Continuity Urban Development of Baghdad Historical City Centre
between Academic and Practice
Submitted by: Dr. Mohammed Qasim Abdul Ghafoor Al Ani
E-mail: mohammedkassim66@yahoo.com
Mobil: 00964 7901 398763
Al Nahrain University – College of Engineering – Architecture Department - Baghdad
Consulting Architect & Urban Designer
Abstract:
This research deals with the subject of Baghdad development, for what it
represents, as an element dealing with the conscious and the unconscious, in the process of
thinking of Baghdad future, in order to build a continuous civilization.
This continuity process is the main concern of the research, and it will not be
achieved without taking the building regulations and the intellectual these, as well as
studying their effects on the historical city centers, where the interest in the process of
continuity will come to its peak.
The research procedure has dealing with the past & present experiments of Baghdad
in the fields of architecture & urban planning, represented by the historical city center
through the intellectual theses, the planning policies and building regulations to identity the
elements which had a negative role in the continuity process
Considered the main aim of the research to reach the conclusions of Baghdad future,
so we can have a clear vision of the coming future, what is the future of the historical
center of Baghdad, in terms of Its policies, the building regulations and the development
projects, which make the process of the continuation of civilization sail strong, safe and
sound, through urban academy and practical institute.
Introduction:
Architecture, beyond its self-discipline has its objective reality when human deals
with it according to several well-known scientific methods. However, those methods
showed a deficit in some respects. They did not extend to treat many of the moral aspects
of the human being, whether the source of knowledge or at the level of integrated scientific
method that looks beyond the mind and experience. It was obvious, that the ideas proposed
by the Islamic thinking do meet this need, and do fill the knowledge and systematic gap,
which architecture dramatically needs in its intellectual, philosophical and moral levels,
particularly in how to take advantage of the past intellectual and philosophical treasures all
together with the nature of the present, that's to learn, explore and crafting knowledge
towards predicting the future of the Arabic-Islamic city and Baghdad city in particular.
To do so, the research represents to develop the use of strategies of urban renewal,
by tries to contribute effectively in developing the public awareness for the importance of
exploring and formulating visions and scenarios for the future of the city of Baghdad in
particular.
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The city with forward-looking specialist interested in policy development strategies
in the face of massive patterns of changes and transformations and challenges of our time,
which became the privilege of the era of future industry and preparing for it and indicate its
features before it goes into the womb of our present, through the formulation of appropriate
frameworks to be prepared to confront it.
Study and analysis of proposals that addressed the concepts of (continuity Urban
development of Baghdad historical city centre between academic and practice) in the
context of changes in the structure of intellectual, is by defining the dimensions of a
strategy to predict the physical by communicating with the heritage and zeitgeist,
On the face of paradox witnessed by Arabic architectural practice and local
communities due to the absence of clear framework for the strategy of urban renewal
to predict the future of Baghdad in the face the problem of identity and privacy of
Islamic urbanism, this problem led to the emergence of the research objective, by
Contribute effectively to the development of architecture opinion aware of the importance
of exploring and formulating visions and scenarios for the future of strategy of urban
renewal in urban planning & urban design in the historical city center of Baghdad .
The research stands on the study of theoretical and practical concepts and principles
of urbanism and it’s reflection on policies and strategies to the formation of urban planning
and career of Arab-Islamic city. Then display critical study of the experiences of Baghdad
city through its development plans and goals in the future, inferred from the most important
principles and standards of planning and design adopted and the outcomes and how to use
them, and their applicability to the city of Baghdad, through the study of the physical fabric
of the city and its future, by cognitive science, and the application of analysis approach of
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and thirst (SWOT analysis) of this fabric in order
to identify potential opportunities and potential obstacles that characterize the case of the
city under study.
According to the research methodology will be analyzed two groups of Baghdad
district classified as follows:
1: The built up district (historical city center) and could be called cooperative urban
group.
2: The manufacturer district (greater Baghdad) and could be called competitive
urban group.
Baghdad historic city center
The historic center of Baghdad is represented by the 2 districts: Al Karkh & Al
Rusafa. Both districts are situated via-á- vies on each Tigris river side. The bigger district
Rusafa represents the central business district of the city of Baghdad (CBD). These two
districts are exemplary for the strategic meaning and development of the culture and
heritage of the city of Baghdad through its long history.
