A house in Kurdistan, beyond conventions and anonymity

In a country constantly harassed by war and political and economic instability, architecture is often a mere act of “re-construction” that disregards the implicit requirements of design quality, to satisfy more strictly technical and urgent needs instead. Evidence of this is the anonymous and uniform scenery of Bakrajo, in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan Region, where the urban design is mostly characterised by a serial repetition of contiguous lots of about 200 sqm, with only the short side for unobstructed views. ZAKAA Architecture’s goal was not only to create a family dwelling that would meet the functional needs of the clients, but also and above all to unhinge a consolidated way of thinking based on indifference and acceptance of pre-established dogmas, in an attempt to “found” a new culture of living.

The building emerges as a sculptural and recognisable volume thanks to its unusual geometry and its cladding in cement elements with light tones and marked vertical joints, which enhance the “upward” progression of the construction and emphasize the desire for detachment from the surroundings.

Given its contiguity with neighbouring buildings and the absence of any outward-looking perspective, the dwelling is conceived as an introverted bulwark preventing introspection. An envelope of sinuous walls, with a few purposeful openings, creates screens and protected zones between balconies and recesses, while still allowing natural light to easily filter in. A small garden, placed at the back rather than at the front as it usually happens, favours the flow of cross-ventilation and enriches the environment with the pleasantness of living intimately and safely the outdoor space as a natural continuation of domestic life.

Inside, on the ground floor, a fluid and luminous environment functionally and perceptively connects the common areas which, from the entrance, look out into the garden; on the upper floor, the bedrooms enjoy protected and reserved views from balconies and internal patios, from which the sky is framed.