Articles
Why is Heritage an Important Community Asset?
Heritage sites and buildings can have a very positive influence on many aspects of the way a community develops. Regeneration, housing, education, economic growth and community engagement are examples of the ways in which heritage can make a very positive contribution to community life. This is because:
The historic environment is a proven source of benefit to local economies, particularly through tourism.
An attractive heritage environment assists in attracting external investment as well as maintaining existing businesses of all types, not just tourism-related.
People are very proud of their local history, but don’t always express how much they value a place until it’s threatened. Because it adds character and distinctiveness to an area, heritage is a fundamental in creating a ‘sense of place’ for a community.
Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings is an important factor in creating sustainable communities.
Heritage buildings add value to regeneration projects, both in terms the economic and environmental advantage of reuse over new build and in adding character to a precinct.
Heritage places can be a potent driver for community action.
Increased community values and greater social inclusion can be achieved through a focus on heritage matters.
The heritage places are an excellent local educational resource for people of all ages. Learning about the history of a place is a good way of bringing communities together through a shared understanding of the unique cultural identity heritage places give to an area.
Aymen Jawad
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Iraq Heritage
Founders Statement
Iraq Heritage was established in January 2013 to meet a growing demand for accurate, timely and professional information on the Iraqi Heritage and culture sector with particular emphasis on the all-important archaeological discoveries, heritage sites, caring for heritage, preserving future heritage sites, and the introduction of heritage into the education system.
Iraq's heritage is poised for a massive expansion over the next decade to meet the country's reconstruction and development needs. Also Iraq's heritage needs to be available not only to the Iraqis but worldwide due to it being the Cradle of Civilization. In ancient times the land area now known as modern Iraq was almost equivalent to Mesopotamia, the land between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates (in Arabic- Dijla and Furat), the Mesopotamian plain was called the Fertile Crescent. This region is known as the Cradle of Civilization; was the birthplace of the varied civilizations that moved us from prehistory to history. An advanced civilization flourished in this region long before that of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, for it was here in about 4000BC that the Sumerian culture flourished. More importantly to position Iraq as a long-term, reliable and responsible supplier to the world's tourism and culture markets. Iraq Heritage groups leading Iraqi and international experts in the heritage and culture sector drawn from a variety of fields including industry professionals, finance and banking executives, Iraqi and multinational corporations, academics and scholars, and consultants and policy advisers.
Iraq has undergone tremendous changes since 2003 and an entirely new political, economic and constitutional order is emerging. Iraq is obligated to revive its rich ancient heritage in ways that would provide the optimum benefit of future generations. Thanks to an exceptional combination of geographical and climatic factors, a surplus of agricultural production led to the development of sophisticated societies, the invention of writing and the establishment of the first urban settlements and legal codes. In more recent periods of our history, Baghdad has been the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and the political and cultural centre of one of the three Monotheistic Religions.
An appropriate balance must be struck between the roles of the private and public sectors in meeting the challenges of Iraq's economic growth and the improvement in the incomes and livelihood of its people. The new federal Iraq is also based on the devolution of power to regions and provinces, and these will also have an important role to play in the evolution of the countries heritage.
The deliberate act of keeping heritage from the present for the future is known as Preservation (American English) or Conservation (British English), though these terms may have more specific or technical meaning in the same contexts in the other dialect. Iraq’s heritage is unique and irreplaceable, which places the responsibility of preservation on the current generation. Numerous outstanding sites still bear witness to the great technical and artistic achievements of the ancestors of the people of present day Iraq, and constitute a precious legacy for all humanity. Among these are the cities of UR of the Chaldees, birthplace of Abraham, Babylon, with the legendary Babel Tower, Ninveh, Hatra, Ashurs and Samarraa.In addition to the above-mentioned sites, Iraq houses some of the most important archaeological collections of the world.
