Authenticity, Identity and Sustainability in Post-war Iraq: Reshaping the Urban Form of Erbil City

Rebwar Ibrahim, Sabah Mushatat, Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Issues of authenticity and identity are particularly significant in cities where social and cultural change is shaping active transformation of its urban fabric and structure in the post-war condition. In search of sustainable future, Iraqi cities are stretched between the two ends of the spectrum, authentic quarters with its traditional fabric and modern districts with their global sense of living. This paper interrogates the reciprocal influences, distinct qualities and sustainable performance of both authentic and modern quarters of Erbil, the
    capital of the Iraqi province of Kurdistan, as factors in shaping sustainable urban forms for Iraqi cities. In doing so, the paper, firstly, seeks to highlight the urban identity as an effective factor in relation to sustainable urban form. Secondly, the city of Erbil in Iraq has been chosen as a field study, due to its regional, social, political and historical role in the region. Thirdly, the study emphasises the dynamic activities and performance of residential projects according to rational sustainable criteria. The research concludes that urban identity and the sense of place in traditional and historical places should inform design strategies in order to achieve a more sustainable urban context.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)58-68
    Number of pages11
    JournalJournal of Islamic Architecture
    Volume3
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2014

    Keywords

    • urban identity
    • sustainable urban form
    • Erbil
    • built fabric
    • traditional districts

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Architecture
    • Urban Studies

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