The new Iraqi parliamentary building is to be built by Zaha Hadid

20 Nov 2013

 

According to an architectural journal, Zaha Hadid has been awarded the project for designing the new £630-million Iraqi Parliament building in Baghdad.

Despite of coming third, in a design contest for the prestigious building, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has won this contract for designing the upcoming new parliament building in Baghdad. It has to be noted that the London based company, Assemblage has won the contest. Building this new parliament building is the part of the plan for developing or reconstructing Iraq. It is understood that the company has been working on the project since at least the start of this year.

The high-profile practice is already designing the towering Central Bank of Iraq, and is also rumored to have been approached to design a new Iraq National Museum.

Controversy arose after it emerged the competition client was still in discussions with ZHA shortly after the winning teams were announced. A competition pledge to exhibit the winning schemes has also been abandoned.
The practice declined to comment on the latest rumors but Assemblage and Capita Symonds – which was placed second – both confirmed they had not been contacted by the client since the competition’s conclusion.

On the other hand, competition judge, former RIBA president Sunand Prasad said, “Obviously we selected a winner, therefore we would like to have seen it [design the building] but the client reserved the right to pick any of the top three and they have gone ahead and done that.”
He further added in his statement that “I really regret that the exhibition, discussion and publication of the designs hasn’t happened and I would urge those involved to do it.”

Peter Besley – whose practice Assemblage received £160,000 for the top prize – commented, “Given what happened in Cardiff, [where ZHA’s competition-winning opera house was abandoned] people are very surprised Zaha did not step aside. We are disappointed, but have moved on to other things.“