2025-09-22T12:19:50+00:00
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Shafaq
News / Baghdad
Nations
immortalize their great minds through monuments and street names. In
Iraq—especially in Baghdad—such tributes now take shape through the restoration
of homes of poets, scholars, and thinkers, reborn as cultural landmarks.
A
Bold Initiative
The
Baghdad Municipality has launched an ambitious initiative to acquire, restore,
and reopen the houses of leading intellectuals and heritage figures,
transforming them into vibrant cultural forums. According to spokesperson Uday
Al-Jandil, a new Cultural Affairs Department has been established to oversee
these projects.
“Our
role is to rehabilitate the homes of thinkers, writers, and scholars, turning
them into cultural centers, museums, and exhibition spaces that attract local
and international visitors,” Al-Jandil told Shafaq News. “The aim is to revive
Baghdad’s intellectual identity while boosting tourism and public awareness.”
Read more: Discover Iraq: Baghdad, a city shaped by conflict and enduring hope
The
House of Al-Jawahiri: From Memory to Movement
One
flagship project is the House of Al-Jawahiri, acquired from the family in 2011
and inaugurated in 2022 after restoration. Today, it houses the poet’s
manuscripts, personal belongings, photographs, and academic theses written
about his work.
More
than a museum, the house has become a living cultural hub, hosting seminars,
poetry readings, and intellectual gatherings. Its doors are open to Iraqi and
foreign visitors alike.
The
Legacy of Al-Waili and Beyond
Another
restored site is the House of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Waili in Kadhimiya, purchased in
2014 and reopened in 2024. It now functions as a cultural forum, showcasing the
cleric’s works and possessions while hosting lectures, discussions, and media
productions on Baghdad’s heritage.
Future
projects include the rehabilitation of the White Palace (built in 1934), two
heritage houses on Haifa Street, and potential acquisitions of the homes of
architect Zaha Hadid, former Prime Minister Mohammed Fadel Al-Jamali, literary
scholar Hussein Ali Mahfouz, and sociologist Ali Al-Wardi.
“Pulse
of Baghdad” Initiative
These
efforts align with the government program “Pulse of Baghdad,” launched by Prime
Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture
and the Association of Private Banks. The program has already restored 150
heritage buildings, shops, and houses across three phases, including landmarks
on Al-Rasheed Street and Al-Mutanabbi Street.
According
to Iyad Kazem, Director of Heritage at Iraq’s Antiquities Authority,
restoration also encompasses ten historic mosques, some of which are already
completed, while others—such as the shrine of the Second Safir in Al-Saray—are
still undergoing renovation.
Citizens
Welcome the Revival
For
many Iraqis, these initiatives carry profound meaning. Writer Ali Ward
described the projects as “a renaissance that revives the brilliance of Iraqi
culture and recalls its legacy of creativity, coexistence, and knowledge.”
Rasha
Al-Obaidi, a Baghdad resident, stressed the importance of public ownership of such
houses: “Otherwise, they risk being turned into restaurants or cafés.”
Architect
Lama Mohsen praised the blend of authenticity and modernity, noting that Iraqi
engineers have preserved original structures while adding contemporary touches
that appeal to younger generations.
Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.
