Search Database
Ministry of Finances, Iraq
Location
Baghdad
Country
Iraq

Architect/Engineer/Team
Qahtan Madfai

Construction
1979

Address
Shaikh Omar

Project Status
Built
Building Type
Ministry

Notes
The design was finalized in 1978 but was not executed until later. The building is made up of two fourteen-storey towers connected to one another by suspended concrete bridges placed at different heights. The two towers are treated in the same language, and are characterized by a movement of louvers on the façade.
In order to form a dynamic visual language, the architect plays on the outline of the plans that differ from one level to the other. A fixed point, the vertex of a triangle, is sided by two ribs that get shorter as the levels move up. This dynamism allowed for the formation of a straight surface at the extremities of the façades that gets bigger as one moves upward. So, as the ribs grow shorter, this area grows bigger. Also, columns are added for the louvers at different angles on the façade, creating different forms throughout the building. 
Sources

Caecilia Pieri

Khaled Sultany

Adam, Sibhan. Qahtan Madfai, Ibdaat Handasiya. Issue 1, 2008. p. 42

Information in this database is updated constantly. Do not hesitate to send us comments, information, or illustrations (with appropriate credits) to database@arab-architecture.org