IN-PERSON: Prague – Section B

Abstract

Homes are a mirror reflecting the lifestyles and memories of their occupants. It is a container of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the residents. In addition to the fact that the house is a physical space, it is an area in which the lives and cultures of the residents are represented. The paper aims to investigate how Libyan immigrants have chosen and decorated their houses after they moved to the UK since the 1980s. Libyan residents in the UK come from different Libyan regions, social classes, and with various lifestyles. This project studies how their social and cultural backgrounds has influenced their choices of houses, and the interior arrangements in their houses in the UK. A number of case studies were chosen from Libyan immigrants who came from different regions and lived in various types of houses in Libya. Interviews and questionnaires were carried out with residents to find out their preferences and choices. We argue that the study demonstrates that a large percentage of Libyan immigrants in the UK would like to furnish their homes, especially living rooms, following their traditional styles in Libya, despite they came from different regions of Libya and previously lived in various types of accommodation buildings, such as flats, houses, and villas. However, their financial considerations are the main reasons for their decisions to choose and decorate the houses.