Iraq

[Jippy]

And some more from Baghdad. These were taken in 1906 by an Indian Army recruit called Wilfrid Malleson, they're all from the great Qatar Digital Library:

For some reason I always find photos of Iraq from the early 20th century to be particularly evocative.

I wonder @Giggsyking how much if any of the traditional-type urban architecture seen above still survives today in Basra and Baghdad (e.g. the distinctive hanging wooden balconies that can still be found in parts of the Gulf and the Hijaz today I believe)?

I missed this thread before. The architecture is striking and I love the ornate wooden structures, the shanasheel. Amazing craftsmanship but dunno how much of that survives.
https://encyclocraftsapr.com/shanasheel/

 

[Giggsyking]

I missed this thread before. The architecture is striking and I love the ornate wooden structures, the shanasheel. Amazing craftsmanship but dunno how much of that survives.
https://encyclocraftsapr.com/shanasheel/

There is a growing sense between young Iraqi architects to preserve what its left. But it requires huge amount of funds.

 

[Jippy]

There is a growing sense between young Iraqi architects to preserve what its left. But it requires huge amount of funds.

I hope they can. Dread to think how much historic architecture was lost during the gulf wars.

 

[Giggsyking]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middl...llion-pounds-iraqi-pm-office-says-2025-01-14/