MODERNIZATION OF ARCHITECTURAL (APPLIED STUDY OF HERITAGE ISLAMIC …€¦ · · 2017-09-22need to adopt the most effective mechanism by architects to modernize the elements of

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International Journal of Architecture (IJA)

Volume 3, Issue 2, July-December 2017, pp. 10–17, Article ID: IJA_03_02_002

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJA/issues.asp?JType=IJA&VType=3&IType=2

© IAEME Publication

MODERNIZATION OF ARCHITECTURAL

HERITAGE

(APPLIED STUDY OF HERITAGE ISLAMIC

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS IN IRAQ)

Rana Mazin Mahdi

Lecturer, University of Technology, Department of Architecture, Baghdad, Iraq

Enas Salim Abdul-Ahhad

Lecturer, University of Technology, Department of Architecture, Baghdad, Iraq

Hussam Jabbar

Assistant Lecturer, University of Babylon, Department of Architecture, Baghdad, Iraq

ABSTRACT

In the light of the dialectic between a deep-rooted, well-established past, and a

new present as inevitable evolution and progress, since modern and ancient have

always formed the shaping structures of two different themes and directions in all

human products, including architecture, and our Arab architecture in general and

Iraqi architecture in particular has a long history that has always maintained its own

identity, the problem of research comes out as "searching for mechanisms to inspirit

the elements of our architecture and prompt their development and modernization".

The urging objective comes out as the need to determine mechanisms that settle the

dialectic. Through a research methodology, the research concludes the effectiveness

of pattern transformation mechanisms in inspiriting the elements of heritage in

general and the differences in the power of effectiveness among them and confirms the

need to adopt the most effective mechanism by architects to modernize the elements of

our heritage.

Key words: Heritage, Architectural Elements,Transformation.

Cite this Article: Rana Mazin Mahdi, Enas Salim Abdul-Ahhad, Hussam Jabbar,

Modernization of Architectural Heritage (Applied Study of Heritage Islamic

Architectural Elements in Iraq). International Journal of Architecture (IJA), 3(2),

2017, pp. 10–17.

http://www.iaeme.com/IJA/issues.asp?JType=IJA&VType=3&IType=2

1. INTRODUCTION (ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE)

Heritage cannot be dealt with separately from our present, nor can it be regarded as an

isolated link from the links of thought that communicates with it since it is the reserve which

forms the first beginnings to the ends, and as much as the beginnings are respected, there will

be respect to the ends, because logic dictates an axiom that cannot be ignored: Premises

Modernization of Architectural Heritage (Applied Study of Heritage Islamic Architectural

Elements in Iraq)


inevitably lead to conclusions and conclusions become, over time, premises to future

conclusions. As much as the beginnings and ends are harmonious, the value of what we

achieve is combined with the intellectual and cultural reserve on which it is based [5], hence

heritage should be approached through the present by using heritage as a contributive factor to

innovation and modernization in an interconnected sequence where the beginning is linked

with the end, making use of heritage and not contenting with it. By innovation we do not

mean inviting something from nothing but rather a material that represents a new creation; it

is all what we have from the past, whether material or moral, in the current civilization,

therefore it is a matter of what is inherited and at the same time a matter of the present reality

at several levels. Heritage is the starting point as a cultural and national responsibility, and

innovation is the reinterpretation of heritage according to the needs of the age. The old is the

pre-modern one. It is the basis of modernity. Modernity is not opposed to life and progress is

not opposed to heritage. It means enlightenment of the legitimacy of history and creativity of

history, and since real universality is particularity [6], the relationship with the heritage is a

dialectical relationship; it cannot be accepted or rejected entirely. It is an interactive

relationship, the full meaning of which is obtained from the change of old-new relationship as

old patterns are achieved within new contexts.

2. MODERNIZATION OF ELEMENTS OF HERITAGE

The new architecture is found by mechanisms of pattern transformation based on scientific

developments. Science is the foundation on which architecture is based in its growth,

development and renewal, both materially and morally, due to its association with human

needs [7]. Other dimensions of architecture as a human phenomenon that responds to the

social instinct are effective and linked with other levels of human nature and overlap with

them to achieve more comprehensive goals. Kartani points out that these mechanisms refer to

the value of innovation and novelty in bringing something from existence as an implicit

system and converting it into a new system [8] as a means of producing forms with distinct

characteristics that are compatible with the developments, thus ensuring the achievement of a

creative product that is harmonious with its historical stage, place and society.

