01984nas a2200361   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260001100043653002800054653001400082653002400096653002100120653003500141653001900176653001500195653001200210653001900222653001700241653003000258653001600288653002100304653002000325653001900345653001800364653001800382653002100400653002000421100001400441245009700455856011800552300001800670520093400688       2006                            d  aGeneva10aSustainable development10aBuildings10aSocial interactions10aPossible futures10aAppropriate building materials10aBuilding types10aByproducts10aHammām10aHeating system10aIslamic city10aLessons of sustainability10aPublic bath10aSmall industries10aThermal comfort10aUrban dwellers10aUrban fabrics10aWater heating10aWater management10aWater recycling1 aM. Sibley00aThe historic Hammāms of Damascus and Fez: Lessons of sustainability and future developments  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865790011&partnerID=40&md5=ff55dd1095f677930f43e5e64cc4842f  aI81—I863 aThe public bath, or hammām, is a building type which has been integral to the urban fabric of Islamic cities. Whereas other building types have attracted much attention and research in the past, studies of hammām buildings have remained scarce and far apart. Based on surveys carried by the author on the historic public baths of Damascus and Fez, this paper highlights the characteristics of this building type as a sustainable urban facility which not only promotes cleanliness and health of the urban dwellers but also social interaction and a support for a rich intangible heritage. The paper also highlights the lessons that this building type provides in terms of thermal comfort, under-floor heating system, water heating and management and recycling of byproducts from local small industries. The paper then discusses possible future adaptive re-use of this building type in the light of Sustainable Development Agenda.