So, in order to conserve and Revival historical cities, we need to analytic three stages
of city developing:
1- Emerge stage - Growth stage
2- Urban planning stage, Urban design project to develop center
3- Building regulation, urban planning management stage
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Historical renewal of Baghdad- Redevelopment, rehabilitation and conservation
1- Emerge stage - Growth stage
Historical evidence suggests that the antique and archaeological information in the region
of Karkh and Rasafa tracing back to the civilization Tel Harmel (Shadrubm) in the
Kingdom of Ashnuna and will dated back to the late third millennium BC. As it shown
below the most important dates in the history of Baghdad, as follows:
Gregori Incidents witnessed important historical center of Baghdad
an Date
(AC)
762
Al-Mansur founded the city on the western side
836
Transmission of the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad to Samarra,
which had in consequence the downfall of Baghdad.
892
Baghdad was again the capital of Caliph Al Moatamed and the
urban life and residences concentrate on the eastern side and
changed the significance of the west side of the Tigris River.
1055
At the beginning of the Seljuq aera and in Rusafa three bridges of
boats were constructed and linked to Karkh. Furthermore some of
the surrounding walls were constructed for protection Rusafa.
1089
Initiation of the establishment of the Great Wall of Baghdad and the
construction was finished after 28 years.
1226
Construction of Al Abasi palace
1232
Construction completed of the school Mustansiriya.
1258
Occupation of Baghdad by Hulako and stopping the Abbasid rule
1729
Construction of fence along the western Baghdad
1766
As indication of the beginnings of the British influence in Baghdad
the first British house was constructed of a British High
Commissioner.
1853
best survey of the Ottoman period by Felix Jones, creation of a map
of most urban and architectural buildings and districts and both river
sides, according Mr. Jones map Rusafa consisted of 63 locations,
306 avenues, 55 mosques, 47 markets/suqs, 39 Khans. Karkh
included 10 stores.
1860
In the late Ottoman period some major changes taken place in the
city especially the rule of Namik Pasha and Midhat Pasha
implemented a lot of urban changes into the historic city center in
the spirit of “Western Inspired Modernization”.
1869
Midhat Pasha initiated the demolition of the wall and the latest
changes in local and various economy and he opened the city for the
expandsion outside the surrounding wall for the first time after 800
years. The demolition of the wall is an important step in the city
development.
1917
Opening of the Al-Rashid Street which is a key indicator of the
Western-oriented modern road network.
1918
Construction ot a bridge which conntected Rusafa and Karkh as
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1921
1928
contact point between both of them.
Establishment of the Kingdom in Iraq under the British Mandate,
which is a turning point in the history of Baghdad.
The establishment of the location of Sinak that rely on the
rectangular planned to suit the changes in traffic means of transport,
which includes mechanical and architectural style and urban access
technologies and materials for new building construction, which
represents a significant shift across the city.
2- Urban planning stage, Urban design project to develop center
This stage remark emerging of urban planning development for Baghdad, and most
important milestone in this field:
1936
Two German engineers prepared a first outline as the basis for the
city of Baghdad. The strongly confirmed and planned construction
included the planning of new wide roads through the urban fabric
with high density in Rusafa and creation of commercial streets
which would be similar to in the streets in Europe. Two of these
roads were constructed during the textile district (Alkifah and
Sheikh Omar Streets). In Rusafa the Al-Rashid Street contains three
lanes and going in a balanced manner and along the Tigris River.
They were changed in the direction of the movement and traffic in
Rusafa and assisted trough street in 90 degrees.
1938
Opening of the bridge of Al Shohdai who was sited instead of Al
Mamun old floating bridge.
1940
Opening of Al Ahrar bridge which was called Mode Bridge.
1954
The Kulafai Streetwas expanded after increasing private cars after
the oil boom as a result of the economic boom. Rusafa was divided
into five parts written as isolated length of 3 km and a width
between 400 - 600 m.
1956
1st general master plan was created by a Britain planning office
which intensives the one family concept and separating working,
living and free time on the south gate with Hotels, cinemas and
cafes and on the north gate a medical centre created
1958
2nd general master plan was created by a Greek planning office
Doxiadis and the concept was for expansion up to 3million
inhabitants
1962
first steps to save the old central city, the pressure increased during
the revolution and the development of the city suburbs of Baghdad,
The development accompanied by preparing plans to redevelop the
Rusafa and Karkh sector as the Central Business (CBD).
1967
A comprehensive development plan for Baghdad 2000 was created
by the consulting company Polish (Polservice)
1973
The comprehensive development plan of Paul Surfs was revised to
revitalize Karkh and Rusafa as central areas of the capital Baghdad.
1973
The implementation of the July 17 bridge project to link the Karkh
Rasafa and the establishment of a route to a Al Talaei square.
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1980
The preparation of a detailed study of transport in Baghdad by
Baghdad municipality.
