Al al-Bayt University is one of the buildings that set the tone for modern Iraqi architecture in the 1920s. The modern Iraqi state was established in 1921, and the new government commissioned the Al al-Bayt University among other new buildings. Major James Mollison Wilson, then the Director of Public Works for Iraq, designed the whole complex, that included six colleges (Religion, Law, Medicine, Engineering, Literature and Arts), staff and student housing, and, in a central edifice, an assembly hall, administrative services and sports facilities. It had a British campus style for the masterplan, mixed Ottoman-European renaissance style for the architecture, and Islamic details for the décor. Brick was used both as a structural and aesthetic material, continuing Iraq's tradition of fine brick building. The design allowed several successful climate-mitigating features: the university has a general northwest orientation and openings are distributed strategically to create cross ventilation, which helps alleviate the heat. 75-cm-thick walls act as a heat barrier, and wide verandas, in addition to offering the students a recreational space and protecting the classrooms from the sun.

street view

Source: Khaled Sultany

© Khaled Sultany

View of the vaulted gallery

Source: Caecilia Pieri

© Caecilia Pieri

View of the well-crafted interior

Source: Caecilia Pieri

© Caecilia Pieri