Hisham Munir Archive
Scope and Contents
This archive represents a small, but very important portion of documentation available of the architect Hisham Munir's records, which includes oral history recordings, records concerning the content covered in the interviews (such as illustrations or notes), several texts, and descriptions of projects provided by Hisham Munir.
The interviews with Hisham Munir were conducted by Michael Kubo and Michael A. Toler on April 11 and 12, 2015. There are unpublished notes kept during the interview process by Dr. Kubo, these documents are included in the archive. Several published documents created by Hisham Munir & Associates architectural firm in the course of their business augment the oral histories and notes. They are a particularly important part of the archive, providing context on the activities of the firm, given that original drawings, project books, and other materials are not available. The remainder of the archive are administrative files covering subject and project descriptive material an notes compiled from various sources to provide further information on topics relative to the archive and Hisham Munir's career.
Dates
- 1956 - ca. 1998
Creator
- Munir, Hisham (Architect, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
This archive highlights the work of one of Iraq's noted architects, Hisham Munir. Much of Munir's architectural documentation was left behind when the architect and his family left Baghdad; therefore, many of the buildings in this still developing collection are being recreated through oral histories with Munir, captured by the Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT's staff.
Hisham Munir, founder of Hisham Munir and Associates, ranks among the most prominent architects in 20th century Iraq and is considered a pioneer in Iraqi modern architecture. His projects include buildings for education, health, administrative, governmental, banking, hospitality, tourism, housing, and agriculture, among others. He frequently partnered with The Architects Collaborative (TAC), as well as British, Brazilian, Canadian, Dutch, Italian and Swiss firms. Some of Munir's best known work includes the University of Mosul (1956), the Agricultural Complex (1975), the Iraqi Reinsurance Company in Baghdad (1976), Sheraton Hotels in Baghdad and Basra (1981), the Al-Sabah Complex in Kuwait (1976), and the Unknown Soldier Monument (1982). He is also a respected academic and one of the founders of the School of Architecture in the University of Baghdad, where he also taught and served as Dean.
In 2017, Hisham Munir was awarded the Tamayouz Lifetime Achievement Award. The prize, which was previously awarded to Iraqi architecture pioneers including Mohamed Makiya and Rifat Chadirji, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions toward the advancement of architecture in Iraq1.
Michael A. Toler, Archnet Content Manager.
October 18, 2016
(Updated: Sharon C. Smith, Ph.D., Program Head, AKDC@MIT
20 March 2018)
SOURCES:
1 http://www.designmena.com/insight/iraqi-modernist-architect-hisham-munir-wins-tamayouz-lifetime-achievement-award (accessed 20 March 2018)
"About Us." Munir Group. Accessed October 05, 2015. http://www.hishammunirarch.com/.
Hisham Munir & Associates. Hisham Munir and Associates. Architects and Planners. Baghdad, Iraq, Ca. 1964.
Kultermann, Udo. "Contemporary Architecture in the Arab States: Iraq." In Contemporary Architecture in the Arab States: Renaissance of a Region, 31-43. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999.
Munir, Hisham. Hisham Munir & Associates-Project List. Arlington, VA, 2014.
Munir, Hisham. Hisham Munir Summary CV. Arlington, VA, 2013.
Extent
.41 Linear Feet (two 2.5 inch document boxes)
Language of Materials
English
- Architecture -- Iraq Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Architecture -- Islamic countries Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Architecture, Modern -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Islamic architecture Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Munir, Hisham (Donor, Person)
Creator
- Munir, Hisham (Architect, Person)
- Hisham Munir & Associates (Architectural firm, Organization)
- Title
- Hisham Munir Archive
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Betsy Baldwin
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- DRAFT
Repository Details
Part of the Aga Khan Documentation Center, MIT Libraries Repository
Cambridge US