BAGHDAD | General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers | App

***elusive*** · May 11th, 2011, 06:51 AM

An award-winning design that tells the revival story of Mesopotamia
How can you condense more than ten thousand years of civilization into a single project that faithfully tells the story of a great nation? The answer is in the winning design of a prestigious architectural competition, to design the new compound for the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers in Baghdad.

Zaha Hadid and more than 30 other international architects participated in this competition, won by the Iraqi Architect Manhal Al Habbobi (Master in Philosophy of Architecture) with his 'CAP Emirates' design.

The design concept evolved as a logical and natural outcome of the system approach, concluding that an 'Infinite Free Iraqi Constitution' would be the perfect translation for the objectives of the project, as it represents now the virtual ruler that it is to house and maintain.

The four stages of the concept's evolution covered searching for a design statement that would convey the 'raison d'être' for the project; deciding on some characteristics within the statement that could be visually realised; symbolising characteristics in a linear presentation, and finally, symbolising a metamorphosing of form in a way that resembles the biological process by which a living creature physically develops after birth or hatching.

The architect suggests that if you can imagine a gigantic cylindrical seal, which was used in ancient Iraq as an administrative tool, engraved with all the significant features of Iraq's past, present and future aspirations, that image is the design used to mark the ribbon connecting the land with Tigris River. Carved with the story of Iraq, the landscape of this ribbon evolved, through a process of metamorphosing, into splendid architectural spaces delineated by elegantly defined thresholds.

Manhal Al Habbobi goes on to say that in the future, if you happen to stand in front of a building that speaks to you and tells you that inside are people looking after the Infinite Free Iraqi Constitution, then you'll know that you are in Baghdad in front of the General Secretariat for Ministers Council. Enjoy your stay!

ref. http://static.worldarchitecturenews....pload_id=16373

sasa_taisa · May 11th, 2011, 08:10 AM

just...WOW

MR. Bacon · May 11th, 2011, 09:04 AM

indeed WOW

Yousifovic · May 11th, 2011, 09:08 AM

We in the Iraqi forum can not get over this building

sali_haci · May 12th, 2011, 03:04 PM

A country that was destroyed in the last decade, deserves such a great projects!

***elusive*** · May 12th, 2011, 03:46 PM

it's only the beginning

visit our Iraq forum to see all our new projects

Rayman87 · May 12th, 2011, 03:59 PM

WAAAAAAouuuuWWWW

I need to pay more attention to the Iraqi forum. Really impressive.

dnh310 · May 13th, 2011, 12:12 AM

Yes, really amazing project.

***elusive*** · August 22nd, 2011, 10:31 AM

yes you do, major projects are currently being planned/built in iraq

BG_PATRIOT · August 22nd, 2011, 03:54 PM

Gorgeous looking building

Mplsuptown · August 24th, 2011, 06:00 AM

Very nice project.

Chadoh25 · August 24th, 2011, 06:10 AM

COOL!

Gendo · August 29th, 2011, 10:43 AM

Kinda like something out of Star Wars.

I hope Baghdad will see a construction boom with many great projects like this one very soon.

Nemanja034 · August 30th, 2011, 02:49 AM

...

adam_uk · August 30th, 2011, 11:07 PM

wow amazing baghdad deserve this beauty.

Yousifovic · November 10th, 2011, 02:01 PM

Construction of this project will start by the next year

not much time ..

anakngpasig · November 10th, 2011, 02:03 PM

what a beauty!

Vincen1 · November 10th, 2011, 02:42 PM

Very monumental and renewing at the same time. But what's with the social-realistic giant statues visible in (only) the first picture. Are those really included in the plan? If so, the authoritarian message seems a bit misplaced.

Yousifovic · November 10th, 2011, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincen1

Very monumental and renewing at the same time. But what's with the social-realistic giant statues visible in (only) the first picture. Are those really included in the plan? If so, the authoritarian message seems a bit misplaced.

I think they are just samples, hopefully they will be changed to like the mesopotamian winged oxen

NorthPole · February 25th, 2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yousifovic

I think they are just samples, hopefully they will be changed to like the mesopotamian winged oxen

I hope they will.
The design is impregnated by the historical/cultural symbolism to the extent, yet not kitschy.

Futuristic administrative complex on global scale. If we would have to build a new UN hq, it should look like this. Love it

