Architecture and Context

"Architecture and Context": A Dialogue Between Mass and Surroundings

As part of the Imarwa Wa Tawasul initiative, Architect Ammar Ashour presents a non-profit educational workshop for students, designed to go beyond the traditional academic scope.

The workshop deconstructs the concept of "Context," exploring architecture as a living organism inseparable from its environment. It discusses the dialectical relationship between the building and its surroundings: When should the building yield to the place (Harmony), and when should it provoke it (Contrast)? And how does this influence the identity of "who" and "what" surrounds it?

architecture and context chapter one

architecture and context chapter two

architecture and context chapter three

Mud & Dream Architecture

As part of the Imara wa Tawasul activities, the "Architecture of Mud and Dreams" workshop was held to highlight architecture dedicated to the forgotten classes and the less fortunate in society. The workshop posed a fundamental question: How does an architect design for those who lack a voice in the architectural landscape?

The session approached architecture as a social and ethical act rather than merely a visual product. It focused on concepts of simplicity, limited resources, and local materials—primarily mud—as an architectural medium capable of transforming a dream into a liveable space.

Presented by Architect Ammar Ashour and Architect Zainab Al-Atta, this workshop is part of a series aimed at spreading architectural culture and raising awareness of the architect's role beyond the traditional framework of academic education.

mud & dream architecture chapter two

mud & dream architecture chapter one

Between the Designer and the Recipient

This workshop explores the dialectical relationship between the architect's philosophical vision and the end-user's perception of space. It aims to investigate how a designer can translate ideas into an intelligible visual and functional language that transcends mere form to resonate with the recipient's soul and fulfill their needs.

Presented by architect Ammar Ashour as part of the 'Imara Wa Taswasul' workshop series, we highlight the importance of narrowing the gap between academic theory and societal reality, transforming a building from a silent mass into a shared sensory experience."

Architecture : between the designer and the recipient

Metaphor in Architecture

A free workshop titled “Metaphor in Architecture” presented by Architecture & Communication Group, led by architect Ammar Ashour and his team. The workshop explores metaphor as a conceptual and design tool in architecture, and how abstract ideas, symbols, and narratives can be translated into meaningful architectural spaces. It aims to develop critical thinking and strengthen the relationship between concept and architectural form through discussions and applied examples.

The Architecture of the Unseen

Within the "Imara Wa Tawasul" initiative, the " The Architecture of the Unseen " workshop explores the immaterial dimensions of the built environment. Going beyond physical form, it examines the primacy of thought and intention, deconstructing the silent dialectic between light and shadow. The session addresses how materials evoke spatial memory, ultimately defining architecture as an experience "perceived through sensation rather than sight," where the intangible essence of space transcends its physical existence.

The Architecture of Unseen was in collaboration with the Iraqi Engineers Union and The event culminated in honoring the shortlist of distinguished Graduation projects for the year 2025 from the First Iraqi Forum for Architecture Departments

The Architecture of the Unseen chapter one

The Out of the Box Trilogy

As part of the Imara wa Tawasul initiative, the "The out of the box trilogy" workshop offered an experimental space designed to redefine architectural design beyond traditional academic constraints.

Focusing on the transition from imagination to form, the session prioritized the creative process over the final product. It challenged the "box" as a mental barrier, exploring how architects can liberate their ideas from pre-set templates and standard solutions.

Far from a traditional lecture, the event relied on open dialogue and experimentation to foster independent thinking.

Presented by architects Ammar Ashour and Zainab Al-Atta, the workshop provided a large number of students with a unique opportunity to deconstruct design norms and learn outside the classroom.

the out of the box trilogy chapter one

the out of the box trilogy chapter two

Bazaar

The Annual Charity Bazaar represents the pulsating humanitarian heart of the " Imara Wa Tawasul " initiative at the University of Baghdad. Transcending the traditional concept of a marketplace, it stands as an event of solidarity that merges creativity with social responsibility. In this initiative, students' artistic products and handicrafts are transformed into messages of hope, with all proceeds dedicated entirely to supporting and treating cancer patients. The event aims to entrench the concept of "Connection" in its deepest sense; demonstrating that an architect is not merely a designer of buildings, but an active participant in building society and healing its wounds, turning art and beauty into effective tools for moral and financial support.

Imara Wa Tawasul Newspaper — First Edition

IMARA WA TAWASUL newspaper was launched with its first issue as an open and accessible architectural platform, published alongside each Imara Wa Tawasul workshop. Its aim is to present architectural topics in an engaging and easy-to-understand way, outside the boundaries of traditional academic discourse.

The first issue was released during the “Architecture of the unseen ” workshop. It addressed a range of architectural themes, including the shortlist of distinguished projects from the First Iraqi Forum of Architecture Engineering Departments, as well as dedicated coverage of the workshop itself, interactive architectural games, and a certificate of participation for workshop attendees.

The journal represents an initiative to create a space for dialogue that connects architecture with society and brings architectural thinking closer to a wider audience through a lively and approachable format.