The challenges, risk and opportunities for Iraq's Heritage are enormous. The Iraq heritage mission is to assist in advancing and protecting heritage site and monitoring the appropriate development of Iraq's heritage through the provision of timely reports and studies, the organisation of industry conferences and the provision of policy advise and services to both the Iraqi and foreign private and public sectors. Iraq Heritage will do so in a professional, unbiased and effective manner. Iraq Heritage seeks to become the principal source of authoritative information and policy-making advice on reviving heritage and protecting areas that are at risk and presenting the true value of the ancient heritage of Iraq.
Aymen Jawad, Co-Founder, Executive Director
Luay Al Khatteeb, Co-Founder, Board Member
Iraq Heritage Charters
The Association
Iraq Heritage is a limited company by guarantee and its registered office is located in the United Kingdom
The Type
Iraq Heritage is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-governmental organization
Founders
Iraq Heritage was founded on November 2013 by: Co-Founder Aymen Jawad Co-Founder Luay al-Khatteeb
Mission Statement
To assist in advancing and protecting heritage sites and monitoring the appropriate development of Iraq's heritage, through the provision of timely reports and studies, the organisation of conferences and the provision of policy advice and services to both, government and non-government entities. Iraq Heritage will do so in a professional, unbiased and effective manner. Iraq Heritage seeks to become the principal source of authoritative information and policy-making advice on planning, reviving heritage sites, protecting areas that are at risk and presenting the true value of the ancient heritage of Iraq.
Objectives
• Iraq Heritage exists to help people understand, value, care for and enjoy Iraq's unique heritage.
• To act as a reliable source of Information and research on Iraq heritage affairs, for planning policy-makers in the public and private sectors, and to disseminate information to all those in the public at large who are interested in the conservation of Iraq's heritage.
• Advise government on which parts of our heritage are nationally important so they can be protected by designation (which includes the listing of buildings) and promote the importance of heritage in making places distinctive and valued
• Advise local authorities on managing changes to the most important parts of our heritage.
• Encourage investment in heritage at risk.
• Share our knowledge, skills and expertise by offering training and guidance, giving practical conservation advice and access to our resources.
• Provide grants to maintain and preserve heritage sites.
Approach
Rather than focusing exclusively on either the theory or practice of heritage preservation, Iraq Heritage research seeks to merge and integrate both domains by drawing together experts from academia, the construction, planning and archaeology industry, government, the media, and non-governmental organizations. This planning and preservation institute will generate studies and working papers that disseminate up-to-date information and fresh impartial analyses on a wide range of topics such as conservation area policy, planning policy, heritage preservation, planning policy formulation , education curriculum and heritage regulation; all within the specific context of Iraq's unique ancient valuable heritage. These activities will offer analyses, reports, workshops, seminars and lectures on a wide variety of issues related to the above topics, such as planning, conservation areas, listing buildings, heritage master plan, culture influence and archaeological discoveries. Thus, outstanding scholars and consultants from around the world will have the opportunity to participate and contribute positively to Iraq Heritage programs. Moreover, studies, policy reports, articles, heritage updates, and working papers will regularly be posted on the Iraq Heritage website.
Services
Producing specific and actionable recommendations for the benefit of both of the public and private sectors as well as the legislative branch. • Publishing papers and research results on heritage and planning related matters relevant to the optimal economic development Iraq’s construction sector. • Organizing educational seminars and workshops on heritage focusing on preservation, sustainable development and conservation areas -components (society, environment, and economy). • Organizing periodic conferences covering all aspects of heritage from ancient sites to preserving your home. Awards for outstanding achievements will also be offered at these conferences. • Developing academic publications/curricula for Iraqi universities and institutes. • Publish a quarterly magazine containing heritage, monuments and planning papers, articles, and new updates. • Launch job fairs for graduates and professionals interested in developing skills for Heritage • Building & strengthening partnership and synergies between the Iraqi heritage relevant entities and the construction companies, Museums, Art institutions, and the private sector
Funding
• Gifts & private donations and support (in cash or in kind) from private businesses and individuals • Grants from multilateral organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations. • Grants/sponsorships from international companies and institutes • Other revenue sources may include services such as: Membership fees • Events fees and sponsorships • Research and project sponsorships/fees • Publication sponsorships
Organisation
The Board of Directors will govern Iraq Heritage for a term of 3 years before calling for an election of a new Board. Qualified nominations will be eligible to participate in the elections of new Board of Directors. The day-to-day running of the organization will be managed by a team of full-time staff, led by an Executive Director, also supported by members of the Advisory Council.
