Hajj Salman Hotel
a sustainable venture in Iraq
design objective 1
Dynamic sustainability as a new approach for a multi-functional hotel complex in Iraq
Overview

  • typeHotel, meeting and Retail Shopping Center
  • year | size2011 | 40,000 SF
  • locationKarbala, Iraq
  • statussolicited proposal

project statement
Hajj Salman Hotel was designed as the first eco-friendly building in Karbala, Iraq.

An odd-shaped lot and not too many high-rises around make this a challenging task along with the mission to introduce Western type architecture. Three commercial, one underground, one mechanical and ten hotel floors create a unique environment, oriented with local pilgrim traditions. The complex features two restaurants, two cafés, a meeting center and several retail shops on both Level One and Two, along with a large rooftop garden café-restaurant. The glass canopy at the top acts in a couple of ways. It provides shelter for the rooftop garden café, it also creates a shaded ventable buffer (passive sustainability) and thirdly - ample space for photovoltaics, while the double curtain wall incorporates another active sustainable element.

MODEL FLYAROUND STUDY | 2011

project drb statement (cont)

Minimal parking requirements ease up the below-ground planning, nevertheless, it houses enough VIP, guest and merchant parking. The overall kinetic presence of the building symbolizes local tradition in a totally new way, aside from numerous direct implementation of Arabic detail and ornamentation in recent new projects in the region.
We believe that our proposal will set a trend for affirmative sustainability and eco-friendly development in this part of the Middle East.

design objective 2
Metamorph the program requirements over an odd-shaped parcel
The composition over an irregular piece of land evolves vertically to showcase expressive cantilever volumes, dynamic angles and sustainable principles throughout.
from the architect