The College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad hosted the public defense of Ms. Zainab Abbas Manshed’s master’s thesis from the Department of Architecture. The thesis, titled “Additions and Expansions in Architecture within Adaptive Reuse,” was discussed on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in the Professor Mohammed Makia Hall, under the supervision of Assist. Prof. Dr. Ammar Saleh Ashour.
The thesis aimed to derive indicators from the study of various experiences and apply them to buildings in Baghdad to assess their ability to accommodate and absorb the required changes and the emergence of new functions. The study also addressed and clarified concepts related to adaptive reuse of historical, heritage, and modern buildings, focusing on interventions such as additions and expansions to meet evolving requirements and changes.
The thesis resulted in several recommendations, including:
Understanding Building Nature: It is crucial to comprehend, study, and analyze the nature and constraints of a building before undertaking any addition, whether for adaptive reuse or increasing the building’s capacity for the same function, to ensure the results are well-considered and do not cause subsequent damage to the building.
Focused Study on Historical and Heritage Buildings: Special attention should be given to historical and heritage buildings intended for adaptive reuse. Understanding their specifics before introducing additions is essential to preserving their historical and architectural values, which distinguish them from other structures.
Defining Relationships Between Original and Added Structures: It is recommended to determine the type of relationship between the original structure and any additions, especially for historical and heritage buildings, before initiating addition works.
Assessment Before Demolition: Property owners and decision-makers should assess the existing building and explore the possibility of its reuse before hastily deciding on demolition. The building may have suitable attributes that allow for its adaptive reuse, thus saving costs and reducing environmental impact.
Understanding Adaptation Strategies: Designers, architects, architecture students, and decision-makers should understand adaptation and preservation strategies for historical and heritage buildings. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings is one of the key strategies and methods for handling existing structures.
Global Experience: It is important to regularly review global experiences in adaptive reuse, additions, and building expansions to broaden intellectual perspectives and select the most appropriate methods for dealing with local existing buildings, taking into account local conditions and specifics.
Raising Public Awareness: Increasing public awareness through various media and educational platforms about the importance of preserving and utilizing old building structures, particularly neglected ones, and involving the community in defining new functions that suit them.
Following the scientific discussion and evaluation by the committee members, and after listening to the researcher’s defense, Ms. Zainab Abbas Manshed was awarded a Master’s degree in Architecture.
