Peri-urban Baghdad

A master plan for a mixed-use community on the outskirts of Baghdad covering an area of 2.5 square kilometers aims at proposing an alternative model for greenfield developments. This proposal addresses the uncritical repetition of identical urban blocks usually adopted by developers for new towns of similar nature.

Built on former farmlands, the design proposes the preservation and adaptation of water channels that irrigated the farms to storm water drainage and bioremediation channels. A series of a green corridors bisecting development clusters diagonally offer open spaces of various scales with a multitude of ecological benefits. In addition to the provision of urban farming as a primary driver, these productive parks tie social and public facilities such as mosques, nurseries, recreational venues and retail offerings together via recreational paths and trails.

A framework capable of providing a mix of housing typologies that cater to various income and social groups was developed as part of the scheme. This involved developing a strategy to optimize the distribution and sizing of community facilities and social infrastructure against urban densities.

A flexible system of urban blocks and parcel structures is devised to respond to fluctuating market conditions and preferences. The mix of housing typologies also grants various neighborhoods distinct characters contributing to a sense of belonging and facilitating way finding.

The project was conducted in collaboration with AE7’s master planning team under Pragma’s founder, Ahmed Khadier, leadership and advisory role.

Related Projects