Hisham Munir

Source: Hisham Munir

© Hisham Munir

Hisham Munir earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin (1953), and completed his post graduate work and degree from the  University of Southern California, (1956). He worked and taught during his graduate work and continued after graduation. He returned to Iraq after 10 year of academic training, teaching and professional practice . He collaborated with several local and international architects including world renowned Walter Gropius, The Architects Collaborative (TAC), namely on the project of the Baghdad University Campus, Arthur Erickson on Abunawas Cultural Centre and Conservation-Development, Shankland Cox and others.  Collaboration was of primary importance in Mr. Munir’s work, both as a practitioner and academic.

(See also: (Collab.) Hisham Munir & Associates and TAC)

Munir believes that "collaboration with world renowned architects and firms facilitates a faster and more applied transfer of knowledge from the advanced economies to Iraq, to his students at the School of Architecture, and to the staff at his firm." This was the catalyst to quickly and successfully transform building materials and technologies in Iraq.  And also as a catalyst to inform local builders and their suppliers to create those capacities locally.  In so doing, he and his local partners created a new progressive Iraqi architectural language.

Hisham Munir is one of the original founders and creators of the first School of Architecture in Iraq at The University of Baghdad along with Abdallah Ihsan Kamil and Mohamed Makiya, and served as academic secretary, member of the faculty and Dean of the School. His firm was one of the most successful architectural firms in Iraq, completing over 150 projects in the country and some in the Gulf. The firm won 14 first prize competitions and 4 second place in 18 competitions they entered. Projects by the firm include health and medical complexes, cultural and educational facilities, government and administrative complexes, professional organizations headquarters, hotels, airport hangars, banks, housing and urban design.