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Proposed Urban Design of the Area Surrounding the Great Samarra
Mosque
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5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
1
Proposed Urban Design of the Area Surrounding the Great
Samarra Mosque
Maysoon Muhi Hilal and Maan S. Mohammed Al-badri
Architecture Engineering Department, University of Samarra, Iraq, Samarra
E-mail: maysoon.hilal@uosamarra.edu.iq
Abstract. This research attempts to put a proposal Sustainable Design Development of the area
around the Great Mosque & its Minaret, which it for many years has become a symbol of Iraqi
architecture and its history as a result of the skill of Iraqi sculptors and architects in using local
materials like bricks in their buildings. The research problem is a knowledge gap about
the(SWOT) factors (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) that faced area.. While
Research methodology is descriptive and analytical. The Reasons for selecting this project is to
raise the percentage of tourism in the area. Subsequently, to grow a good economic city; in
addition to the importance of Samarra civilization in making it a destination for tourism for
tours, students, poets, and others because it includes many cultural landmarks and needs a
space to attract tourists and be a cultural outlet for the city as well as a recreational site
embraces their activities and meet their needs. To the archaeological importance of the area
near Al-Malwaiya, to attract tourists in the city, and it helps to identify the city heritage.
Keywords: Architecture, Samaritan Minaret, the (SWOT) Factors, Sustainable Design,
Development, Great Mosque.
1. Introduction
Sustainable Urban Design is a science with an applied approach to renovate projects; it has been
developed to improve the social and physical conditions of the underdeveloped urban dwellers in
particular and the city community in general. Examination of the universal phenomenon of the city
from a historical perspective, considering how and why cities took the shape they did[1]. The first
urban development program appeared in North America in 1937, and its concept was actually
embodied in 1949 in backward areas with many problems, it refers to the significance of using a series
of integrated planning processes that are based on the foundations and elements of the urban
environment. It works to advance the old and modern urban areas with an urban pattern, which suffers
from underdevelopment within cities. This research aims to develope the area of the great Mosque
in Samarra through the development of an integrated center that provides cultural events and organizes
visits to archaeological sites and the importance of the addition of organizing festivals and recreating
the celebrations through recreational centers Tourism and festive atmosphere, which will become a
tourist destination for tourists and the importance of turning the attention of the world to that ancient
civilization. In addition to its economic importance as it contributes to raising the economic level of
the city and creates at the visitor a new impression and idea about Samarra city.
2. Literature Review
Samarra is a historic Iraqi city[6].. It was located on the Tigris River eastern bank in Salah al-Din, 125
kilometres north of Baghdad[7].. It is bordered to the north by the city of Tikrit. It is considered one
of the most important holy cities in Iraq because of the presence of the Imam Ali Al-Hadi, and Hasan
Al-Askari Shrine, the population[8]. of the city centre is more than 190,000 people, according to the
statistics of the Ministry of Planning for 2013. In 2007, UNESCO incorporated the city of Samarra
into the World Heritage List. It is the capital of the Abbasid Islamic State under the reign of Caliph
Mu'tasim Billah. The city extends 41 and a half kilometres from north to south, and its width ranges
from 4 to 8 kilometres. It contains ancient architecture that was developed locally before being
transported to the regions of the Islamic world and beyond. Among the numerous and prominent
monuments on the site is the mosque and its minaret, which was built in the ninth century AD. About
5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
2
80% of the ancient city remains buried and needs to be excavated.
2.1. Location of the Proposed Project:
The project is located in the city of Samarra around the Great Mosque[9]. The Malawa is about a
kilometre away from the Shrine of the Imam and the military project surrounding it[10]. The
sustainability project is located on the borders of the archaeological area (UNESCO border) [2]
because it surrounds an archaeological (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Location of the proposed project in Saladin
2.2. The Concept of Sustainability:
The concept is the optimal utilization of available resources. It was referred to in the World
Conference on Environment and Development, Meeting the needs of the people in the present without
affecting future generations to meet their needs in the future[3] ,the database collection about the
sustainable development: which contain many points:
2.2.1. The mental map of the site: includes the five components of Kevin Lynch[4] (Districts,
Nodes, Paths, Edges, and Landmark), (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: The mental map of the site
2.2.2. Study of Urban Fabric of the Region: the researchers use an instrumental new strategyto
estimate the program’s effects on city-level measures of income, property values,so the project site
contains an urban fabric based on a pre-layout of the fabric) [10], unlike the organic fabric found in
the old city (see Figure 3) [11].
5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
3
Figure 3: The urban fabric of the project area
2.2.3. Dimensions and Area of the Site: Its area is 164,636 m 2. Figure 4 shows project site
dimensions.
Figure 4: The dimensions of the project area.
2.2.4. Studying the heights of buildings: The study of each of the four facades[5] of the site (east,
west, north, south) and its impact on the skyline (see Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8).