1981
The Haifa Street project started and was accomplished in 1985
1981
Baghdad Metro project planning has not been implemented.
1982
Provision of the comprehensive development proposals planned for
Baghdad, 2000
1982
Completion of a Study-Karkh Development project and proposed by
the Office of Alusi Technical Consultants
1984
Studying the development of the Rusafa area by the Consultative
Japanese JCP
1985
Comprehensive development strategies by Japanese JCCF
consultants and Baghdad Secretariat.
1986
Comprehensive inventory of heritage buildings for Rusafa.
1987
Planning of integrated development of the city of Baghdad, 2001
and outlines a proposal for developing the river front by the
Consultative Japanese JCCF but no implementation so far.
1988
Baghdad Municipality issued a set of controls for construction and
planning division of the land in the city of Baghdad.
1994
Study the preservation of buildings of heritage and the role of the
Rusafa by the University of Baghdad.
1998
Urban development project for the city of Baghdad (2015) Phase 1
by the Secretariat and the University of Baghdad
2000
Urban development scheme for the city of Baghdad (2015) Phase 2
by the Secretariat and the University of Baghdad
2010 Comprehensive development planning Baghdad (2030) by Qateeb
& Alame and PCI Japanese consultants and Baghdad Secretariat.
A- Baghdad general master plan - Doxiadis Association 1958
In 1955 the Iraqi re-habilitation council was established and ordered a company to start
a new comprehensive plan for Baghdad, moreover they cooperated with Doxiadis Bureau,
a famous urban designer company, to submit the vision to redevelop Baghdad and other
cities in Iraq. Iraq was a constitutional monarchy until 1958 as a group of army officers
overthrew the government and proclaimed the first Republic of Iraq.
The Doxiadis office prepared many planning concepts for the urban development
for a lot of sectors in Baghdad and further cities in Iraq. The reason was the fast
growth of slums in the east side of the city to inhabit more than 400.000 migrant
coming to Baghdad from southern cities. In relation to the whole work the most
significant example will be presented of the urban development Al thawra city. And
he raised his famous slogan: ”The module in new city should be the sector instead of
the block“ (City Black ). But the proposed urban development plan in 1959 was rejected
by the government for Baghdad.
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B- A comprehensive development plan for Baghdad 2000 (Polservice)- 1973
In 1967 another consultation company was named to prepare a new study for a
comprehensive plan for Baghdad it was the Polservice company.
In 1973 the same company asked to prepare the regional plan for Baghdad, as the oil boom
of the 1970s brought wealth to Baghdad and the city was developed to an impressive scale.
The city stretches along both banks of the Tigris with the district of Rusafah on the
east and the district of Karkh on the west side. Eleven bridges connect the two halves of the
city with a total population of 5 million people.
This planning concept is considered now as the last comprehensive plan
approved for Baghdad which was a very clear and a successful vision for Baghdad
and we can observe the deep influence of this study in the structure of the city today.
But unfortunately many of this study guidelines was overthrow in reason of the
complicated situation faced the country after the first and second Gulf wars.
Different zones definition for the Region Baghdad:
1. Inner City - 12-15km
2. Baghdad suburban zone - 25-30km
3. Buffer zone - Agricultural belt- 50-60km
4. Outer regional zone - 100-120km
C- Integrated development Plan of Baghdad 2001 JCCF - 1987
JCCF prepared by the Japanese company in 1987 but did not initiate, and
formulated the goals of the company's plan from the city of Baghdad, a city regarded as the
most important and the heart of Iraq's political, financial and cultural influence in its
direction on Iraq as a whole. And the city as an open system affects and is affected by the
movement of Iraq. Based on its studies and found that the growth of Baghdad is
progressing faster than the growth of other urban areas, increasing the pressure on
them. The main reason for this is because of the attractiveness of migration to it in terms of
services and employment opportunities.
JCCF Have been identified the main goals of the study, as follows: • Delay the rate of growth quantitative measurements to reach the population, the goal in
2000 and to achieve balanced development.
• Encourage the development of activities suitable for a large Arab city of Baghdad.
• Do not encourage or directed activities that reduce the quality of urban development.
• Encourage the private sector style is direct, through laws and regulations to play a bigger
role in development.
As for the center of Baghdad, has reviewed the historical background, which was
planned in an era not far beyond the region is not the traditional old in each of the Rusafa
and Karkh, this small area was the beginning of the city to provide sufficient space required
for the functions of administrative and commercial residents of the city. But with the
pressure of population growth and the aspiration to modernize the old center city began in
parallel to the Tigris River, and could be called a belt of the Tigris. But the construction of
Damascus Street in the Karkh gave a new dimension perpendicular to the direction of the
river belt.
