Abstract
This study investigates how plot morphology influences courtyard configuration in contemporary urban housing in Mosul, Iraq. Increasing urban density, reduced frontage widths, and smaller plot sizes have transformed the courtyard from a single traditional element into a morphology-responsive multi-courtyard system characterized by functional differentiation and spatial redistribution.A quantitative morphological methodology was applied to a purposive sample of 121 contemporary residential plans. Four measurable indicators were computed: Courtyard Area Ratio (CAR), Average Courtyard Size (ACS), Courtyard Count Ratio (CCR), and Courtyard Type Area Ratio (CTAR). Geometric data were extracted and statistically compared across plot-size and frontage-width categories.The results demonstrate that courtyard allocation is strongly governed by plot characteristics. CAR reached 11.15% in plots larger than 200 m² but declined to 5.41% in plots smaller than 130 m². Average courtyard size decreased from 8.25 m² to 3.60 m² across the same categories. Courtyard multiplicity ranged from 2.70 courtyards per dwelling in larger plots to 1.25 in compact plots. Functional distribution shifted from socially oriented courtyards in larger plots to environmentally driven lighting and ventilation courtyards in smaller plots.The findings confirm that the contemporary courtyard operates as an adaptive spatial system shaped by measurable morphological constraints. By linking courtyard typology quantitatively to plot area and frontage width, the study establishes an evidence-based framework for integrating responsive courtyard systems in high-density housing in hot-climate cities.