Formal Transformations Mechanism: According to Jencks, transformations are one of

the most important formulas for the production of architectural products. He emphasized the

possibility of investing local and historical sources that belong to the architectural heritage by

adopting a method that includes the investment of traditions through criticism. Each heritage

element is a reference that is dealt with in a certain manner [1] and processes of this reference

include the following:

Dimensional transformation: This type of transformation occurs as a result of expansion and

reduction, i.e. change in one of the dimensions of the shape while preserving its identity by

extending one of the sides and changing the shape of a square into a circle or the shape of a

circle into an ellipse.

Subtraction Transformation: This type of transformation occurs due to removal or cut of

part of the shape, such as crashing the edge, or keeping it and removing the other part so it

does not differ from the original shape, and the degree of change in the shape is associated

with the area of parts cut and multiplicity of their locations.

Addition Transformation: This type of transformation occurs as a result of adding elements

and parts to the basic shape or convergence with another shape and contact with a line or

point or overlap with it. The degree of change depends on the multiplicity of additions and

their locations. The shape either completely changes losing its identity or changes partially to

retaining it and that produces irregular shapes.

Rana Mazin Mahdi, Enas Salim Abdul-Ahhad, Hussam Jabbar


Layering Transformation: This mode of transformation occurs as a result of overlap and

meshing or interlock of parts so that overlapping parts appear as rowed arrangements of

different appearance. The parts appear interlocked to generate the effect in the mind of the

receiver, and the multilayered design gives importance to time in testing, and the resulting

idea is rich and is not grasped by the recipient at first sight.

Moving Transformation: A pattern produced by the motion of the physical-visual elements

to generate the basic shapes. Transformation means movement of the element towards

changing its properties and moving from one location to another.

From what we have mention the two Baghdadi heritage terms (Portico and Shanshūl) will

be selected to be processed by the above mentioned transformation mechanisms to represent

the applied part of this research. The first step will be testing the research hypothesis in

accordance with research goal represented by " The shape transformation mechanisms

differences in revitalizing architectural heritage elements despite its effectiveness in general".

23 SELECTION OF IRAQI ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

TERMINOLOGY

Shanshūl (or Al-mashrabiya) : one of the most important and commonly used term until

nowadays its strongly connected to heritage and the mind of the hearer due its extensive use

in design and may other domains, Shanshul is oriel window space projecting outward from the

main wall of the first floor increasing internal space , allowing for greater point of view, also

adds privacy and aesthetics features.

Portico (or Al-Rewaq): this term has been use in classic Iraqi Architecture its distinctive

feature is long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, the space enclosed, covered

by roof or open which does not affect the aesthetics features nor Functionality.

4. DESIGN OF THE HYPOTHETICAL MODELS IN REGARD OF

SHAPE TRANSFORMATION MECHANISMS:

The hypothetical models are built in accordance with transformational mechanisms in the

following stages:

Design stage: which the selected elements (Shanshul and Portico) are subjected to

transformational mechanisms and Technical drafted using 3D max as follows:

Dimensional transformation: include altering of one dimension of the shape considering

keeping its originality by lengthening of the specific dimension A1 for Shanshul and B2 for

Portico.

Subtraction transformation appears in model A2 for Shanshule and B2 for portico.

Addition transformation appears in A3 for Shanshul and B3 for portico.

layering appears in A4 for Shanshul and B4 for portico.

Moving appears in A5 for Shanshul and B5 for portico.

Hypothetical model testing stage: the research is based on questionnaire style to test the

hypothetical models in accordance with goal based form (as in figure 1)


Elements in Iraq)


Figure 1 Questionnaire Style

Regards: the researcher is intended to conduct study regarding the revitalizing the architectural

heritage (applied study for Islamic architectural heritage elements in Iraq ) in order to specify the

mechanisms of revitalizing and developing our architectural terms , to serve good reference for our

architects to deal with architectural heritage terminology not as copies from the past but for

revitalizing in coherence with modernity without losing its originality.

Evaluation process : the Evaluation process include appointing the right aspect for activity to reach the

best processing method in accordance to the known technological mechanisms ( dimensional

transformation, subtracting mechanism , addition mechanism , layering and movement )according to

the following scale:

Definition of Formal Transformations Mechanism :

- Dimensional transformation: This type of transformation occurs as a result of expansion and

reduction, i.e. change in one of the dimensions of the shape while preserving its identity by extending

one of the sides and changing the shape of a square into a circle or the shape of a circle into an ellipse.