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The proposed integration development plan outlines are to develop the river front in
terms of environmental (clean the banks of the river) and aesthetic (entertainment, etc). and
construction (the strengthening of embankments and structures to prevent erosion) and
functional (use of river transport). With the development of the See of East Street in the
Rusafa become a great potential for expansion of the east where it has some government
buildings and commercial interests, business and thereby expanded the city center five
times its size when it was in the old traditional area in each of the Rusafa and Karkh.
This study is based on four alternatives for growth:
1. The principle of Growth poles: This means to focus development efforts towards the
two cities to three cities outside Baghdad attract additional regional priority.
2. The principle passages Urban Corridors: the organization of development across the
different axes.
3. The principle of Dispersed settlements: the distribution of urban development across
the regions secondary to central Iraq on urban settlements, large and small.
According to the balance of population density and stability of the rates of
immigration, and depends on the strengthening of a developmental elected during the early
stages and these nodes can be acquired with time dynamics of a mission to become the
poles and begin to gradually take the part of the role played by the largest city in the region
(Baghdad).
At present, most of the settlements in Iraq have direct links with the capital, but within the
proposed principles, the smaller towns will be linked directly to cities, the largest within
their territories, the smaller of the hierarchy of settlements, where the link and nationality
of the capital is determined by only the functions and services the most specialized and toplevel.
4. Moderate
Disparate:
basics
and
be
effective
a / inhibits the growth of the city of Baghdad, rising slowly.
in
two
cases:
b / configure solid economic growth points to growth through a wide range of
employment opportunities, benefits and services the city of Baghdad or the standards of the
best of them with a balanced range of education and health services, cultural services and
communication distinct. Rural areas better to retain the rural character and ownership of
modern agriculture with traditional events.
These points will not be effective unless it is scaled investment in the city of
Baghdad, with increased investment in growth points, for the purpose of establishing a
balance in development to the north and the south and west of Baghdad for a major and
accelerating growth in the outer most of the procedure. To reach ten developing poles of
urban growth in the greater Baghdad, and eight rural developing areas.
Although the outlet of the planned integrated development with respect to parallel axes of
movement the main river in the center of the city (after it was in the past perpendicular to
the river), and how to deal with the river's edge, but the plans overall development of
integrated task in the development of the city as a whole at the level of the totalitarian and
development center city on the local level, which is much better than the charts that show
the basic uses of the land. As the problem of Baghdad and its historic center is the
dependence on the basic plans left by the most developed countries and non-application of
integrated development plans so far.
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D- Comprehensive development planning Baghdad 2030 - Qateeb &
Alame and PCI Japanese consultants - 2010
In 2010 Baghdad municipality contract with Qateeb & Alame and PCI Japanese
consultants, in order to reach the goals of Comprehensive development planning Baghdad
2030.
The objective of the project development plan of the city of Baghdad, deal this city
as an integrated environment includes all aspects of social, economic, environmental,
administrative, and other aspects, beyond the current building to meet the needs of their
citizens. This overall vision will enable to achieve the development Baghdad perspective
conceptual and technical again, so that this advanced approach in planning is able to
reconcile the economic, political, physical, environmental, and activate the city in order to
prepare strategies and actions to achieve the goals and objectives of the plan from a
technical point, and will be using the latest reached by the GIS technology as a powerful
tool for the diagnosis of conditions past and present in Baghdad, and propose strategies, the
priority is to:
• Dealing primarily with the role of Baghdad, at the national, regional and international
issues of common management and urban renewal within the administrative boundaries.
• Includes a series of strategic interventions in the fabric of the city.
• Take into account the relationship between the center of Baghdad and its immediate
environment, as well as between the city of Baghdad and its suburbs adjacent to it,
especially for projects that are currently being implemented there.
• Study the rehabilitation and urban design within the city of Baghdad.
This plan will propose as a totalitarian system that uses GIS techniques to integrate the
needs of the city with the management of urban development, social and economic
conditions for its citizens and their needs anticipated. This link will bring urban
development advanced and comprehensive.
Basic development priorities design of the currently approved in the city, as well as
by the gaps, such as the development of conservation areas and recreational areas and
industrial areas. The war produced an urban transformations have led to the disintegration
of multi-structural in the city and encouraged the growth of random addition to weak
institutional initiatives in urban development and urban. As a result, the condition,
Baghdad today is characterized by the following:
- Deterioration of the urban fabric.
