Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament

Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad - Courtesy of Assemblage
It has been confirmed that Zaha Hadid is one of the architects shortlisted for the international competition to design a new, $1 billion Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad. The full list has yet to be released, but as we have announced earlier, the London-based firm Assemblage has also been shortlisted. Located in the middle of the city, the new complex will be challenged with the remnants of a partially built super mosque planned by Saddam Hussein. Massive 50m reinforced concrete columns tower over the site, as construction was halted by the US-led invasion in 2003. Continue reading after the break for more.
Zaha Hadid’s practice has already received a contract in the Iraqi capital back in 2010 for the Central Bank headquarters, but as BDOnline reports, the parliament building “promises to be a still more potent symbol of the new Iraq”.
Buro Happold and Davis Langdon, owned by Aecom, as well as Iraqi firm Al-Khan and Canadian practice Adamson have teamed up with Assemblage. Baghdad-based Dewan Architects and possibly some French and German architects will also be joining the shortlist.
Assemblage director Peter Besley stated the project briefing revealed that the firms may keep or demolish the columns, commenting “It will be an important aspect as to how those columns are treated.”
Entrants will return their proposals to technical committee by the first week of July. An international jury will then be drafted to choose a winner toward the end of the year. In addition to the complex, the finalist will also be asked to produce a master plan for the surrounding city, as well as additional government buildings, a new hotel and public parks.
Reference: BDOnline
- Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad – Courtesy of Assemblage
- Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad – Courtesy of Assemblage
- Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad – Courtesy of Assemblage
- Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad – Courtesy of Assemblage


















































Trust me I’m no Zaha fan, but in fairness, she is Iraq’s most high profile architect. It seems only natural that she should be included in the shortlist.
5:30 PM Jan 25th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/GY7Vx8wj #architecture
5:31 PM Jan 25th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament: Existing site for Iraqi parliament… http://t.co/yvDRwulp
5:35 PM Jan 25th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/JRzUyGQy #architecture
5:36 PM Jan 25th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament: Existing site for Iraqi parliament complex in Baghdad – Cou… http://t.co/mOBP3GcD
5:36 PM Jan 25th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/CRBiAraq #architecture #arquitectura
5:41 PM Jan 25th
Amazing:) That's my role model RT @ArchDaily: Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/NS5YkQKL #architecture
5:43 PM Jan 25th
RT @Pattakin Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/IkIrSkXD #architecture #arquitectura: Zaha … http://t.co/o6eimm0y
5:44 PM Jan 25th
RT @Pattakin Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/IkIrSkXD #architecture #arquitectura: Zaha … http://t.co/o6eimm0y
5:44 PM Jan 25th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/mdn4FL2j
5:49 PM Jan 25th
Es el primer proyecto de Zaha Hadid en que que no veo su imaginación "desbordada" en curvas…. http://t.co/R7oveU9Z #Arquitectura
7:05 PM Jan 25th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament buidling design http://t.co/RPMuE6uw
7:14 PM Jan 25th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/GY7Vx8wj #architecture
7:29 PM Jan 25th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament – http://t.co/fOKjp9tM via @archdaily
9:30 PM Jan 25th
“@ArchDaily: Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/O0JzcdQG #architecture” zaha here you go again! Show them!
10:11 PM Jan 25th
Enjoy the deserted view of an abandoned mosque building site before the parliament complex erection http://t.co/Zm4pxd4x
3:11 AM Jan 26th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/GY7Vx8wj #architecture
4:30 AM Jan 26th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/gZNBsFA3
9:01 AM Jan 26th
http://t.co/QvcIbkep http://t.co/pbqboO01
3:15 PM Jan 26th
Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament http://t.co/JUQe7SkI #Architecture #Architettura
4:48 PM Jan 26th
I wonder who else is up for the job?? http://t.co/PS2i65FF
7:23 PM Jan 26th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament | ArchDaily http://t.co/tSgZG3bT @archdaily
4:00 AM Jan 30th
Check out who's shortlisted to build the Iraqi parliament http://t.co/ygROamze
8:22 AM Mar 29th
Update: Zaha Hadid shortlisted for Iraqi parliament | ArchDaily http://t.co/vG74jJTx via @archdaily