Gio' Ponti building after looting, UNESCO 2003

In December 2003 the Department of Architectural Design at the ‘Politecnico’ University in Milan (Italy) offered its assistance to establish a programme for the conservation and rehabilitation of the Development Board building in Baghdad, a modern architecture masterpiece built by the Italian modernist Gio’ Ponti in 1958. UNESCO and the Fondazione Politecnico of Milan welcomed to support this initiative. They have been invited by the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation of Iraq to assist it in the formulation of the project.

The project includes training for Iraqi professionals in conservation practises as well as the assessment, documentation and preparation of the project for the physical rehabilitation of the Gio’ Ponti building. The University Politecnico and UNESCO have been invited to assist the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation of Iraq in the formulation of the project. On 20-23 June 2004 an Iraqi delegation, composed of three experts (architects and civil engineers) and nominated by the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation of Iraq, visited the Politecnico of Milan in order to define the training programme and the main lines of the rehabilitation project. Upon the results of this visit the Department of Architectural Design at the ‘Politecnico’ presented to the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation of Iraq and UNESCO a detailed programme for the training course, as well as the preparation of the rehabilitation project.

 Expected results:

· Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Planning and Development and to the Ministry of Culture to prepare an appropriate conservation programme, from the documentation phase to the formulation of the tender, for the Gio’ Ponti complex and the four additional buildings in the same plot.

· Provide training and building a long-term educational programme for architects-conservators in Iraq.

· Document modern architectural buildings in Baghdad and assess their condition.

· Update professional skills in conservation of cultural heritage through training and educational programmes

Donor: UNESCO and Fondazione Politecnico of Milan.

UNESCO is presently seeking funds to implement the training course and the conservation programme.