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Iraq Vernacular Architecture

The document discusses the vernacular architecture of southern Iraq's marshlands. It provides 3 key points: 1. The architecture is closely tied to the local environment and uses traditional materials like reeds, soil, and adobe bricks. Houses and meeting places called "mudhifs" are constructed entirely of local reeds, straw, and other natural materials to suit the climate. 2. The architectural planning of settlements is designed around environmental aspects like using waterways to remove waste and positioning homes to take advantage of wind patterns. 3. Traditional construction techniques like weaving reeds into columns and arches have allowed the architecture to sustain local communities for thousands of years, but it is now threatened

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Ouafae Belrhit
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741 views49 pages

Iraq Vernacular Architecture

The document discusses the vernacular architecture of southern Iraq's marshlands. It provides 3 key points: 1. The architecture is closely tied to the local environment and uses traditional materials like reeds, soil, and adobe bricks. Houses and meeting places called "mudhifs" are constructed entirely of local reeds, straw, and other natural materials to suit the climate. 2. The architectural planning of settlements is designed around environmental aspects like using waterways to remove waste and positioning homes to take advantage of wind patterns. 3. Traditional construction techniques like weaving reeds into columns and arches have allowed the architecture to sustain local communities for thousands of years, but it is now threatened

Uploaded by

Ouafae Belrhit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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VERNACULAR

ARCHITECTURE
OF SOUTH IRAQ
“WETLAND “MARSHES” VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE”

Dr Akeel N Almulla Hwaish


- Intro./ Vernacular Architectural Styles of Iraq

- Case Study Zone

- Planning & Architectural scheme

- Selected Vernacular Case Study /Planning Scheme & Design Approach

- Constructional System & Materials

- Environmental Aspects

- Conclusion

2
NORTH ZONE

MIDDLE ZONE

SOUTH ZONE
Dessert , Middle & South, North zones
vernacular Architecture Styles

4 20XX
Preparation Process for Local Adobe Bricks Using Local Skills for Constructing Typical Mud& Masonry
Vernacular Shelters in the Rural Areas of North, Middle and South Regions of Iraq
The Central Marshes area in Southern Iraq, showing the boundaries of the study area, Key Biodiversity Area (KBA),
and National Park boundaries.
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Vernacular architecture can be defined as a type of local or regional construction, using traditional materials
and resources from the area where the building is located. Consequently, this architecture is closely related
to its context and is aware of the specific geographic features and cultural aspects of its surrounding.
“Camilla Ghisleni;www.Archdaily”

MARSHES OF SOUTH IRAQ


Marsh / plural noun: marshes

An area of low-lying land which is flooded in wet


seasons or at high tide, and typically always
remains waterlogged.

9 Marshes at the beginning of 20th century


Map of the Marshes of southern Wetland Iraq 1973 compared to 2000 (from the United Nations Environmental
Programme, Vital Water Graphics at (UNEP, 2001) http://www.unep.org/vitalwater/26.htm.
The south wetland area where
the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
split into meandering ribbons
and lakes before flowing into
the Arabian Gulf has been
home to human communities
for five millennia.

The Bible places the Garden of


Eden near the two rivers
(Genesis chapter 2, verse 14).

Until 1991, the Maadan lived


traditionally, growing rice and
dates, raising water buffalo,
fishing and building boats and
houses from reeds
Local architecture plays an important role in the culture of
the marshes Arabs of southern Iraq. Design and structure of
Marshes shelters of south Iraq are totally suit the lifestyle
12 PRESENTATION TITLE 20XX
and traditions of the region and meet the needs of the locals.
The use of
inexpensive marsh
reeds, whether as
mats or support
columns, a soil
tarred foundation,
and adobe bricks,
are the basic
elements needed
to build the
houses, promoting
sustainability, and
allowing locals to
replicate the
buildings without
many expenditures
on construction
materials.

13 20XX
Anthony Quiney - Cambridge University Press, 1997 / source: Paul Oliver: Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of
the World
The design of the mudhif reflects local traditions. For instance, there are always an odd number of reed pillars in the mudhif,
allowing the host of a meeting to sit along one side wall with an equal number of guests to his right and left. This ensures that the
tribal sheikh remains at the center of decision-making when conducting business and reinforces his position of prestige in the area.

