On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, a group of fourth-year students from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Cihan University–Erbil conducted a scientific field visit to Erbil Citadel.

The visit was supervised by Lecturer Dr. Nagham Ismael Yahya. Upon arrival, the students were officially received by Dr. Diyar Abdulrahman Mustafa, Mr. Araz Abdulkhaliq Qadir, and Mr. Ardalan Bayiz Hamad.

Following the reception, Mr. Araz and Mr. Ardalan guided the students on a tour of several traditional houses within the historic citadel. During the tour, they introduced the students to the main architectural and environmental features that characterize these traditional houses. Particular attention was given to spatial organization, courtyards, traditional building materials, natural ventilation, daylighting, shading, and the relationship between building form and local climatic conditions.

The students were also introduced to the historical and cultural significance of Erbil Citadel and its important role in the history and development of Erbil. The guides highlighted its outstanding heritage value and its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. They also provided information about ongoing conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation efforts aimed at preserving its historic buildings and urban fabric.

The scientific visit provided the students with valuable field experience and strengthened their understanding of how traditional architectural solutions can offer relevant lessons for contemporary sustainable and environmentally responsive design.