Himali Jajal

Social Narrative: Redevelopment of Mosul, Iraq

Mosul, Iraq's second biggest city, went through a  war in the name of religion, where the remains are scarred buildings and people.

Currently, the renovation is done through repairing the brickwork of the city, neglecting the  cultural  identity of people and  places. However, this  can be  enhanced through the manifestation of memories.

This thesis explores social narrative, the manifestation of   lost emotions,  identities  and culture, to  oppose religious  war. This is   facilitated,   partially through re-purposing  some of  Mosul's   sacred architecture to accommodate and  celebrate  socio-cultural  places (Hammam, Garden, Playground, Theatre, Market). Thus,   commemorating  the suffering  and  aiding to people's memories.

Let there be home with manifested memory, good and bad.
Let there be new atmosphere with different emotions.
Let there be an experience and identity, in and through space.Let there be a new city for a new soul.

Because I am seeing the unseen.
Because I am hearing the unheard.
Because I am touching the invisible.

My mind is relentless.

I see no good, I see bad.

Terror, Fear, despair.
Sadness, Isolation, Uncertainty.

This is my displaced mind, body and soul.

Left my city
For the enemy that took my city
Came back to my city,
For the city that survived the enemy.

I see a home.
But it is not the same.

I see a city.
But it is not the same.

I have a life.
But it is not the same.

Is putting brick back to my broken home an answer!
Is putting brick back to my broken city an answer!
Is putting brick back to my broken dream an answer!

Let there be a universe of dreams to inhabit the home.
Let there be a lost symbol to collect my dreams.
Let there be an emotion to express that was dreamt and lost.