Local contractors construct the inner walls of a marsh Arab mudhif. The reeds are gathered from marshlands near the Euphrates River. The house is a blend of adobe and reed building materials used frequently by marsh Arabs in southeast Iraq.

Local architecture plays an important role in the culture of the marsh Arabs of southern Iraq, and no structure captures the lifestyle and traditions of the region more than the ‘mudhif.’

Now, with a little outside help, the traditional structures are making a comeback in modern construction.

First constructed in the marshes of what is now southern Iraq over 5,000 years ago, the mudhif is a unique local meeting place constructed entirely of reeds, straw and other natural materials. Over time, the building process hasn’t changed greatly.

Lengths of reed about 10 meters long are bunched into columns, tied together, and then shaped into huge parabolic arches. Hand-woven mats are then tied over and between the columns, forming a roof. Finally, reed lattice panels are attached to the sides, allowing for both sunlight and airflow into the interior and enclosing the entire hut.

The design of the mudhif reflects local traditions. For instance, there are always an odd number of reed pillars in the mudhif, allowing the host of a meeting to sit along one side wall with an equal number of guests to his right and left. This ensures that the tribal sheikh remains at the center of decision-making when conducting business, and reinforces his position of prestige in the area.

Building on this traditional form of construction, U.S. Soldiers with Task Force Pathfinder embarked on a program to incorporate local building materials and techniques into present-day construction projects.

In a military-sponsored training program entitled “The Modernization of the Traditional Marsh Arab Mudhif,” local builders used readily available – and generally free – raw materials along with ancient building techniques to construct a model adobe house in Chubayish City in southern Iraq.

The ancient and the modern meet in this single location–a marsh reed home outfitted with electricity, running water and conveniences that usher in an architectural concept found throughout the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division’s operating environment.

The objective of the project is to merge traditional building methods with modern materials in a way that could maximize the use of local construction materials. The use of inexpensive marsh reeds, whether as mats or support columns, a soil foundation, and modern adobe bricks, are the basic elements needed to build the houses, promoting sustainability and allowing locals to replicate the buildings without much expenditures on construction materials.

“This model Adobe House is an architectural example that can be easily replicated in the surrounding area. The province plans to use the modernized mudhif to house eco-tourists in the coming years as part of birding expeditions into the marshes,” explained Sgt. 1st. Class Darell Walker, project officer with Task Force Pathfinder.

“The concept and design of the house are intended to showcase the cultural significance of the mudhifs and reed huts that have been used in the area since recorded history, bearing in mind the climate of the area,” explained Maj. Eric Russell, an Army engineer and operations officer for Task Force Pathfinder. “Each of the houses has a modern service module that includes a bathroom and a kitchen.”

There is a tremendous need for housing projects in the Marshlands to accommodate returning refugees as well as the growing population of villages and cities in and around the marshes.

As with all traditional societies, Iraq continues to experience change. The land and the people are resilient and welcome many of these changes.

A new government system is in place with the tender shoots of democracy beginning to emerge from this desert-dwelling nation. Like the ‘mudhif,’ an ancient structure rebuilt to reflect modernization, the people of Iraq are embracing a new time and place in the world.

DVIDS
By Maj. Eric F. Russell

Soldiers from Task Force Pathfinder conduct a walkthrough, Nov. 6, to check on the progress of a demonstration building commissioned by the municipal counsel of Al Chubayish, Iraq. The project uses bricks made from local clay mixed with cement that are stronger, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than those traditionally used. Photo by Capt. John Landry

It was an hour and a half drive taking Task Force Pathfinder’s five humvees to the project location near Al Chubayish, Iraq, in the southern corner of the Dhi Qar province. The journey, led by Iraqi police, took them through the provincial capital of Nasiriyah, undergoing massive reconstruction, out along the vast farmland and past what’s left of the historic marshes.

For Task Force 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, movements to project locations like this are a daily routine.

However, on this day, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, responsible for aiding the Dhi Qar Provincial Reconstruction Team, were out to check on the progress of a project that could yield long-term success benefits for the people of, Al Chubayish.

The Al Chubayish municipal council recently learned of a new, stronger type of brick. It is made from 45 percent of their local clay and 55 percent cement, and yet doesn’t require oven heat to solidify. As it turns out, all it needs is sunlight.

By avoiding the brick-baking process altogether, the fuel consumption and the required transportation to the construction site – the bricks can be manufactured onsite — the cost could decrease. Additionally, “solar powered” process eliminates the air pollution of baking bricks.

The Municipal Council decided to use the new bricks to construct an office building, municipally run, for the purpose of promoting the use of the brick. The building will even have living space for workers to maintain extended hours during this busy reconstruction period. The project was proposed to the Dhi Qar PRT and approved by the provincial government.

Hadir Bashitt, a worker on the site, guided the Army engineer assigned to the project, 1st. Lt. Paul Goode, around the newly laid foundation for the building.

The structure will serve as an example of the types of bricks while operating as the center for selling these bricks for other city construction, Bashitt said.

It is the age-old virtue of doing more with less and making a lasting impact.

Hadir described how the word has already reached the outskirts of town without any advertising. However, he did mention they are constructing a sign to put on the road in case anyone hasn’t heard.

DVIDS
Story by Capt. John Landry

The Ziggurat of Ur towers of Contingency Operating Base Adder during a flyover of Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq, Sept. 19. The flight in an AH-60 Blackhawk helicopter was scheduled to provide Iraqi reporters with an opportunity to get aerial shots of the province. Photo by Spc. Gavriel Bar-Tzur

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