May 11th, 2011, 06:51 AM	#1
*elusive* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Baghdad Posts: 4,089 Likes (Received): 107	BAGHDAD \| General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers \| App An award-winning design that tells the revival story of Mesopotamia How can you condense more than ten thousand years of civilization into a single project that faithfully tells the story of a great nation? The answer is in the winning design of a prestigious architectural competition, to design the new compound for the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers in Baghdad. Zaha Hadid and more than 30 other international architects participated in this competition, won by the Iraqi Architect Manhal Al Habbobi (Master in Philosophy of Architecture) with his 'CAP Emirates' design. The design concept evolved as a logical and natural outcome of the system approach, concluding that an 'Infinite Free Iraqi Constitution' would be the perfect translation for the objectives of the project, as it represents now the virtual ruler that it is to house and maintain. The four stages of the concept's evolution covered searching for a design statement that would convey the 'raison d'être' for the project; deciding on some characteristics within the statement that could be visually realised; symbolising characteristics in a linear presentation, and finally, symbolising a metamorphosing of form in a way that resembles the biological process by which a living creature physically develops after birth or hatching. The architect suggests that if you can imagine a gigantic cylindrical seal, which was used in ancient Iraq as an administrative tool, engraved with all the significant features of Iraq's past, present and future aspirations, that image is the design used to mark the ribbon connecting the land with Tigris River. Carved with the story of Iraq, the landscape of this ribbon evolved, through a process of metamorphosing, into splendid architectural spaces delineated by elegantly defined thresholds. Manhal Al Habbobi goes on to say that in the future, if you happen to stand in front of a building that speaks to you and tells you that inside are people looking after the Infinite Free Iraqi Constitution, then you'll know that you are in Baghdad in front of the General Secretariat for Ministers Council. Enjoy your stay! ref. http://static.worldarchitecturenews....pload_id=16373 __________________ “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless” - << VISIT BAGHDAD, ARAB CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2013 >> - www.baghdadism.blogspot.com.au Last edited by elusive; February 26th, 2012 at 07:49 AM.

May 11th, 2011, 08:10 AM	#2
sasa_taisa Hardcore Gamer Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern Pass/Le Mexique. Posts: 3,832 Likes (Received): 75	just...WOW __________________ BORDERLANDER CREW : NOW ON FACEBOOK // Proyectos & Metroplex // Fotografias // Museo EDII // Ciudad Universitaria CJZ //Avenidas & Vialidades // // Plan de Movilidad Urbana //

May 11th, 2011, 09:08 AM	#4
Yousifovic Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Baghdad Posts: 2,300 Likes (Received): 15	We in the Iraqi forum can not get over this building __________________ llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllأكبرllllllllاللهllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

May 12th, 2011, 03:46 PM	#6
*elusive* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Baghdad Posts: 4,089 Likes (Received): 107	it's only the beginning visit our Iraq forum to see all our new projects __________________ “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless” - << VISIT BAGHDAD, ARAB CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2013 >> - www.baghdadism.blogspot.com.au

August 22nd, 2011, 10:31 AM	#9
*elusive* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Baghdad Posts: 4,089 Likes (Received): 107	yes you do, major projects are currently being planned/built in iraq __________________ “Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless” - << VISIT BAGHDAD, ARAB CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2013 >> - www.baghdadism.blogspot.com.au

May 11th, 2011, 09:04 AM	#3
MR. Bacon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Den Haag Posts: 1,031 Likes (Received): 32	indeed WOW

May 12th, 2011, 03:04 PM	#5
sali_haci Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Karinabat Posts: 1,047 Likes (Received): 26	A country that was destroyed in the last decade, deserves such a great projects!

May 12th, 2011, 03:59 PM	#7
Rayman87 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Anywhere on Earth Posts: 1,050 Likes (Received): 15	WAAAAAAouuuuWWWW I need to pay more attention to the Iraqi forum. Really impressive.

May 13th, 2011, 12:12 AM	#8
dnh310 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Catamarca, Argentina. Posts: 13,022 Likes (Received): 5	Yes, really amazing project.

August 22nd, 2011, 03:54 PM	#10
BG_PATRIOT BANNED Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 9,476 Likes (Received): 16	Gorgeous looking building

August 24th, 2011, 06:00 AM	#11
Mplsuptown Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 740 Likes (Received): 12	Very nice project. __________________ I ain't got time to breed

August 24th, 2011, 06:10 AM	#12
Chadoh25 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 7,569 Likes (Received): 248	COOL!

August 29th, 2011, 10:43 AM	#13
Gendo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SE Idaho Posts: 1,462 Likes (Received): 8	Kinda like something out of Star Wars. I hope Baghdad will see a construction boom with many great projects like this one very soon.

August 30th, 2011, 02:49 AM	#14
Nemanja034 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,864 Likes (Received): 76	... __________________ Spock: "... logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Last edited by Nemanja034; August 30th, 2011 at 03:21 AM.

August 30th, 2011, 11:07 PM	#15
adam_uk Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: london Posts: 198 Likes (Received): 0	wow amazing baghdad deserve this beauty. __________________ *adam the great*

November 10th, 2011, 02:01 PM	#16
Yousifovic Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Baghdad Posts: 2,300 Likes (Received): 15	Construction of this project will start by the next year not much time .. __________________ llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllأكبرllllllllاللهllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

November 10th, 2011, 02:03 PM	#17
anakngpasig recovering assaholic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ciudad Pasig Posts: 2,382 Likes (Received): 146	what a beauty!

November 10th, 2011, 02:42 PM	#18
Vincen1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 313 Likes (Received): 34	Very monumental and renewing at the same time. But what's with the social-realistic giant statues visible in (only) the first picture. Are those really included in the plan? If so, the authoritarian message seems a bit misplaced.

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