Architectural and Historical Relevance
[Picture source: © 1989 Anette Gangler] [Picture source: © 1989 Anette Gangler] The historical epochs of the old town, its times of prosperity and crisis, are reflected not only in the monuments constructed in different phases but also in the structures of the quarter and the courtyard houses that characterize them. During times of economic recession, building activities declined; during economic upswings they increased, which led to more building uniformity within a given construction phase. These processes of transformation can be documented particularly well across the changing construction styles in the courtyard facades, with their different window reveals, and the changing decoration of the smaller upper windows during three construction phases (fig.4) (fig.16).
Figure 4: Jubb Qurman quarter’s time periods [Picture source: © 1993 Anette Gangler] 
Period 1 (1700–1850) is mainly characterized by thick walls and a greater distance between windows, with straight lintels and simple, chiselled-in ornaments above them.
Period 2 (1850–1900) is marked by taller buildings with finer masonry and round-arched windows. The smaller upper windows are frequently round and ornamented, features echoed in the basement windows.
Period 3 (1900–1930) is similar to period B, but the buildings are taller now and the courtyards are smaller. The facades have round-arched windows, as do the basement windows. Some have reveals that are ached outwards. The smaller upper windows are round or oval.
These three construction phases generally also apply to the buildings in the central part of the old town (intra muros). As time went by, the buildings tended to become taller and the courtyards smaller, making the residential quarters denser overall. Building details and décor evolved from the tradition of the medieval stone construction method with traditional stylistic elements, which developed into a uniform, perfected construction method. By the mid-20th century, these features began to fall into disuse.