Membership
Iraq Heritage brings together people and organizations with interest in Iraqi heritage affairs. This will provide an independent platform where academics, professionals, businesses, government officials, the media, NGOs, politicians, policy-makers, and researchers to interact in an open and professional environment. Acceptance of potential applicants for membership will require the approval of the Membership Committee.
Miscellaneous
All receivable (in cash or in kind) will be made public in Iraq Heritage Annual Report.
Nomination to the Board of Directors elections and to the Advisory Council is by invitation from the Board.
Founders
Aymen Jawad
Co-Founder & Executive Director Iraq Heritage
Aymen is the Co- Founder and Executive Director of Iraq Heritage and Founder and Director of Hamond Projects, which is a leading edge Cost management, Project Management and Development Consultancy business which specialises in delivering client focused, and high value project support to a diverse range of Clients both nationally and internationally in both the public and private sector.
He has extensive knowledge of development requirements relating to the residential, automotive and industrial sectors of the market. Aymen has a specialist interest in heritage and has given specialist consultancy with regards to planning, conservation and restoration. Aymen has acted as a client liaison officer for a number of large overseas investors and has lead successful bids for a number of large development sites placed on the market by public sector land owners. He has also given specialist consultancy services to a number of clients in relation to disputes over dilapidations and contractual claims.
His previous experience is with Bowcliffe Chartered Surveyors involved Project Management, Value Engineering and Risk Value Management exercises. Academically, Aymen earned his Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying from the University of Salford (UK).
Luay al-Khatteeb
Co-Founder & Board Member Iraq Heritage
Luay al-Khatteeb is the founder and director of the Iraq Energy Institute, and the Co-Founder of Iraq Heritage. He also serves as a senior advisor to the Federal Parliament of Iraq on energy and economic development and as a visiting fellow at the Doha Centre of the Brookings Institution. His past experience spans over twenty years in business development with executive capacities as director and senior advisor. In addition to his professional commitments, al-Khatteeb is an active participant and contributor to Harvard Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University), the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) and the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI), and a frequent commentator in the media. Al-Khatteeb is the editor and reviewer of various research papers and business reports on regional geopolitics, energy and economy.
Board Members
Aymen Jawad
Co-Founder & Executive Director Iraq Heritage
Aymen is the Co- Founder and Executive Director of Iraq Heritage and Founder and Director of Hamond Projects, which is a leading edge Cost management, Project Management and Development Consultancy business which specialises in delivering client focused, and high value project support to a diverse range of Clients both nationally and internationally in both the public and private sector.
He has extensive knowledge of development requirements relating to the residential, automotive and industrial sectors of the market. Aymen has a specialist interest in heritage and has given specialist consultancy with regards to planning, conservation and restoration. Aymen has acted as a client liaison officer for a number of large overseas investors and has lead successful bids for a number of large development sites placed on the market by public sector land owners. He has also given specialist consultancy services to a number of clients in relation to disputes over dilapidations and contractual claims.
His previous experience is with Bowcliffe Chartered Surveyors involved Project Management, Value Engineering and Risk Value Management exercises. Academically, Aymen earned his Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying from the University of Salford (UK).
Luay al-Khatteeb
Co-Founder & Board Member Iraq Heritage
Luay al-Khatteeb is the founder and director of the Iraq Energy Institute, and the Co-Founder of Iraq Heritage. He also serves as a senior advisor to the Federal Parliament of Iraq on energy and economic development and as a visiting fellow at the Doha Centre of the Brookings Institution. His past experience spans over twenty years in business development with executive capacities as director and senior advisor. In addition to his professional commitments, al-Khatteeb is an active participant and contributor to Harvard Kennedy School of Government (Harvard University), the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House) and the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI), and a frequent commentator in the media. Al-Khatteeb is the editor and reviewer of various research papers and business reports on regional geopolitics, energy and economy.
