Bio-metaphor in Iraqi architecture : date palm as model

Abstract EN

The Bio-metaphor concept plays a significant role in architectural design process, by employing diverse specific organism sources like a plants or animals.

The metaphor was an essential source for many architects in their achievements throughout the ages.

So, plants have represented one of the inspiration sources of metaphor in architecture.

From that point, the general goal of this research is to study the bio-metaphor from date palm tree in Iraqi architecture, and the effect of the morphology of this tree on Iraqi architects, and thus its effect on production.

This research deals specifically and practically with employing the concept of metaphor in Iraqi architecture throughout the ages, by studying models of various buildings from different stages of the Mesopotamian civilization, starting from the Sumerian to contemporary period of Iraqi architecture.

From all of the above, the main problem that this research deals with is "the unclear approach of employing bio-metaphor "date palm tree" in specific" in Iraqi architecture.

Accomplishing the methodology of this research lies in two points.

First is studying the rules which govern metaphor in architecture in general.

Second is extracting the indicators of the theoretical framework and then applying them to various buildings for different periods of Mesopotamia civilization.

The most prominent results reached by this research was "bio metaphor used palm tree in different ways and methods including structural and decorative aspect".

So, the metaphor that relates to the structural aspect is stronger than the metaphor that relates to the ornamental aspect.

Because the first will be within the morphology of the building, while the second is just final addition to the façade of the building.