This modern hotel and mall complex on the outskirts of one of the world’s oldest cities draws liberally from Iraq’s millennial existence for inspiration. The glazed tiles and mud brick conjure pre-history, while the blind external façades and low-slung, densely clustered cubic layout around landscaped courtyards, each with a different character, is a contemporary reworking of the vernacular Arab medina.
With massing and height indicating use, internal streets are sheltered by overhead shading that can be opened or closed depending on the season, bathing them in a play of light and shadow that changes throughout the day. Planted courtyards and a wide range of water features, from pools and fountains to water-walls, work with the shading to create a noticeable microclimate. This minimizes the need for artificial climate control and hearkens back to the ancient garden city of Babylon, offering a stark contrast to the naked, mineral aspect of much of the contemporary cityscape in the process.
The overall project follows a rigorous square grid based on the smallest retail/hotel-room dimensions. With this configuration, endless combinations can easily address the future needs to adapt to both the changing conditions of the market and the local requirements of this developing area.
Awards:
Winner, Iconic Design Awards 2014
Special mention, German Design Awards 2015