- Review of land use.
- To contain the phenomenon of informal settlements.
- Inadequate networks of basic services and infrastructure.
- Inadequate road network and transportation systems.
- Inadequate public services and social infrastructure.
- Deterioration in the urban built environment.
- Housing deficit accumulated as a result of population growth, instructions and
regulations restricting development.
- The inefficiency of a strategy of economic development and employment generation.
- The need to treat the capital Baghdad, with the ability to deal with potential regional
investments in various sectors.
The functions of the draft comprehensive development plan for the city of Baghdad
in 2030, consists of and focusing on the following elements:
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1: land use, planning, management of growth.
2: The environment.
3: Natural resources in and outside the city, entertainment, social resources.
4: The historical and cultural resources.
5: Housing.
6: Transport.
7: Infrastructure services.
8: The development of the economy.
9: Guiding principles for urban design.
Although the Comprehensive development planning Baghdad 2030 complete the
first stage and prepare for second stage, but it is important for a new study for developing
of greater Baghdad, and historical city center till now not appears with details.
E- Development project Rusafa - Japanese Consultants JCP in 1984
With (Dr.Stefano Bianca, Mr. Sohiko Yamada, Dr. Ihsan Fethi, Prof. Giorgio Lombardi)
In 1984 the Japanese JCP started the research studies in Rusafa. One of the key facts
and whishes of the consultants were to find out an optimal balance in the development of
the structural design for the future of Rusafa between the different urban structure types.
In different detailed research plans the solid bases is shown for the balance between
conservation and development. Important was the presentation of the important
components like urban regulations, process controlling and control in the development.
A detailed analysis of the existing conditions of the field of study has resulted in the
definition of some general goals. These affected directly the planning process and various
strategies and named as:
- Development of the historical city center which will be qualified as capital of Iraq.
- Re-integration of urban structure which shattered the ancient city.
- Maintaining the historic fabric and boulevards.
- Navigation and organization of urban development in areas according to modern
standards and controls of urban design.
The research and development team identified five major spines in the historical
district Rusafa with the point of view to the pedestrians. The planning proposed to maintain
and developing vital roads in the organic structure of the ancient city. After the situation
diagnose the created plans summarized the following areas:





Section Wastani / Castle length in 2000.
section Wastani / markets along in 2200.
Bab enchantment / Sinak length in 1600.
Kilani / field length in 2500.
Field / Street Mustansir length in 1700.
The markets represent an essential element of traditional urban life for Baghdad. So the
target is to reintegrate the architectural value of the market system and restore the central
axis for example the direction beginning on the river side nearly the Al Shohadai bridge till
al-Kilani mosque.
The plan proposed the maintenance and rehabilitation of various markets and
landmarks such as mosques, boxes, public baths. In addition they fit the changes in these
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areas need to excellent business in increasing the energy storage and improved access
without changes in the nature of walkways or a human scale.
We find that the consultant's Japanese JCP study is an extensive and detailed study
focused on preserving more of the development ... Although this study is approved for the
Rusafa district of Baghdad.
The Municipality grants the building permits, but it does not represent the controls of
planning and design. In reason of misapplication of the study's recommendations by the
executive bodies in Baghdad, the Municipality has minimized the success of the study as
more enrichment.
In the JCP research study was one of the key facts and wishes to find out an optimal
balance in the development of the structural design for the future of Rusafa between the
different urban structure types. A detailed analysis of the conditions resulted in general
targets:
 Development of the historical city centre to qualify it as capital of Iraq.
 Re-integration of urban structure which shattered the ancient city.
 Improvement of environmental conditions
 Organization of urban development according to modern standards and controls of
urban design.
Theses were affected directly in the planning strategies:
1. Historical fabric conservation
 Integration broken urban structure after analyzing the historical urban fabric
 Conservation and revitalization
 Development schemes for future implementation to protect the cultural identity
 Maintaining the historic fabric and boulevards
2. Urban design
 Providing structure plan as an integral part of Baghdad
 Balance between conservation and modern development through definition of new
guidelines
 Pressure reduction of the old fabric through offering development opportunities
 Division Rusafa in 6 zones with different functional developments
3. Functional /Transportation development
 Improvement the mixed land use
 Limitation the extension of CBD and proposition a new traffic policy to reduce the
pressure on the historical sites.
 Development around the historical city in southern Rusafa for creation a transition
zone
 Expansion the communal functions (residential, open space...) to 200% from 19802000
 Proposition to expand CBD function to 189%
 Proposition to minimize industrial functions to 74%
F- Karkh Development Project - Office of Alusi technical advice in 1982:
By consultants (Maath Alous, Manfred Muller, Dr. Kristin Ammann).
