Al Zaqura Building

33°18′55″N 44°24′06″E

Al Zaqura Building in Baghdad (2019)

Al-Zaqura Palace (Arabic: قصر الزقورة) is an Iraqi government building situated in the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad. Maintained by the office of the Prime Minister of Iraq, it is occupied by the office of the prime minister.

History

The building was commissioned under the presidency of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr. It was built in 1975 by Saeed Ali Madhlum and CP Kukreja Associates as the building for the Council of Ministers, or cabinet.[1]

The building's exterior is in the Brutalist architecture style, the exterior reminiscing an ancient Ziggurat (in Arabic: Al Zaqura). Brutalist style uses one material on the exterior, which is concrete, and is massive in appearance. Although the exterior was inspired by ancient Mesopotamia and a mix of Islamic elements, the inside is decorated in the style of Islamic architecture.[2]

The building was targeted during the Iraq War by coalition forces in aerial bombardment and sustained heavy damage in 2003, which external damage shows in a photograph taken in 2003.[3] It was renovated by the Iraqi conglomerate Harlow International.[4]

References
  1. "Council of Ministers (today: Al Zaqura Palace)". #SOS BRUTALISM. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. "Project Portfolio: Al Zaqura Building" (PDF). Harlow International. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. "Iraq 2003 photo". Stephanie Sinclair Photo Shelter.
  4. "AL ZAQURA PALACE (Iraqi Prime Minister's Office)". Harlow International. Retrieved September 28, 2022.

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