Department of Architecture Engineering and Bayyina Center… A Field Study at Al-Ukhaidir Palace to Enhance Architectural Identity

As part of the scientific activities of the Department of Architecture Engineering at the College of Engineering and Information Technology, a field visit was organized to the historic Al-Ukhaidir Palace in the holy governorate of Karbala. This visit took place during the second day of the workshop titled “Civilizational Engineering and Visual Identity,” held by the Bayyina Center for Intellectual and Cultural Security, affiliated with the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, in cooperation with Al-Zahraa University for Women, under the supervision of the Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Ghaidaa Al-Mulla.

The visit aimed to enhance the practical skills of second-year students in the department and to connect theoretical concepts with architectural reality by studying one of the most prominent examples of Islamic architecture in the Iraqi desert environment.

During the visit, students explored the palace’s design characteristics firsthand. The structure features a rectangular layout surrounded by thick walls and corner towers that reflect its defensive nature, in addition to an internal organization comprising multiple halls and a mosque with a mihrab, illustrating the integration of function and religious dimension. The efficiency of environmental treatments was also evident through the use of local materials such as stone, brick, and gypsum, as well as thick walls and an inner courtyard to provide thermal insulation and improve ventilation—well suited to the desert climate.

The visit emphasized the importance of Al-Ukhaidir Palace as an integrated architectural model that reflects the evolution of design thinking and the human ability to adapt to the environment. It provided students with a practical understanding of the relationship between form and function.

The organizers also stressed the importance of preserving this architectural heritage and integrating it into educational and research programs, given its role in enhancing cultural identity and raising awareness of national heritage .

 

Media and Government Communication Division