The historical district was exposed to large changes in the traditional fabric as a
result of large development projects in Karkh. The first was the implementation of a project
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for construction the bridge July 17 and to set up a route to the Al Tallai Street in 1973. This
was followed by the implementation of the project Haifa Street in 1981 and followed by
planning the Metro Project Baghdad, which has not been implemented yet.
These project were aimed to develop Karkh (proposed by the Office of Alusi
Technical Consultants in 1982 and adopted by the Municipality of Baghdad) to maintain
the old fabric according to the recent development of the area mentioned above ... It also
aims to integrate the Haifa Street project completed and the adjacent parts of the old fabric.
Emerged as a clear vision within the developing project of Karkh the architectural
heritage in Baghdad was one of the main points and was limited at the beginning in two
apartments in the district: Al Shawaka & Al Kremat. But this concept has expanded
gradually until it became as a general principle in the development of the region. And the
challenge of the project is how to maintain the existing renovation or rehabilitation rather
than removed. This method is fast, easy and low cost compared to re-development as well
as the prevailing social relations. The project is based on the development of Karkh on four
points:
1. Emphasis on the residential character of the area.
2. Basis on commercial activities as part of the central business district of the city of
Baghdad.
3. Providing work opportunities in the region.
4. Haifa Street Development is an urban planning in the newly integrated region.
But the proposal has produced some of the most important points:
- Proposed traffic to keep the current status of development, exception for a street
separating the commercial area of the residential area in Al Shawaka Street and connection
with Imam Musa al-Kadom (peace be upon him) which may be cause congestion of the Al
Shohadai bridge in absence of any specific solution for this region.
- Trying to maintain the pattern of the methods used existing firstly and in thinking of the
passengers and the urban heritage.
- Based on the principle of separation of commercial activities on the cultural events and
entertainment.
- The traditional opening of the market to the river with a large interface and coming in
some parts inside to relive the most powerful river.
- Dealing with this region as a gateway to the Karkh district so a big entrance at the end of
Al Shohadai bridge which means gate of al-Karkh history.
After implemented important projects like Haifa Street and construction of the
Bridge of 17th July the development project of Al Karkh was adopted by the Municipality
of Baghdad. The architectural heritage in Baghdad was one of the main points. To reach
general principles of the development:
1- Emphasis the residential character of the area
2- Basis of commercial activities as part of C.B.D
3- Provision new work opportunities
4- Haifa Street development as urban integrated planning
5- Opening to the river of the traditional market as large interface
The planning indicated the different levels of cultural, social and economic development
of the inhabitants of these regions and resulted many social problems.
The study of Al Karkh development researched the possibilities of intergradations the
Haifa Street in the urban structure. But this new urban style arose difficult problems which
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cannot resolve without a comprehensive development of the region. But this proposed
study has advantages and it is used in the Municipality of Baghdad for the granting of
construction permits now.
3- Building regulation, urban planning management stage
Urban Historical city centers problems, building regulations, impact of
urban planning management and treatments
According to the historical urban development therefore the historic center of
Baghdad will be researched in a detailed view in the ancient wall. That was built in Rusafa
in 482 H - in 1089 and in Al-Karkh, 1193 H 1729.
After a short historical overview the research presents the different problems of the historic
center of Baghdad which was significantly modified and degraded in the last 50 years.
Urban management for the current Baghdad: is plagued by the current from several
problems, such as land use problems, housing and population ... etc, but the show - and
sharply - the problems of infrastructure, from electricity and water supply, sanitation and
pollution, with significant impact on the city of Baghdad, in general, and the center the
historic city in particular, namely:
 Population Density.
 Land use.
 Transportation network.
 Education facilities.
 Baghdad Health facilities.
• Drinking water: the network in some areas that need rehabilitation. Network suffers
from water pollution due to high sewage systems affected.
• Sanitation: sanitation system requires a great deal of immediate action to accommodate
the current flows generated and to reduce or eliminate the danger that threatens the
health of the population in surrounding areas and the reduction of environmental
impacts on the Tigris River and the surrounding environment.
• Electrical power: suffers from many problems, including foot stations and damaged
others and increase the demand for energy.
• Communication networks.
• Natural features.
- Soil characteristics: Baghdad is in the plain of alluvial deposits of the basin of the Tigris
River, where a good ground for the implementation of projects, urban development and
agriculture and horticulture production, if provided in ways that modern irrigation.
