Rifat Chadirji’s Work Building Modern Iraqi Identity and Hadara

Abstract

Architecture as a dialectic
Rifat Chadirji is considered to be one of the major XXth
century Iraqi architects, not only through his realizations but
also through the considerable bulk of his work in the fields of
architectural practice, theory, teaching and photography. He
belongs to the second generation of Iraqi architects who studied
abroad and returned just after graduating, in order to build a
modern country.(1)
At that time Iraq was implementing an ambitious modernist
development which it could afford given the booming oil
revenues. As of 1952 Rifat Chadirji was to take part actively
in the renewal and redefinition of architectural practices, aims
and spirit, by playing a prominent role in several concomitant
fields: as an advisor in the Ministry of Public Works he became
familiar with construction policies and strategies; as the founder
of his own private company, Iraq Consult, he could use the
opportunities given by private commissions to freely express
formal experimentations; as belonging to a prominent family of
political leaders and intellectuals, he was in close touch and
permanent dialogue with artists, writers and academics.