Figure 5. East elevation.
Figure 6: West elevation.
Figure 7: North elevation.
Figure 8: South elevation
5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
4
2.2.5. (SWOT) Analysis: The four-point analysis of the site (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
and threats) includes a clarification of each part of the quadratic analysis. (See Table 1).
Table 1: The (S.W.O.T) factors
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
1-The site is located close
to Al-Malawiya, giving
a distinctive view of
the project[6] and the
architectural heritage
of the city.
The occurrence of
the project on the
main roads causes
high noise and
traffic problems
There are sufficient spaces
for the establishment of
project activities
The presence of
the site near the
area of the
historical
fabric1
2-It is located near the
external road line (the
round road, Samarra
Bridge), allowing easy
access for tourists[7].
The area lacks
green areas
The project can be made
sustainable given the lack of
public services
Distorting the
visual landscape
of the
camouflage if
the height of the
project increases
from the height.
3-Located near the
pharmaceutical factory,
which is one of the
important points in the
city and close to the site.
Limits imposed on
the site for being
near the salinity
[8]
Possibility of retrieving the
city's identity and heritage
the low of city
prevents
building that its
height more
than 56 meter
4-Site space is sufficient to
create the project
Lack of public
services (sewage
services
The absence of a multi-
functional project (including
commercial, cultural and
recreational activities)
serving the city.
5-The site has a good
urban scene on Al-
Malawiya, side
The possibility of the future
expansion of the project
because it is overlapping
with the urban fabric of the
city[9]
3. The architectural landmarks of the site:
The largest mosque is in Samarra, and it is one of the most important architectural landmarks in the
city[10]. It is one of the largest mosques in the world, and it is still at the forefront in terms of
capacity, mastery of beauty, and appearance, among the mosques of the Islamic world. It was a
rectangle shape (240 m * 158 m), to reach eighty thousand worshipers. The planning of mosques such
as the layout of the mosque of Basra[11], Kufa, and Wasit, consisting of a prayer house and two
wings, A fountain, consisting of one piece of granite, have been brought from Egypt. and the Minaret
of great Mosque It is one of the examples that was only partially repeated at the Ibn Tulun Mosque in
Cairo. The architectural richness of this monument lies in the fact that it combines the functional and
the symbolic, and aesthetic at the same time, even considered one of the most beautiful features of
Islamic architecture
4. Site IndicatorsThe researchers select main indicators that directly affect the project design into
three the on-site indicators, [12] the functional indicators, and the economic indicators according to
Table 1 (see Table 2).
5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
5
Table 2. Site Indicators
No.
The on-site
Indicators
The functional
Indicators
The economic Indicators
1
Environmental
Effects:
Direct the site and the
degree of openness to the
external site.
Easy implementation of project
services during work and after
implementation.
2
Geographical location,
wind movement,
sunshine, etc.
Suitable for site activities.
Possibility for future expansion of the
project.
3,
The nature of the
traffic and activities
adjacent to the site and
its impact on
accessibility to and
from the site.
Functional relationship
between the project and
neighboring buildings.
[14]
The nature and characteristics of the
soil, which in turn affect the
determination and type of structure.
4
The architecture used
in neighboring
buildings.
Sufficient space should be
available on site to allow
the project to be built.
The project is located near a particular
person for easy access.
5
To be on a public
street and within the
city and near an
external road for
easy access of tourists
from outside the city to
form a collective space
between the existing
activities and events[15]
The smaller economic level related to
each of the behavior of the owners of
individual residential units that could
be affected by decline and damage if
their owners give way to this due to
the presence of what is known as
external savings related to the effects
of adjacent properties arising on the
decisions of the owners to make
maintenance or lack thereof, [13]
The Researcher Made the Proposal Development Project in the Site Figure 9.
.
Figure 9: The sustainable Development design
5. Conclusions
The city of Samarra is distinguished by its history and its architectural identity throughout the ages. This identity,
which distinguished Samarra from other cities, especially since it was the capital of the Islamic State for a period
of time, must start from the city's heritage and identity so that the project does not become unclassified with the
neighborhoods and does not destroy the architectural identity of the city and be the start of the project.
5ISCESD 2021
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 779 (2021) 012129
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/779/1/012129
6
Attention should be given to conservation policies by preserving areas of historical and cultural importance,
maintaining mixed land use, and developing sustainable traffic and environmental policies.
Building and restoration of the historical and archeological buildings, renovation and maintenance, and
development of the main axes of the project and having the construction and restoration according to the controls
of the municipality of Samarra and identifying the uses of land and investment opportunities and the
organization of architectural elements in addition to the streets and corridors are very important issues.
5.1. Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The researcher thanks her students in the fifth class for helping her
draw the graphic maps.
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