- Subtraction Transformation: This type of transformation occurs due to removal or cut of part of the

shape, such as crashing the edge, or keeping it and removing the other part so it does not differ from

the original shape, and the degree of change in the shape is associated with the area of parts cut and

multiplicity of their locations.

- Addition Transformation: This type of transformation occurs as a result of adding elements and parts

to the basic shape or convergence with another shape and contact with a line or point or overlap with

it. The degree of change depends on the multiplicity of additions and their locations. The shape either

completely changes losing its identity or changes partially to retaining it and that produces irregular

shapes.

- Layering Transformation: This mode of transformation occurs as a result of overlap and meshing or

interlock of parts so that overlapping parts appear as rowed arrangements of different appearance. The

parts appear interlocked to generate the effect in the mind of the receiver, and the multilayered design

gives importance to time in testing, and the resulting idea is rich and is not grasped by the recipient at

first sight.

- Moving Transformation: A pattern produced by the motion of the physical-visual elements to

generate the basic shapes. Transformation means movement of the element towards changing its

properties and moving from one location to another.

the hypothetical designing models of the original form al-Shanshul & Portico

A1

A2

A4

A5

A3

A

Original model of al-Shanshul Dimensional Subtraction

Addition Layering Moving



Sample selection criteria: samples are selected according to specific criteria to provide

Hypothetical model originality, three categories of questionnaires has been specified by

Architects (30 form) and by 3rd 4th

5th

class architectural engineering students (30 form) in

architecture engineering department to agree on the results of randomly select sample from

common people (30 form) ,every category is considered as percentage (100%)

Criteria establishing methods: the research is based on Fifth Likert Scale to establish and

form report in coherence with research benefit, responding to every indicator by pointing

specific location using the five grades, which is formed from leveling scale from maximum to

minimum in (fig.2) :

Figure 2 Fifth Likert Scale

5. QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN AND ITS RESULT

The forming of questionnaire form is established to benefits the goal of the research about

activity of shape transforming for revitalizing the heritage elements as follows in (fig.1). and

its The result show in (table 1) for Shanshul models and (table2) for Portico models

6. CONCLUSIONS

The hypothetical models indicated its positivity to the research, and applied to the classic

heritage it never stayed in past and accepted the modernization without Alienation.

The research indicated the common people awareness of the process and agreement the

architects and students. Despite the differences of awareness, the results indicated its

Balance

More heritage

Degree3 Degree2

Degree4

Degree5 Degree1

More modern More heritages

B4

B5

Addition Layering Moving

Original model of Portico Dimensional Subtraction

B3

B2

B1

B


Elements in Iraq)


effectiveness in revitalizing process for Architectural solutions with no problems such as

chaos and discarding heritage.

Table 1 The result of questionnaire style of Al-Shanshool model as a heritage architecture element in Iraq

Original model

Dimensional transformation / A1 subtraction transformation/A2

specialized architecture

sample 5%

Architectural students

sample 10%

Random 5%

Degree 1


sample 5%


sample 0%

Random sample 3%

Degree 1


sample 15%


sample 20%

Random sample 10%

Degree 2

Specialized architecture

sample 60%


sample 80%

Random sample 17%

Degree 2


sample 60%


sample 50%

Random sample 60%

Degree 3


sample 15%


sample 6%

Random sample 60%

Degree 3


sample 20%


sample 10%

Random sample 20%

Degree 4


sample 12%


sample 9%

Random sample 10%

Degree 4


sample 0%


sample 10%

Random sample 5%

Degree 5


sample 8%


sample 5%

Random sample 10%

Degree 5

addition transformation /A3 Layering transformation /A4 Moving transformation / A5


sample 5%


sample 12%

Random sample 1%

Degree 1


sample 10%


sample 5%

Random 1%

Degree 1


sample 60%


sample 6%

Random sample 14%

Degree 1


sample 2%


sample 18%

Random sample 9%

Degree 2


sample 10%


sample 15%

Random sample 9%

Degree 2


sample 10%


sample 20%

Random sample 10%

Degree 2


sample 80%


sample 60%

Random sample 60%

Degree 3


sample 60%


sample 60%

Random sample 80%

Degree 3


sample 5%


sample 50%

Random sample 50%

Degree 3


sample 5%


sample 6%

Random sample 8%

Degree 4


sample 10%


sample 10%

Random sample 5%

Degree 4


sample 15%


sample 17%

Random sample 20%

Degree 4


sample 8%


sample 4%

Random sample 2%

Degree 5


sample 10%


sample 10%

Random sample 3%

Degree 5


sample 10%


sample 7%

Random sample 6%

Degree 5



Table 2 The result of questionnaire style of Portico model as a heritage architecture element in Iraq