Akram Ogaily
Akram Ogaily manages Hill's TCT Group; a 14 senior member team specialized in all fields of projects studies planning, management and engineering, that support global projects on technical, project start-up and compliance related issues. He has more than 35 years of experience in urban planning, architectural and engineering, design and management of complex mega projects for both public and private sectors throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the UK. Projects have included master planning and design of major mixed use developments consisting of state, ministries, educational and health service for public sectors and hotels, resorts, institutional, cultural, residential and historical, building conservation as well as sustainable building designs. In 1970 to 2003, Mr. Al Ogaily co-founded Archicenter in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Kingdom. He established the design principles and standards of thought which led the firm to succeed in a considerable number of international and local architectural competitions, design and realizations. He restructured the practice during the 1990s to focus on project design and management in response to the progressive needs of the building construction environment and technology. Mr. Al Ogaily has been involved with the design and management of major prestigious projects located in the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Yemen, Kuwait, Iraq, and United Kingdom. Mr. Ogaily Joined Hill International on February 2003 to lead the design management team of ADNOC projects in Abu Dhabi. He was assigned to undertake the program manager role of the Kuwait Mega Projects of its Islands Resorts development in 2004 and the Lagoon development- Dubai as the Vice President and Project Director in 2005. Since January 2007 he is acting as Technical Core Team (TCT) Director providing technical support to the International Project Management Group in the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Far East. In July 2008, Mr. Ogaily was promoted to Senior Vice President. Mr Ogaily earned his Msc Arch - CEM Barttlet School of Architecture University College London-UK and his B.Sc. Arch from the University of Baghdad.
Dr Alwash
Born in Kut, Iraq in 1958, Dr. Alwash spent much of his younger years in Nassariya on the fringes of Iraq’s southern Mesopotamian marshlands. His father, Jawad Alwash, in his role as district irrigation manager was one of the first irrigation engineers to gain access to the marshes and regularly brought his young son along on trips into the marshlands to resolve water disputes. When Dr. Alwash left Iraq in 1978 to escape the Baathist regime, he took along with him impassioned memories of times with his father among the resilient marsh Arabs – memories that would eventually inspire a life of environmental activism aimed at restoring, protecting and preserving the delicate balances within Iraq’s ecosystem. After completing his BS in Civil Engineering at the California State University at Fullerton, and his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southern California, Dr. Alwash subsequently worked for twenty years as a soil and environmental engineering consultant in southern California.
In 1997, he became active in Iraqi expatriate politics and joined the Board of Directors of the Iraq Foundation, an Iraqi NGO based in Washington, DC. Prompted by the release of a United Nation’s Environmental Program’s report in 2001 that detailed “one of the world’s greatest environmental disaster’s” – the desiccation of 90 percent of the Mesopotamian Marshlands at the hands of Saddam Hussein’s regime (See Nature Iraq’s “History”) - Dr. Alwash and his wife, Dr. Suzie Alwash, founded the Eden Again Project and began to assemble a group of international experts to evaluate the potential for restoration of the marshes. Their scientific opinion was unanimous - the marshlands could and should be restored. By August 2003, Dr. Alwash took a leave of absence from his consultancy work to direct the Eden Again Project operations in Iraq – the seed for today’s Nature Iraq. More recently, Dr, Alwash joined the board of trustees of the newly established American University of Iraq – Sulaimani, where he founded the Twin Rivers Institute for Scientific Research, which will soon oversee the academic and capacity building activities currently lead by Nature Iraq. Dr. Alwash can be found dividing his time between Sulaimani, Baghdad, and Iraq’s southern marshlands; or speaking internationally about the need to address the many environmental issues facing Iraq, and the successes and work yet ahead for Nature Iraq.
