Embassy Reborn Adaptive Reuse

The design reimagines the former Iraqi Embassy as a cultural landmark , a bridge between Middle Eastern heritage and contemporary architecture.

Its form is defined by duality: the solid existing structure and a light vertical extension, joined through a large central arch, a symbolic threshold inspired by the ancient Taq Kasra.

This gesture invites openness, transforming a closed diplomatic building into a public space of dialogue and reflection. 

The design follows a clear spatial logic: a vertical layering from learning to reflection to gathering.

The lower level hosts classrooms and technical rooms. The ground floor opens to the public with a library and archive, spaces for knowledge and memory.

Above, the event hall under the arched skylight becomes a place of openness and cultural exchange.

At the center lies a sunken courtyard,  the heart of the building. Inspired by the traditional Eyvan, it connects the café, event area, and circulation. The palm tree marks a point of rest and gathering, while a curved fragment above recalls the spirit of historical architecture in a modern way. 

The Arch as Symbol and Structure: The Taq Kasra, with its timeless brick iwan, stands as a powerful spatial and symbolic precedent, an architectural gesture of openness, transition, and imperial presence.

In my project, This new brick arch becomes a portal between past and future; a thresh￾old through which visitors move from memory into imagination, from what once was a  sealed embassy into a vibrant, accessible cultural landmark. 

Structurally, the use of a brick arch is grounded in ancient techniques of com￾pressive load transfer, where the force  flows along curved paths and is absorbed  by the foundations. This method elimi￾nates the need for tensile reinforcements and relies on the self-stabilizing nature of the arched form. This approach, still in  use for centuries.

Inspired by the proportional elegance of Taq Kasra’s geometry, the new arch echoes a similar ratio of approximately 1:1.42  (height to width).

In the process of adaptive reuse, the exterior walls of the existing embassy have been preserved as much as possible to maintain the building’s historical integrity. 

Key additions include an elevator, emergency escape staircases, and barrier-free restrooms to ensure full accessibility and compliance with modern standards. To align with the softened language of the new extension, curved and organic lines are strategically in￾serted in circulation zones, creating harmony between form and flow.