Original model

dimensional transformation / B1 subtraction transformation /B2


sample 5%


10%

Random 0%

Degree 1


sample 5%


sample 10%

Random sample 10%

Degree 1


sample 5%


sample 5%

Random sample 0%

Degree 2


sample 15%


sample 20%

Random sample 10%

Degree 2


sample 10%


sample 15%

Random sample 0%

Degree 3


sample 50%


sample 50%

Random sample 70%

Degree 3


sample 10%


sample 5%

Random sample 20%

Degree 4


sample 30%


sample 20%

Random sample 10%

Degree 4


sample70%


sample 70%

Random sample 80%

Degree 5


sample 8%


sample 5%

Random sample 10%

Degree 5

addition transformation /A3 Layering transformation /A4 Moving transformation / A5


sample 5%


sample 12%

Random sample 7%

Degree 1


sample 5%


sample 5%

Random 10%

Degree 1


sample 10%


sample 6%

Random sample 0%

Degree 1


sample 82%


sample 18%

Random sample 20%

Degree 2


sample 5%


sample 15%

Random sample 10%

Degree 2


sample 20%


sample 14%

Random sample 10%

Degree 2


sample 4%


sample 60%

Random sample 50%

Degree 3


sample 80%


sample 80%

Random sample 70%

Degree 3


sample 60%


sample 50%

Random sample 50%

Degree 3


sample 5%


sample 10%

Random sample 20%

Degree 4


sample 10%


sample 5%

Random sample 10%

Degree 4


sample 20%


sample 17%

Random sample 20%

Degree 4


sample 4%


sample 2%

Random sample 3%

Degree 5


sample 10%


sample 5%

Random sample 3%

Degree 5


sample 10%


sample 13%

Random sample 20%

Degree 5


Elements in Iraq)


REFERENCE

[1] Nemaat Allah, Raghad, "Technology and Shape: The Impact of Technology in Housing

Form", Master Thesis, College of Engineering, Baghdad University, 1987, p. 66

[2] Jencks, Charles, "The Fundamentalist and Stripped Classicism in Architecture Today",

Academy Edition, London, 1988.p.252.

[3] Ibid. P.66

[4] Alsaiid, Waleed Ahmed; "Originality and Contemporary Between Theory and Practice";

Master Thesis submitted to the College of Graduate Studies, University of Jordan, 1995,

p.11

[5] Audaa, Ali, "Starting Point in Architecture", "Master of Architecture, University of

Technology, Baghdad, 1999, p. 104.

[6] Sharaf,Rafeeq, "The Arts Desert between Self-Presence and the Absence of Society",

2001, p. 2, http://www.albayan.co./albayan/2001/04/20/mnw/13.htm

[7] Rasool, Hoshyar Qadir, "Architecture and Technology: An Analytical Study of the

Technological Phenomenon in Architecture", PhD thesis submitted to the Department of

Architecture, University of Technology, Baghdad, 2003, p.54

[8] Ibid. P.45

[9] Rasheed, Alia Ahmed, "The Role of Technology in the Making of Architecture as an

Identity", Master Thesis Presented to the Architectural Department of Baghdad

University, Baghdad, 2002, p. 65

[10] Laheeb Ali Al- Sayigh and Dr. Asmaa M.H.Al-Moqaram, Architectural and Type.

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(1), 2017, pp. 44–62.

[11] Ar. Chinna Saidulu, Architectural and Urban Design Interventions to Mitigate Impacts of

Urban Heat Islands on Urban Dwellers. International Journal of Architecture (IJA), 3(1),

2017, pp. 36–42.

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MODERNIZATION OF ARCHITECTURAL (APPLIED STUDY OF HERITAGE ISLAMIC …€¦ · · 2017-09-22need to adopt the most effective mechanism by architects to modernize the elements of