Hashim Kamoona
Hashim has over 35 years of great professional experience in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Master Planning, Cities Renewal, Architectural Planning and Design, Project Management, Projects Development, Strategic Planning and Transportation Planning.> • Completion of the first In-house urban Design in Baghdad municipality with a prize • Prize receipt for the best architectural design proposal for Baghdad municipality property development • Best commentary on Al-Ain university master plan in UAE • Appreciation membership prize for roads master plan project-Dubai Municipality • Land sale project of $150 million with appreciations certificate and prize from Emirates Bank - Dubai • Dubai Municipality appreciation prize for very good achievements • Completed successfully more than 100 architectural projects design or design and execution • Completed successfully work on about 200 urban Planning-design projects total area 50,000 hectares • Worked on, coordinated and commented on 5 city master plans for Baghdad and Dubai • I have worked successfully in Jeddah municipality in KSA seconded by a consultant as expert in strategic planning. My verbal comments were very constructive in many major meetings LATEST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: PRESENTLY I AM WORKING AS A FREELANCE EXPERT IN ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN September 2011-Jan- till present: I have worked in Jeddah municipality in KSA seconded by MTMM consultant as expert in strategic planning. In the same time I was working as senior urban designer/master planner with the same consultant I have been given the title of Expert in Strategic Planning in that Municipality Joint constructively in many important and large meetings in presence of a mayor, deans and senior architects/engineers level. I commented successfully on transportation planning of Jeddah region of 5.5 million population, architectural planning of mega developments, strategic planning and planning management RFP. Commented successfully within days on a strategic plan, urban Studies proposal, booklet of Bidding, and the regional planning office and gave a lecture to some planners and engineers about how to prepare a master plan for university campus June 2009 – Jan. 2012 Oct. 2009 July - Sep. 2009 Mar.2005 - Jun.2009 Freelancer in relation to urban Planning, master Planning, urban Design, architectural planning , Transportation Planning, Project Management and Landscaping Strategist Freelance urban planner for the Saudi Clusters Program. Contributed in a confidential industrial project by criticizing constructively a consultant’s work methodology in relation to the region transportation planning Project manager with Dewan Architects & Engineers – Worked briefly on a religious area redevelopment project schedule, data collection method, planning analysis and urban design methodology Senior master planning manager – Master planning & zoning department in Dubai Holding where I Managed urban Planning, urban design, landscaping and other infrastructural and master planning tasks on the following projects: Completed master plans: • Sama Aljaddaf Project for mixed uses. The company got the highest profit from this project compared to all other projects, attributed to its completion in 18 months (area population about 30,000 people) • Dubai Industrial city for Tatweer – 15 square kilometers. • Completed the master plan of Dubai Labor City for 300,000 Workers Partially completed Master Plans: • Dubai: master planning of 3 mega projects (The Lagoons, Jumaira Hills, and DHCC2-Dubai Health Care City2) total cost of $ 100 Billion. • Oman: Yeti and Shinas Salam Resort and Spa • Bahrain: Bahrain Salam Resort and Spa Main actions: • Reviewed major project location, visions and validation • Prepared RFP, its revisions, and the list of the main Consultant • Analyzed Consultant’s financial and technical offers • Join in feasibilities studies when required • Appointed the convenient Master Planning Consultant • Made preliminary studies and pre-development sketches • Solved master planning related issues • Reviewed Consultants’ Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architectural , Landscaping and infrastructural planning submissions • Managed plots development guidelines and Zoning Ordinances • Reviewed subdivisions, GFA, FAR and land uses • Managed new plots’ site plans to ensure preparedness for development • Managed submissions to get projects Master Plans approved • Managed and reviewed Project Architectural Themes • Approved consultants’ payments, claims, variations • Supervised staff in Master Planning and Zoning section • Member in Dubai Urban Planning Committee representing Dubai Holding • Member of Dubai Water Ways Committee representing Sama Dubai, Dubai Holding Aug. 1999–March 05 Freelancer from Toronto working on Urban Planning/design Specialist in Middle East Urban Planning and Architecture Jan. 1994–July 1999 Head of Detail Panning Unit in Planning Dept. in Dubai Municipality Dec. 1988–Jan. 1994 Head of Comprehensive Planning and Studies Unit in Dubai Municipality Oct. 1977–Dec. 1988 March 1977-Oct 1977 April 1971-Feb 1977 Senior architect-urban Planner in, Dubai Municipality, UAE Dar AlEmara consultants as design & Supervision architect- Abu Dhabi, Design Architect - town planner - Baghdad Municipality Languages Fluent Arabic and English + Basic Polish Education • Year 1969 B.Sc. in Architectural Eng. from University of Baghdad • Year 1973 High Diploma in Town & Regional Planning from Poland Professional Societies • United Arab Emirates Engineers Society. Iraqi Engineers Society Computer knowledge: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, MS Project and Basic AutoCAD Seminars and Training Total Quality, MS Project, Critical Path Analysis, ISO 9000-2000, GIS, MS Outlook, Theory of Economical Threshold Analysis, Historical areas, Office Management
What we do?
