Assemblage, an international architectural firm has published the details of its competition-winning design for new Iraq parliament buildings. In a press release co writes “A modern parliament building must embody the transparency between citizens and their government which reflects the essential democratic relationship.” Further they write “This is not literal transparency, but is about the building’s feeling of public ownership and accessibility. It must impart the positive possibility of the State: larger than the individual, but supportive and engaging – not aggressive or oppressive.”
As per Building Design online, co has won the competition in last August, from total 130 competitors. Capita
Symonds and Zaha Hadid architects also participate in the competition but finished at 2nd and 3rd respectively. Recently Assemblage has disclosed its design details.
The images, released in a press release also show that Assemblage had made it as it promised of transparency. Viewing it from outside, there is complex grid of quadrilaterals in Council Representatives building, arranged over 7 tiers vertically. These tiers seems to be punched in the building narrowing and widening as going ahead and posing the impression of a building in all entrants. It show the building solid exterior in reality.
This design idea was taken from Rome’s Colosseum, but it was modernized and made angular. Assemblage also disclosed that design circular was influenced by Madinat As salam (City of Pease) developed by Al-Mansur in 8th century, near to near parliament site.
In the whole design, Representatives building is the iconic centerpiece of the building. But it is part of urban plan and includes its surrounding streets, building and courtyard including a new Federal Council building.
RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) managed this competition, but the client, Iraqi Council of Representative, was not beholden to the competition outcome and had been holding talks with Zaha’s Hadid Architects. Zaha has yet not published its design. Competition judge Piers Gough explained that Zaha’s design featured a fantastic chamber but also included “deliberately convoluted connections between things.”