Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering

Casa Bloc: Social Housing Project in Spain

Bashar Al Shahrabi — 2024-04-25

The Casa Bloc is a residential building designed by Josep Lluís Sert, Josep Torres Clavé and Joan Baptista Subirana, opened in 1936 in the Sant Andreu the city of Barcelona, Spain. All the Architects were working in (the Catalan Group of Architects). It is a Re-creation of the le Corbusier proposal for residential housing, formulated in 1922 for an urban area with a density of 300 inhabitants per hectare. The Casa Bloc project, aimed at social housing, the design was drawn as a large building with two hundred dwellings for workers’ families in the industrial field because many of them were homeless at that time and they still lived in shacks, generally in very poor conditions. but The Spanish Civil War suspend the project of the Casa Bloc for three years. Later, the building was used not only for workers but also for other nations. So that the main purpose of the project and its social and cultural function was wasted. because through the time many changes entered the project. Casa Bloc, Apartment 1/11 is a member of the Iconic Houses, the international network connecting architecturally significant houses from the 20^th Century that are opened to the public. Housing policy is governed by the Spanish Housing Ministry with the ‘autonomous regions and their municipalities interpreting and implementing policies at a more local level. A right to housing is guaranteed by the Spanish constitution: All Spaniards have the right to enjoy decent and adequate housing. The public authorities shall promote the necessary conditions and establish appropriate rules to uphold this right.

Optimizing Space Effeciency in Small Dwellings: A Study of Interior Design Strategies and Solutions

Karam Raad Abdulkareem NAWRES — 2024-02-11

This research focuses on the challenges faced by residents of small homes in Baghdad, Iraq, and what they need to maximize space, protect cultural heritage, and advance sustainability. Through an examination of international interior design approaches, culturally sensitive solutions, efficacy, and practical advice, the study seeks to solve challenges. The concept, literature review, questionnaire creation and distribution, data analysis and discussion, and integration of a case study are the six steps of the quantitative methodology that will be used in this study. We'll look at the subject of tiny homes and the social and psychological effects of living in a small place. The trend of smaller homes in Iraq will be discussed in this essay, along with a case study that offers an engineering solution to optimize space in a compact house. The results of the case study and questionnaire, along with the participant perspectives and the applied design interventions, will be shared. In order to wrap up the study, recommendations will be made for more research in the following areas: comparative studies, public awareness and education, interdisciplinary collaboration, long-term impact assessment, cultural preservation, sustainable materials and practices, accessibility and inclusivity, and policy recommendations.

Strategies For Designing Public Open Spaces in Baghdad City

Bashar Al Shahrabi — 2024-03-20

Urban design has a significant impact on residents' quality of life and overall well-being. With the rapid expansion of urban areas, it has become imperative to meticulously plan and provide open areas. Implementing sustainable urban design strategies can bolster environmental sustainability, foster social fairness, and boost public health. Iraq faces numerous challenges that impede the creation of safe, accessible, and attractive public spaces for its residents. The aim of this study is to enhance a sustainable urban design plan that will enhance the functioning, accessibility, and visual appeal of open spaces in Baghdad. The researcher uses a questionnaire to collect data from specific respondents with the aim of identifying the limitations that exist in the urban design of open spaces in Baghdad. The study results demonstrate evident limitations from urban, transportation, economic, environmental, cultural, and social perspectives. The survey's findings indicate that the most prominent issues are the intricate arrangements resulting from the addition of new nodes, the diversity of pathways, unfavorable traffic conditions, inadequate land usage, and insufficient distribution of green spaces. The researcher utilizes Kevin Lynch's design concepts to analyze the urban characteristics of the studied region. These principles address the major existing urban issues that need to be considered in the urban design concept to improve the features of the urban landscape in the research region. According to the findings, the researcher suggests several alternatives, such as redistributing land use, developing the wave front area, building new nodes and open spaces, increasing green spaces, and developing the Metro, LRT Train, and BRT.

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Ali Hasnain — 2024-01-15

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a technological revolution that provides civil engineers with a central digital means of managing their design construction and facilities management tasks. The primary objective of this research is to comprehensively analyze the role and impact of BIM in civil engineering. The study highlights the benefits, challenges, and prospects regarding BIM. This study underlines the main implementation issues, which had been identified in the previous research in cross-sectional, qualitative, and quantitative studies related to BIM implementation and approaches for solving them. Additionally, it provides a way of recognizing and explaining the tangible effects of the BIM application on project management, work progress, cost, and cooperation in the construction industry. The results of notable research and case studies are surveyed in order to recognize practical scenarios that can be related to BIM project management.