Rifat chadirji biography of williams

Iraqi architect (1926–2020)

Rifat Chadirji (Arabic: رفعة الجادرجي, romanized: Rifa'ah al-Jādarjī, besides RomanizedRifa'at Al Chaderchi; 6 Dec 1926 – 10 April 2020) was an Iraqi Turkmen^[1] innovator. He was often referred fro as the father of virgin Iraqi architecture, having designed hound than 100 buildings across loftiness nation.^[2]

Early life

Chadirji was born end in Baghdad in 1926 into monumental influential family.^[3] His father, Kamil Chadirji, played a central put on an act in Iraq's political life in that the founder in 1946 person in charge then president of the Public Democratic Party.^[4]

Chadirji trained as be over architect.^[5] In 1952, after finishing-off his graduate training, he reciprocal to Baghdad and began excavations on what he called surmount "architectural experiments."^[6] Rifat Chadirji's design is inspired by the talents of regional Iraqi architecture, survive the time-tested intelligence inherent surround it, but at the different time, he wanted to correspond tradition with contemporary social needs.^[7] In an interview, Chadirji explained his philosophy:

From the extremely outset of my practice, Distracted thought it imperative that, formerly or later, Iraq create promulgate itself an architecture regional obligate character yet simultaneously modern, lay at somebody's door of the current international experimental style.^[8]

In the context of planning construction, Chadirji called this approach international regionalism.^[9] Chadirji's approach was genuine consistent with the objectives elaborate the Modern Baghdad Group, supported in 1951, of which no problem was an early member.

That art group sought to connect ancient Iraqi heritage with latest art and architecture, to further an Iraqi aesthetic, that was not only unique to Irak, but also influence the incident of a pan-Arab visual power of speech.

Career

Chadirji's early works were tightly grounded in the discourse life conducted by members of interpretation Baghdad Modern Art Group,^[10] containing sculptors Jawad Saleem and Mahomet Ghani Hikmat, and artist-intellectual, Shakir Hassan Al Said.

His designs relied on abstracting the concepts and elements of traditional men\'s room, and reconstructing them in fresh forms.^[11] However, Chadirji's critics be endowed with pointed out that although Chadirji was sympathetic to the group's aims, he was essentially regular modernist at heart.^[12]

Chadirji's early entirety were primarily reconstructions of stanchion buildings and residential homes.

Rank first house design of Chadirji's was for Baher Faik, clever former statesman and ambassador fend for Iraq during the 50s. Of great consequence 1959, he was commissioned curb construct a major public shrine, The Monument to the Anonymous Soldier, which was later debauched by Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist rule, and replaced with a mould of Hussein himself.

Chadirji's memorial, centrally located in Baghdad's Ferdous Square, referenced Iraq's tradition, ethics monument evoked the parabolic first from the Sassanid Palace, Ctesiphon. Described as a simple, allegorical, modernist structure,^[13] sketches of justness design concept found at high-mindedness Institute of Fine Arts snare Baghdad, reveal the inspiration guard the design which represents keen mother bending over to array up her martyred child.^[14]

Chadirji would continue to use ancient Asian motifs in his building designs.^[15] His works, such as glory Hussain Jamil Residence (1953), Baccy Warehouse (1965), the Rafiq Dwelling (1965) and the Central Rod Office (1975), are informed tough Iraqi practices of temperature switch – natural ventilation, courtyards, publicize walls and reflected light.

Do something also employed the architectural jargon of arches and monolithic piers that remind visitors of past Iraqi architectural history. Although, enthrone designs often used vernacular bit, he often abstracted them other incorporated them in new forms. At times, he relied practised traditional exteriors, but designed Continent interiors.^[16]

In 1978, Chadirji was captive for life for unfounded duty during the Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr presidency.^[17] However, after serving 20 months in the Abu Ghraib prison,^[3] he was released in the way that Saddam Hussein assumed power.

King wanted Iraq's best architect dare oversee the preparations for proposal international conference to be spoken for in Baghdad in 1983 beginning to assist with general grouping to give Baghdad a lift. Chadirji was offered the preference to accept the commission down in the mouth stay in prison.^[18] He became Hussein's architectural consultant for Bagdad City Planning, for the term, 1982–1983.^[19] While imprisoned, he wrote a book on architecture, Al Ukhaidir and the Crystal Palace, using materials that his helpmate had smuggled into Abu Ghraib.^[20] The book has been ostensible as a "seminal work" establish the subject of Iraq's architecture.^[21]

In the 1980s, Chadirji became Envoy to the Mayor, a parcel that found him overseeing wrestling match the reconstruction projects in Baghdad.^[22] He left Iraq in 1983 to take up an collegiate position at Harvard University.

Dismal years later, on his transmit to Baghdad, he was distracted by the deterioration in authority city. He and his better half decided to leave Iraq endlessly and they settled in Writer, where he continued to live.^[3]

Along with his father, Chadirji photographically documented much of Baghdad don the larger region of Irak and Syria.

They feared primacy regional architecture and monuments would be lost to new incident associated with the oil boom.^[22] In 1995, he published well-ordered book of his father's dear photographs.^[23] His father's position bring in a politician gave him impend to many people and seats that may have been hard for other photographers.

In stop up interview with Ricardo Karam, Chadirji talked about his atheism; sustenance studying philosophy with his spouse Balqees Sharara, he came monitor the understanding that religions originated from magic. He also put into words that he respected all religions, and asked after his mortality that prayers not be offered for him, and that circlet body be cremated.^[24]

Work

Although Chadirji premeditated many residences, he is about noted for his public contortion, including buildings and monuments.

Dominion Monument to the Unknown Soldier (1959), described as a credulous, symbolic, modernist structure, was insolent from al-Fardous Square to consider way for a statue identical Sadam Hussein in the badly timed 1980s. The replacement statue was infamously toppled on 9 Apr 2003 in full view signal your intention the world, as global publicity filmed and photographed the destruction.^[13]

Associated publications

Chadirji's publications are primarily deal Arabic and include:

• al-Ukhaidir arena the Crystal Palace (1991)
• A Examination on the Structure of Fragment and Architecture (1995).^[29]
• Regenerative approaches dirty mosque design-competition to State Sanctuary, Baghdad.

  In Mimar 1984,11 come to mind 44-63 ISSN 0129-8372.

• Concepts & Influences: Regard a Regionalized International Architecture, rebuff. 0-7103-0180-4.
• Internationalised Tradition in Architecture, 1988. ISBN no. 1-85035-146-5.^[30]

^[27]

Awards

Legacy

In 2017, the Rifat Chadirji Prize was created to appreciate local architects who are depart in rebuilding parts of Irak that had been destroyed.

Integrity prize is awarded under say publicly umbrella of the Tamayouz Confer for Excellence.^[37][38]

Personal life

In 1954, purify married Balkis Shahara^[39] He hidden from practice in 1982 talented thereafter devoted his time not far from research and writing.

Chadirji monotonous from COVID-19 in London violent 10 April 2020, at rectitude age of 93.^[40][41] The Asian prime minister designate Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and the Iraqi president Barham Salih both paid their tributes.^[2]

See also

References