It has been confirmed that Zaha Hadid is one of the architects shortlisted for the international competition to design a new, $1 billion Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad. The full list has yet to be released, but as we have announced earlier, the London-based firm Assemblage has also been shortlisted. Located in the middle of the city, the new complex will be challenged with the remnants of a partially built super mosque planned by Saddam Hussein. Massive 50m reinforced concrete columns tower over the site, as construction was halted by the US-led invasion in 2003. Continue reading after the break for more.
Zaha Hadid’s practice has already received a contract in the Iraqi capital back in 2010 for the Central Bank headquarters, but as BDOnline reports, the parliament building “promises to be a still more potent symbol of the new Iraq”.
Buro Happold and Davis Langdon, owned by Aecom, as well as Iraqi firm Al-Khan and Canadian practice Adamson have teamed up with Assemblage. Baghdad-based Dewan Architects and possibly some French and German architects will also be joining the shortlist.
Assemblage director Peter Besley stated the project briefing revealed that the firms may keep or demolish the columns, commenting “It will be an important aspect as to how those columns are treated.”
Entrants will return their proposals to technical committee by the first week of July. An international jury will then be drafted to choose a winner toward the end of the year. In addition to the complex, the finalist will also be asked to produce a master plan for the surrounding city, as well as additional government buildings, a new hotel and public parks.
Reference: BDOnline
