Metaphor of Symbols of Iraqi Architecture and Urbanism: Studying symbols as identity of Governmental Buildings’ façades in Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of the symbol considered as an effective tool used in strengthening the properties of façades in architecture and urbanism. The symbol always considers as one of the most important metaphors used in defining the local identity, in Iraq, the identity of architecture and urbanism has deteriorated and been disordered after 2003 when different trends used in shaping the façades. Due to this continuous deterioration, problems of forming identity of Iraqi architecture and urbanism have been grown with no considerations or restrictions. The research problem thus can be outlined: How have Iraqi architects dealt with the tasks of designing façades during the processes of formation, modification and decoration? Baghdad has selected as a case study to examine a set of samples of Governmental Buildings’ façades. The analysis has adopted a questionnaire technique to find out which factors have involved in the impact on the process of the metaphor of used symbols. The examination spans form the 1970s-2019. The results have shown that the use of the intellectual structure of the symbol has been very limited in the formations of the Governmental Buildings’ façades.