- Bodies of water: The River Tigris great natural gift of Baghdad, this river provide water
for drinking and irrigation water for agriculture, horticulture and water used for
industrial purposes and the axis represents the natural outlet for recreation and
entertainment in Baghdad.
- Green areas and entertainment: enjoy the presence of Baghdad municipality green
agricultural areas surrounding the urban area and a source of valuable environmental
and represents a natural outlet and lungs of the city of Baghdad.
- Pollution: the city of Baghdad suffers from contamination in the groundwater and
rivers, the Tigris and Diyala. It also suffers from air pollution, largely due to the large
12
increase in the number of vehicles in recent years. In addition the increased incidence
of dust storms as a result of climatic and environmental changes at the country level.
 Transformation of the river edge from vertical to sloped.
 Change typology of traditional allies from vertical to the river to parallel.
 Transformation of building typology from small - low rise cells to mega structure with
high rise. The mega structures cutting continuity of traditional allies.
 Foreign building regulation not related to local tradition.
 Destroyed the ancient walls surrounded the historical city center missing the identity
and characters of Baghdad.
 Change the housing function to commercial make death of the historical city center in
the night.
Problems of urban development has been defined as: the indiscriminate proliferation,
which can not be controlled, and complexity of the problems highlighted in the areas of
commercial / mixed city center which contains commercial activities and intensive
government, and inadequate attitudes and jams sharp for the passage of vehicles that are
intertwined directly with the pedestrian traffic .
Population distribution for C.B.D
Population 1980
Total for
Baghdad
1001
Rusafa
% for bag.
1002
Karkh
% for bag.
Total
C.B.D
% for bag.
1985
1990
2000
2002
2006
3,376,600 4,122,950 4,724,050 4,965,500 6,222,186 6,902,842
258,700
7,7 %
245,200
5,9 %
227,600
4,7 %
190,000
3,8 %
130,200
3,9 %
141,100
3,1 %
144,150
3,1 %
129,650
2,6 %
388,900
11,5 %
386,300
6,4 %
364,750
7,7 %
219,650
6,4 %
7841
p/km2
Manpower distribution for C.B.D
Manpower
1980
1985
1990
2000
Total
for
Baghdad
1001
Rusafa
% for bag.
1002 Karkh
% for bag.
Total C.B.D
% for bag.
655,500
903,950
173,600
20,5 %
216,150
23,9 %
1,165,05
0
242,450
20,1 %
1,525,90
0
253,050
16,6 %
53,600
8.2 %
277,200
34,7 %
74,650
8,3 %
290,800
32,2 %
96,550
8,3 %
339,000
29,1 %
127,500
8,3 %
381,350
24,9 %
13
2002
2006
Building regulations
The most important dates in the urban regulation development are shown below. The
current system is not based on the conditions and needs today, impact of urban planning,
urban planning of today is guided by commercial and political groups interests
Gregoria Important laws and buildings regulation
n
Date
(AC)
1935
Legislation of the first building code as a system of roads and
buildings, No. 44 based on British laws.
1964
Administration municipalities Law No. 165 as basic law of the
work of municipalities including Baghdad.
1971
Law of the basic design of the city of Baghdad, no 156
1979
Revolution Command Council Decree No. 850, including the
amendment of the minimum secretion residential land between
120 m 2 - 800 m 2
1983
Launch commercial streets in the city of Baghdad
1987
Revolution Command Council Decree No. 940 which amends the
secretion of residential land and not less than 200 m 2 -800 m 2.
1988
Preparation of the proposed law in construction and urban
planning of the city of Baghdad by the Engineer Ihsan Shirzad and
English Baker Dyke Allen who is not prescribed.
1989
Revolution Command Council Decree No. 51 which provides the
review of the basic design of the city of Baghdad. According to
the directives that all stops the growing of the city without more
increasing of the population density.
Treatments and diagnosis
Baghdad historical city center needs the ways of dealings with Architectural Heritage
(Strategies of urban Renewal):
1- Redevelopment
2- Rehabilitation
3- Conservation
So good management need Preparation of Alternative strategies:
 Temporary comprehensive development
 Control separated development
 Free separated development
Although integration between Heritage & contemporary needs many Styles such as:
-
Imitation
Harmonic integration
Harmonic contrast
Contrast
14
To Predict the Future Baghdad City according to the mechanism of the SWOT analysis
of internal and external environment of the city of Baghdad, can search access to the
following results:
Strengthens:
• Guide the State's policy for the use of information systems technologies and applications,
and administrative climate.
• Availability of financial and technical support for the development of human resources.
• Interest of foreign institutions and donors that support and funding for such projects.