Iraq Heritage exists to help people understand, value, care for and enjoy Iraq's unique and ancient heritage. We aim to be best known for looking after the National Heritage Collection of historic sites and monuments and the guardianship of over all the objects and photographs and for them to be secured in our public archive. We aim to convert some of our heritage sites into national parks so the public and tourist can enjoy the ancient history we have to offer. We also aim run an extensive events programme throughout the year and provide free educational visits for schools.
But we also:
- Aim to advise government on which parts of our heritage are nationally important so they can be protected by designation (which includes the listing of buildings) and promote the importance of heritage in making places distinctive and valued.
- Advise local authorities on managing changes to the most important parts of our heritage.
- Encourage investment into heritage sites that are at risk.
- Share our knowledge, skills and expertise by offering training and guidance, giving practical conservation advice and access to our resources.
- Provide grants so that the heritage sites can be maintained in the correct manner.
Officially known as the Historic Buildings , religious shrines and Monuments Commission for Iraq, we are an executive Non-Departmental Public Body.
The rules we follow
Code of Practice
The Commissioners have adopted a voluntary Code of Conduct the Code includes the following: Public Service Values relationship with government departments role of the Chairman corporate and individual responsibilities of Commissioners personal liabilities and conflicts of interest delegation and strategic planning/control openness and accountability for public funds annual reporting and accounts the role of the Chief Executive the Commission as employer Standing Orders The Standing Orders of the Commission and its committees and panels are a guide which give procedural advice on how formal meetings are arranged and organised.
Scheme of Delegation
The Scheme of Delegations gives guidance from the Commission to staff on matters that should be reported to the Commission, its Advisory Committees and Panels as well. It also sets out what matters Commission must authorise and what decisions and actions are delegated to staff.
Terms of Reference
The Commission has established a series of non-executive advisory panels which offer expert advice to staff and Commission on various aspects of Iraq Heritage's work. The Terms of Reference set out in broad terms what each of these bodies do.
Declarations of Interest
All members of the Commission and Committees are required to provide written declarations of interest. In addition, at each meeting the Chairman invites those present to make a declaration in respect of any issues on the agenda in which they have an interest. The Commission’s Audit Committee reviews all declarations of interest twice a year.
The Register of Commissioners' interests is open to the public and may be consulted by contacting us.
Equalities
Everybody makes history. We each have our personal heritage. Everyone can have a part in enjoying, understanding and caring for Iraq's shared heritage.
As a nation, we have an ancient tradition of diversity. The heritage of different cultures has been woven into our shared history over hundreds of years, through migration, trade, conquest and alliances. Many of the unique ancient sites in this country can tell fascinating stories of international importance.
These sites tell of the story of thousands of people and there way of living the experiences they faced this is what has created the heritage that surrounds us and enhances our lives. Just as we have built the world that surrounds us, in many ways, it has built us and the historic environment plays a major part in our sense of identity. We believe that as many people as possible should help to hand on the heritage that matters to them.
People care passionately about their own heritage and their neighbourhood landmarks, streets, parks and houses.
You can also read much more about our work by following the links on the right, which will tell you more about our policies, projects and publications.
We want to hear your voice about how to make Iraq Heritage, and the ancient sites and diverse environment more welcoming and appealing to everyone.
Please email your suggestions to info@iraqheritage.org