The Rashid Agha residence is accessed from the street by way of a pavilion-like structure into a small, paved forecourt (see the panorama); this structure is a reconstruction of the 1980s, as is the northeast wall of the courtyard. The courtyard is anchored around a circular fountain. The building’s main story is raised on a semi-basement that incorporates earlier constructions along the former citadel walls. The building is entered by way of a loggia, the base of which is lined with Mosul alabaster panels and flanked with two staircases. Its five-bay arcade and floor are made of the same alabaster, while its wooden roof is ornamented in colorful painted patterns. Some of the structure’s timber roof beams can be seen protruding from the brick-covered roofline of the portico.
The building’s plan is very large, featuring both a main unit and two wings on either side of the courtyard. The MMM team’s documentation focused on the central diwankhana (reception area) of the house (which was the area accessible at that time). This is entered directly from the porch via a side room to the southwest, through a doorway with a relief-carved architrave. The wide main room (diwan) is joined to a smaller room (oda), lending a T-shape to the reception space (see the panorama). This space is densely decorated with molded plasterwork, arched niches with scallop ornament, and blue-on-white painted decoration. A highly decorated niche is located in the eastern end of the diwan. The oda is entered under a round arch with intricate medallions and floral motifs of applied stucco. A French window opens onto a balcony supported by an arched substructure built out from the facade (see the panorama). Additional rooms are located on either side of the oda. The southern room has a fireplace and a staircase that leads down to the basement (see the panorama). The private areas of the house are found in the wings on either side of the courtyard.
As it is located on the perimeter of the citadel, the exterior of the residence can be viewed from the lower city. Its outer facade is built of the traditional brick, but with its numerous windows, wide balcony, and elegantly arcaded buttresses, it stands out as one of the more ornate structures along the perimeter.
