After its formulation, two questionnaires were designed, tested, and validated. Subsequently, a statistical analysis was conducted. During this process, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was applied in a questionnaire administered to the same expert group, along with 10 additional Syrian decision-makers, to determine the relative weights of the proposed eva‎luation system categories. Furthermore, a direct ranking based on the Likert scale was conducted through a questionnaire involving 105 Syrian engineers and academics to assess the importance of specific criteria. According to Syria’s unique conditions, the study’s findings revealed that aspects related to indoor environmental quality, water resource management, and energy management hold relative importance (14.8%, 14.7%, and 14.3%, respectively) in the proposed eva‎luation system. These priorities also highlight the need to support and empower the local community, with a weight of (11.1%). Following these, the investment and economic category holds a weight of (9%), and the external environment category has a weight of (8.7%). The management and development category achieved a weight of (7.8%), while the sustainable site has a weight of (7.2%), and the waste and pollution management category holds a weight of (6.9%). Lastly, the materials and resources category demonstrates its relative significance in the proposed system with a weight of (5.6%). These findings were analyzed and compared with global sustainable building assessment systems, demonstrating that the proposed system aligns with the global sustainable assessment framework. This research represents an innovative contribution to sustainable housing and reconstruction in conflict-affected areas in Syria, as it is the first study to develop a local eva‎luation system for sustainable housing, addressing Syria’s unique economic, social, cultural, environmental, and regulatory challenges. The research offers a conceptual framework that could serve as a basis for future legislation to enhance sustainability in Syria's housing sector.

سيستم ارزيابي پايداري , مسكن پايدار , سوريه , بازسازي پس از جنگ

Sustainability rating system , sustainable housing , Syria , post-war reconstruction

Muhammad Shayah

Dr. Mohammadali Khanmohammadi