Architectural Engineering

Academic Staff

Oct. 26, 2026, 11:12 a.m.
Wafaa Anwar Sulaiman Goriel
Wafaa Anwar Sulaiman Goriel (PhD)
Lecturer
Lecturer in Architecture Conservation of Built Heritage

Architectural Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Duhok
[email protected]
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  • Ph.D., Architecture, Marcel Breuer Doctoral School of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 2026. (Summa Cum Laude)
  • M.Sc., Architectural Design and Vernacular Architecture, Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq, 2013–2015.
  • B.Sc., Architectural Design, Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq, 2005–2010.

I am Dr. Wafaa Anwar Sulaiman Goriel, an architect, researcher, and academic specializing in architectural conservation, built heritage, and sustainable adaptive reuse. I am affiliated with the Department of Architecture at the University of Duhok, Iraq, and I earned my PhD in Architecture from the University of Pécs, Hungary, in 2026, graduating with Summa Cum Laude distinction.

My doctoral research, entitled “Mutation, Recombination, and Selection of Built Heritage for Sustainable Reuse," focused on developing an analytical approach that integrates Space Syntax methodologies and functional compatibility assessments to support sustainable adaptive reuse decisions. My research particularly examined the historic houses of Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a strong interest in architectural heritage conservation, spatial configuration, sustainable design, and the relationship between historic environments and contemporary functional needs. Through my research, publications, and teaching, I aim to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical conservation strategies.

My future ambition is to expand my research internationally, develop innovative decision-support frameworks for sustainable heritage conservation, and strengthen academic collaborations with leading universities and research institutions.

I currently teach Landscape Architecture and Design to seventh-semester undergraduate students at the Department of Architecture, University of Duhok. My teaching focuses on landscape design principles, site analysis, conceptual development, spatial programming, environmental sustainability, and the integration of natural and built environments.
My teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, research-based design, and practical application. I encourage students to develop context-sensitive and sustainable design solutions through analytical approaches, interactive discussions, and continuous design evaluation. My goal is to bridge architectural theory and professional practice while fostering students' creativity, environmental awareness, and problem-solving abilities.
Course: Landscape Architecture and Design
Level: Undergraduate (7th Semester)
Institution: Department of Architecture, University of Duhok, Iraq

Research

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

  1. Goriel, W. A. S., Molnár, T., & Zoltán, E. S. (2025). Examining the Hashim Chalbi House’s spatial aspects in Erbil Citadel: Understanding the museum’s configuration potential via Depthmap analysis. Buildings, 15(12), Article 2134.DOI: 10.3390/buildings15122134
  2. Abu-Lail, D. M. A., Goriel, W. A. S., Molnár, T., Bachmann, B., Medvegy, G., Borsos, Á., & Zoltán, E. S. (2025).Preserving the past to shape the future: The evolution of office spaces through historic building adaptation.Buildings, 15(4), Article 574.DOI: 10.3390/buildings15040574
  3. Goriel, W. A. S., Abu-Lail, D. M. A., Molnár, T., & Zoltán, E. S. (2025).Sustainable adaptation of historical buildings to offices. Pollack Periodica, 20(1), 148–154.
  4. Goriel, W. A. S., Zoltán, E. S., & Molnár, T. (2024). Evaluating the viability of the Erbil Citadel houses for the adaptive reuse process. YBL Journal of Built Environment, 9(1), 62–75. DOI: 10.2478/jbe-2024-0007
  5. Goriel, W. A. S., Molnár, T., & Zoltán, E. S. (2026). Mutation or reusing: A decision based on functional analysis of historical houses’ configurations. Buildings, 16(10), Article 1871. DOI: 10.3390/buildings16101871
  6. Khorsheed, J. B., & Sulaiman Goriel, W. A. (2021). Analytical study of university campuses’ walkability using Space Syntax analysis: University of Duhok (UoD) as a case study. Journal of Engineering Research.

CONFERENCE PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS

  1. Goriel, W. A. S., et al. (2025). The importance of a new approach for sustainable revitalization of heritage buildings: Erbil Citadel houses as best practices. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.
  2. Goriel, W. A. S., et al. (2024). To sustainable preservation: Enhancing adaptive reuse and spatial configuration of Erbil Citadel’s historic house. Places and Technologies 2024: Conference Proceedings.
  3. Goriel, W. A. S., et al. (2024). The mutations of time: Erbil Citadel’s heritage dwellings between architectural preservation and transformation. Le Vie dei Mercanti XXII, 2024.
  4. Goriel, W. A. S., et al. (2026). A framework based on the composition of historic facades for adaptive reuse decisions: A case study of restored houses in Erbil Citadel. Third International Scientific Conference on Contemporary Glass Facades, Zagreb, Croatia.

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

  1. Goriel, W. A. S. (2025). Matching proposed uses to Erbil Citadel houses with scoring and justification. 3rd YBL Conference on the Built Environment.
  2. Goriel, W. A. S. (2025). Reimagining historical preservation: The Erbil Citadel houses as a model for adaptive heritage reuse. 21st Miklós Iványi International PhD & DLA Symposium.
  3. Goriel, W. A. S. (2024). Towards a sustainable conservation: Enhancing the adaptive reuse and grammar of space configuration. Places and Technologies 2024.
  4. Goriel, W. A. S. (2024). Adaptive heritage: Exploring mutation and selection in sustainable restoration practices of Hashim Chalbi House—Erbil Citadel, Iraq. 20th Miklós Iványi International PhD & DLA Symposium.
  5. Goriel, W. A. S. (2023). Revival heritage story: A revitalization journey of transforming historical houses. 19th Miklós Iványi International PhD & DLA Symposium.

Main Research Area: Architectural Conservation of Built Heritage and Sustainable Adaptive Reuse. (Architectural Heritage Conservation; Sustainable Adaptive Reuse; Space Syntax; Spatial Configuration Analysis; Functional Compatibility; Spatial Adaptability; Vernacular Architecture; Cultural Heritage Preservation; Sustainable Architectural Design; Heritage Regeneration; Decision-Support Systems).