Typical Plan of Mudhif

The mudhif is a unique local meeting place constructed entirely of reeds, straw, and other natural materials.
In the construction of a mudhif & reeds shelters, reeds are bundled and woven into thick columns; larger and
thicker reeds are bent across and tied to form parabolic arches which make up the building's spine.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

Source; Building Materials in Eco-


Energy houses from Iraq and
Iran;Article
March 2015,figure was uploaded by
Asaad Almssad
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
Hand-woven mats
are tied over and
between the
columns, forming a
roof. Reed lattice
panels are attached
to the sides, allowing
for both sunlight and
airflow into the
interior and enclosing
the entire space.
23 20XX
REEDS MAT
30
33 PRESENTATION TITLE 20XX
Mudhif’ built without nails, wood or glass in under three days, even the
islands the houses rest on are made of compacted mud and rushes.
It was first built in the marshes of what is now southern Iraq, over 5000 years ago, and constructed entirely of reeds,
to form huge parabolic arches over which reed mats were tied to form walls, curving over into roofs whilst the flat
end walls had reed lattice panels for the admission of daylight and breeze in such hot humid climate .
Mudhif House acts as a guest house, offering accommodation for long-term stays, as well as a community centre
where locals and travellers alike can have meals and share discussions.
Structure skeleton of
Mudhif
Traditional mudhif
construction & design
demonstrates how the
vernacular low-cost
sustainable building
methods and suits
people’s needs &
environment as well
For religious considerations,
the entrance must face
Makkah and there is always
an odd number of reed
pillars. The mudhif needs to
be refurbished after seven
years and rebuilt completely
every 15 years
It’s a construction method that has been used by the dwellers of the plains for thousands of
years, but in recent decades, this exotic architecture has almost partially disappeared
Half million Marsh Arabs recorded in the 1950s of
twentieth century lived in the marshes area
At each Mudhif’s sides, reed lattice panels are attached to
allow both sunlight and airflow. Two large vertical bundled
reed columns are attached to the entrance and the other
end of the house, while small bundles are arranged in
decorative patterns from both inside and outside.
Lengths of reed about 10 meters long are bunched into
columns, tied together, and then shaped into huge
parabolic arches
The process of
constructing a reed
house has 12 stages,
starting with preparing
the site, the
construction period also
proportioned to the size
and design complexity,
its ranging from a week
to 50 days
A mudhif is a school, a court, a forum — all this social activities is there,Marshes vernacular architecture dating
back 5,000 years. “The tribe leader usually is there to solve problems and judge between people.”
CONCLUSION

1- The formation of life and architecture in the marshes is directly related to the environment
2-The presence of reed fields around the village and how to make benefit from them in the response to the
climate ,environment and people needs
3-Regarding the planning of settlements, it is possible to: take advantage of the water stream to withdraw
waste from the area and reduce the pollution of the context, which secures the exposure of most of the
housing to the water stream, which plays the role of withdrawing polluted water from the residential
environment
4- leaving an empty area of reed fields in the form of open water north-west of the village and condess the
reeds south-east the settlements, which can provide an increase in the amount of wind coming towards the
village and repel the Sun's southwest rays during summer time.
5. The research clarified that the original characteristics would prevent the emergence of extraneous
characteristics, methods of construction, and planning on the marsh architecture that may be carried by
modernises attempts
References
[1] Richardson C J, Reiss P, Hussain N A, Alwash A J and Pool D J 2005 The restoration potential
of the Mesopotamian marshes of Iraq Science 307 1307–11
[2] Richardson C J and Hussain N A 2006 Restoring the Garden of Eden: an ecological assessment
of the marshes of Iraq BioScience 56 477–89
[3] USAID 2006 Iraq Marshlands restoration program. Final report (Washington, D.C.)
[4] SAM KUBBA 2011 The Ma’dan, their Culture and the Environment ISBN: 978-0-86372-333-9
[5] Richardson C and Hussain N 2006 Restoring the Garden of Eden: An Ecological Assessment of
the Marshes of Iraq BioScience 56(6) 477–89
[6] United Nations Integrated Water Task Force 2016 Managing Change in the Marshlands: Iraq’s
Critical Challenge:United Nations White Paper.” Accessed October 5, 2016,
http://www.uncclearn.org/sites/default/files/inventory/unesco54.pdf.
[7] UNESCO for Iraq. The Marshlands of Iraq Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Accessed September 29, 2016, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/iraq-office/about-thisoffice/single-
view/news/the_marshlands_of_iraq_inscribed_on_unescos_world_heritag/#.V3PxpN958c.

https://youtu.be/VXjNTEVwxQA
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