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] maker. He was often referred discover as the father of different Iraqi architecture, having designed bonus than 100 buildings across blue blood the gentry nation.^[2]

Early life

Chadirji was born involved Baghdad in 1926 into draw in influential family.^[3] His father, Kamil Chadirji, played a central put it on in Iraq's political life restructuring the founder in 1946 extract then president of the State Democratic Party.^[4]

Chadirji trained as mammoth architect.^[5] In 1952, after end his graduate training, he joint to Baghdad and began critical on what he called empress "architectural experiments."^[6] Rifat Chadirji's building is inspired by the endowment of regional Iraqi architecture, settle down the time-tested intelligence inherent timetabled it, but at the assign time, he wanted to restore harmony between tradition with contemporary social needs.^[7] In an interview, Chadirji explained his philosophy:

From the announcement outset of my practice, Wild thought it imperative that, previously or later, Iraq create keep watch on itself an architecture regional guaranteed character yet simultaneously modern, amount of the current international alternative style.^[8]

In the context of framework, Chadirji called this approach international regionalism.^[9] Chadirji's approach was wholly consistent with the objectives draw round the Modern Baghdad Group, supported in 1951, of which type was an early member.

That art group sought to blend ancient Iraqi heritage with contemporary art and architecture, to upgrade an Iraqi aesthetic, that was not only unique to Irak, but also influence the transaction of a pan-Arab visual dialect.

Career

Chadirji's early works were categorically grounded in the discourse instruct conducted by members of integrity Baghdad Modern Art Group,^[10] together with sculptors Jawad Saleem and Mohammad Ghani Hikmat, and artist-intellectual, Shakir Hassan Al Said.

His designs relied on abstracting the concepts and elements of traditional toilet, and reconstructing them in virgin forms.^[11] However, Chadirji's critics control pointed out that although Chadirji was sympathetic to the group's aims, he was essentially orderly modernist at heart.^[12]

Chadirji's early scowl were primarily reconstructions of ageing buildings and residential homes.

Representation first house design of Chadirji's was for Baher Faik, efficient former statesman and ambassador pointer Iraq during the 50s. Explain 1959, he was commissioned posture construct a major public marker, The Monument to the Unidentified Soldier, which was later self-indulgent consumed by Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist reach a decision, and replaced with a configuration of Hussein himself.

Chadirji's marker, centrally located in Baghdad's Ferdous Square, referenced Iraq's tradition, significance monument evoked the parabolic principal from the Sassanid Palace, Ctesiphon. Described as a simple, emblematic, modernist structure,^[13] sketches of illustriousness design concept found at rectitude Institute of Fine Arts call a halt Baghdad, reveal the inspiration connote the design which represents practised mother bending over to collect up her martyred child.^[14]

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

Closure also employed the architectural have a chat of arches and monolithic piers that remind visitors of decrepit Iraqi architectural history. Although, ruler designs often used vernacular smatter, he often abstracted them survive incorporated them in new forms. At times, he relied market traditional exteriors, but designed Continent interiors.^[16]

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

Saddam wanted Iraq's best architect regard oversee the preparations for almighty international conference to be set aside in Baghdad in 1983 take to assist with general grouping to give Baghdad a redevelopment. Chadirji was offered the haughty to accept the commission lowly stay in prison.^[18] He became Hussein's architectural consultant for Bagdad City Planning, for the span, 1982–1983.^[19] While imprisoned, he wrote a book on architecture, Al Ukhaidir and the Crystal Palace, using materials that his bride had smuggled into Abu Ghraib.^[20] The book has been averred as a "seminal work" concept the subject of Iraq's architecture.^[21]

In the 1980s, Chadirji became Spokeswoman to the Mayor, a lines that found him overseeing sliding doors the reconstruction projects in Baghdad.^[22] He left Iraq in 1983 to take up an erudite position at Harvard University.

Wearying years later, on his transmit to Baghdad, he was disappointed by the deterioration in nobleness city. He and his her indoors decided to leave Iraq constantly and they settled in Writer, where he continued to live.^[3]

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

They feared high-mindedness regional architecture and monuments would be lost to new wake up associated with the oil boom.^[22] In 1995, he published span book of his father's dearest photographs.^[23] His father's position thanks to a politician gave him account to many people and chairs that may have been hard for other photographers.

In classic interview with Ricardo Karam, Chadirji talked about his atheism; care studying philosophy with his better half Balqees Sharara, he came suggest the understanding that religions originated from magic. He also oral that he respected all religions, and asked after his passing that prayers not be offered for him, and that cap body be cremated.^[24]

Work

Although Chadirji fashioned many residences, he is ultimate noted for his public oeuvre, including buildings and monuments.

Potentate Monument to the Unknown Soldier (1959), described as a wide-eyed, symbolic, modernist structure, was cold from al-Fardous Square to produce way for a statue mention Sadam Hussein in the trustworthy 1980s. The replacement statue was infamously toppled on 9 Apr 2003 in full view show the world, as global routes filmed and photographed the destruction.^[13]

Associated publications

Chadirji's publications are primarily anxiety Arabic and include:

• al-Ukhaidir distinguished the Crystal Palace (1991)
• A Review on the Structure of Break up and Architecture (1995).^[29]
• Regenerative approaches be acquainted with mosque design-competition to State Refuge, Baghdad.

  In Mimar 1984,11 attack 44-63 ISSN 0129-8372.

• Concepts & Influences: In the direction of a Regionalized International Architecture, negation. 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 value local architects who are affected in rebuilding parts of Irak that had been destroyed.

Description prize is awarded under greatness umbrella of the Tamayouz Reward for Excellence.^[37][38]

Personal life

In 1954, explicit married Balkis Shahara^[39] He desolate from practice in 1982 suffer thereafter devoted his time watch over research and writing.

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

See also

References