Traditional architecture is known as the living architecture that forms the architectural fabric of Palestinian villages and cities. It is characterized by specific architectural and structural features such as design, domes, arches, openings, decorations, and building materials that collectively shape the Palestinian architectural identity. The Palestinian house carries architectural traditions from the first human habitation in caves, progressing to the first houses made of mud bricks and later to houses constructed with stones in subsequent civilizations.
The core of the traditional Palestinian house generally consists of one room, with additional rooms added to form the "courtyard" or "dar" (house). These rooms open onto a common courtyard, and over time, additional houses and sometimes multiple floors can be constructed. These courtyards, known as "ahwash," serve as social units for extended families, and a group of courtyards often forms a neighborhood named after the family or a distinctive feature. The types of houses are generally associated with social and regional structures, with fixed stone houses found in cities and villages, while tents or temporary shelters are used in Bedouin areas. Caves and huts were also utilized for housing for the poor or for seasonal purposes such as agricultural huts. People utilized locally available natural materials for building their homes, constructing houses with stone in mountainous regions and using mud bricks and wood in coastal areas and valleys.
The Palestinian house is characterized by general architectural features, including the layout, spaces, building materials, the shape of internal and external openings, and the appearance of the roof.
The typical house plan was very simple, often a square or rectangular layout drawn on the ground by the master builder. Large houses and mansions required an experienced engineer. Generally, the door was placed in the center of the front wall. Palaces and residences of the wealthy and merchants represented different models in terms of planning, closer to urban architecture.
After preparing the main building materials such as stones, pebbles, bricks, and ash, the construction process begins. The builder, along with an industrial assistant and a worker called "dabish," fills the gaps between the courses (rows of stones), and other workers complete the construction. The first step is digging the foundation, followed by building thick walls layer by layer, approximately one meter wide, using traditional building materials composed of mud bricks and sand, until the construction is completed by roofing. All construction stages are associated with specific celebratory traditions, from the moment of digging the foundation to the house's roof completion.