• Development of curriculum planning to accept the technological development.
• Possible provision of software and hardware of computers, which support the use of
forward-looking technologies, systems analysis.
Weaknesses:
• Lack of network connectivity and communication between the institutions that support
the IT system.
• Do not accept some of the individual within the institutional structure to deal with
modern technologies.
• Still hardware and urban planning institutions are not fully aware of the forward-looking
technology and its applications in the field of planning and urban design.
• Lack of structure to informational databases, whether digital or spatial metadata.
• There is no kind of standardization for both structural standards, and urban icons.
• The system is still to urban management systems, the city needs to develop a substantial
and sophisticated style to deal with their problems.
• The traditional method is still in the Department of Urban Planning is used in urban
institutions.
Opportunities:
• Availability of data and maps in digital form though not accuracy.
• The need for a comprehensive strategy to support and improve the integration of
administrative Organizational Integration. And implement development programs and
applications of urban information systems, and geographical information such as a bank,
because the data in the modern concept is the pool once with the possibility of use in many
areas for several times.
• Reduce the space within the unit statistical data collection of demographic, economic,
and urban.
• Improve the performance of human resources to deal with software servers for GIS and
harness their potential and the analytical methods available to retrieve and display
information.
Threats:
• Scarcity of skilled labor in the maintenance of heritage buildings and the road to include
within the urban context.
• Leakage of cadres trained in architecture to the outside diameter.
• A sense of the overall scheme relying on computers in the number of planned without his
knowledge to enter the human mental and experimental attack.
• Rely on digital maps with information in general (two-dimensional) and the absence of
the third dimension and the fourth dimension for urban development schemes, which
directly affect the drafting of planning scheme.
Through the analysis of the SWOT and test the framework of knowledge at hand to
measure the dimensions of the identity of the cities of the future - according to the new
15
dimensions of cities - the application of the framework for the cities of the future in the city
of Baghdad, showing qualities of identity, the future and reflects the transformations,
beginning to recognize the different levels are different properties have, and styles that
have grown , and the most important practices of planning for the city that are models for a
change in the intellectual structure, and the end of a model for hypothetical scenarios for
future planning of the city of Baghdad (a mechanism for the link and interaction between
the effects internal and external influences and the new dimensions of the potential future
of the city).
References
 Alous, Maath; Muller, Manfred: Al Karkh Redevelopment Study: Baghdad
Municipality, 1982.
 Al Ani, Mohammad Qasim: Nostalgia: Between Theory and Practice - Effects of
Building regulations and Intellectual theses on the process of continuity for the
historical city centers: Master thesis, college of Engineering, Baghdad university,
2001.
 Al mulaa hiweesh, aqeel, & Hayder; Contemporary Iraqi planning; Culture office,
Baghdad, 1988.
 Al Ani, Mohammad Qasim: Urban Prediction - Towards a New Generation to
Redevelop the Arabic- Islamic City; PhD thesis, college of Engineering, Baghdad
university, 2011.
 Bianca, Stefano; Urban Form in the Arab World; Past and Present, 2000
 Graf, Christina; About the historical development of Baghdad foundation
 until the 19th century; Berlin, Germany, 2010.
 JCCF, Japanese consultant ; Integrated capital development plan of Baghdad
2001 ; Baghdad Municipality, Baghdad, Iraq, 1987.
 JCP, Japanese consultant: Al Rusafa Redevelopment Project: Baghdad
Municipality, 1984.
 Polsevice, consulting engineering; Comprehensive development plan for Baghdad
-2000; Warsaw, Poland, Aug.1973.
 Qateb & Alame; The Comprehensive Development of the city of Baghdad in 2030;
Baghdad Municipality, Baghdad, Iraq, 2010.
 Yasser Elsheshtawy, Planning Middle Eastern Cities, An urban kaleidoscope in a
globalizing world, 2004.
 Warren, John, &, Fethi, Ihsan: Traditional Houses in Baghdad: Coach Publishing
House Limited, Horsham, England, 1982.
16
Concept of multiple circles of greater Baghdad 2000 (Polsevice, 1973)
Main historical spines of Baghdad historical city center (JCP, 1984)
17
Master plan of Baghdad 2000 (Polsevice, 1973)
Master plan of Integrated capital development plan of Baghdad 2001 (JCCF, 1987)
18
Re development of Al Rusafa as part of Baghdad historical city center (JCP, 1984)
Re development of Al Kurkh as part of Baghdad historical city center (Alalosi, 1982)
19
Land use in the Comprehensive Development of the city of Baghdad in 2030 (Qateb & Alame,2010)
20