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Go to Editorial ManagerHeritage buildings are part of the connection between the past and the present. By paying attention to their occupancy, we keep the present and future generations in touch with what our ancestors achieved, hence sustaining them being part of the living heritage. Restoration and renovation procedures must be carried out to make them capable of meeting contemporary needs, However, it is essential to recognize the architectural characteristics that resonate with long term occupants. This research focuses on the effect of design characteristics on the psychological relationship between heritage buildings and their occupants, through case studies of two heritage buildings in Baghdad. The first is the previous Theological college building of Al al-Bayt University of the 1920s, now the College of education for girls, and the second is the 19th century Ottoman Al-Qishla building. The study relies on conducting a questionnaire for the occupants about their response to design characteristics of each building. The questionnaire concluded that the design characteristics of the heritage building have a significant impact on the psychological response of its occupants. The majority of respondents indicated that characteristics such as clarity of function, clarity of elements, sense of security, privacy, and flexibility, were satisfactory. The majority of respondents expressed appreciation for heritage buildings, as well as positive evaluations and appreciation for the reflection of the past in these buildings, indicating that “architectural characteristics of the heritage building” has a significant impact on the psychological connection felt by the occupants of the heritage building.
In the last two decades Modern architecture of the 20th century has become a primary focus for numerous global organizations, researchers, and academics who aim to preserve and sustain it. The leading parties in this endeavor are UNESCO and the International DOCOMOMO. They recognize modern heritage as tangible, authentic, carrying exceptional features and modern characteristics that reflect values, shifts, and norms of its era. Therefore, Docomomo has identified key Modernist Merits as criteria to assess the authenticity of this heritage, while UNESCO has listed many modern buildings and sites on the World Heritage List. In this respect many Iraqi modernist buildings suffer from mishandling and poor interest. Numerous have been distorted, demolished, or are on the verge of disappearing. This reflects a lack of understanding their exceptional modernist values which are worthy of preservation, and thus inefficiency in managing this heritage. Given that Intervention in modernist heritage involves adhering to guidelines set by international organization, the vague connection between criteria of DOCOMOMO and those of UNESCO clouds the process. Therefore, this article focuses on addressing the relationship between the two organizations' sets of criteria and clarifying their connection. The authors also aimed to address the national Iraqi context by assessing selected cases of modernist heritage buildings by one of Iraq’s modernism pioneers, architect Qahtan Al-Madfai, against DOCOMOMO’s criteria for modernist merits, highlighting the originality of Iraqi modernist heritage.Using a descriptive analytical approach, the theoretical sections of the paper begin by exploring the principles and characteristics of modern architecture, followed by identifying the exceptional values of modernist buildings, defined by DOCOMOMO as Modernist Merits and linking them to UNESCO's criteria. The practical part includes an experts’ survey to assess the Modernist Merits of the selected sample of Al- Madfaies’ buildings.The research results showed that Qahtaan Al-Madfai’s architecture was distinguished by a high evaluation of two Merits (exceptional features): the technological feature and the artistic aesthetic feature. While the first was fairly preserved, the second feature was affected in some buildings as a result of the mismanagement of these buildings and the lack of awareness of their values.