- Peter Zumthor.

Over the years, Al-Sadr city has developed and established a unique rich history describing its strength during hard times. Furthermore, the urban city form is a profound indication of the city identity and culture. Thus, the project celebrates the history of El-Sadr city, and the changes occurred throughout the years. However, imitating the past isn't an aim, but articulating it to represent the current situation and respect the city history is the project's aim.  The design process will be discussing the following aspects: resilience and strength, disturbance, and resistance. These aspects can be described best in architecture in contrast between light & shadows, different materials, and the articulation of the old Iraqi architecture features.

The proposed design is a multi-functional complex, a gateway to Iraqi knowledge, culture and identity through spaces that exhibit art and history inspired by Iraqi ancient history of culture. Moreover, celebrating the poetics of spaces provides a spatial journey for the users to keep the city legacy alive, inspired by the Darbona effect existing in the city's rich urban fabric and its culture. Finally, the project is a festive & ceremonial vision toward the city. Furthermore, it's a trial to understand history in a way that reshapes our future and perceives the braveness's memory always existed in such an area.

This is for the youth of Baghdad and Iraq to Re-learn, Re-connect and Re-identify, to learn what wasn’t taught before. The proposal will help to highlight the cultural identity within the youth of Baghdad, through voices of new contemporary design and the interpretation from past wisdom. The cross sections are also a way of circulation of the proposed design. Inspired by the Drabouna concept from Iraqi culture and urban fabric, The repetition represents the endless possibilities of what could be found when lost inside the building.

What type of journey the user would have in the project? a journey that would be across the levels and spaces. A chance for the users to get lost within the space in search of finding themselves once again.

The plaza is designed to be a flexible urban space creating different experiences as places where the youth of Al-Medina can come together to enjoy the fun of play, the variety of activities, the diversity of lifestyle, and the vibrancy and energy of the urban environment.