Digitally aided documentation and analysis of historic Iraqi architecture: 20th-century transformations of the Abbasid Palace and the Mustansiriya Madrasa in Baghdad

This research investigates the 20th-century restoration process of two significant historical buildings: the Abbasid Palace and the Mustansiriya Madrasa in Baghdad, Iraq. Both buildings are examples of the late Abbasid architecture, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, and were extensively reconstructed during the 20th century to restore their former grandeur. The aim of this study is to explore how the restoration of these sites reflects Iraq’s approach to heritage preservation. Existing literature suggests a relationship between the two sites, and this research aims to test this proposition. To document and analyse these two historic Iraqi buildings, a combination of historical and digital methods is used. Historical research includes archival materials and secondary literature on medieval Baghdad and 20th-century heritage practices. Digital technologies, including laser scanning, photogrammetry, and three-dimensional modelling, with their ability to document, interpret, analyse and disseminate data, are used as methods to enhance the investigation of these issues. This study, therefore, explores the intersection of 20th-century restoration practices, design evolution, and technological advances within a historical architectural context. Combining historical records and digital documentation enables a thorough examination of the two buildings’ current states and untangles their complex historical transformations. Digital models are used to visualise the individual buildings’ historical phases from their origins to the present, with a focus on 20th-century interventions. Using advanced digital surveying and virtual reconstruction here, we can better understand the buildings’ significant phases and changes, as well as distinguish between original and reconstructed parts. Following individual studies of the two buildings, a comparative analysis reveals a shared architectural styles and elements, particularly the use of pointed arches. The research highlights the preservation of early 13th-century arches in the Mustansiriya Madrasa and their replication in the Abbasid Palace. This design transfer underscores a restoration strategy where surviving elements informed reconstruction at both sites. The findings demonstrate continuity in architectural style and practice, and how these shaped approaches to Iraq’s heritage restoration. xxi By integrating historical records with modern digital analysis, this study contributes to architectural history and the field of architectural conservation. The outcomes highlight the potential of digital tools to provide detailed and accurate documentation that enhances and enriches our understanding of historical architectural practices, specifically within the context of Iraq’s built heritage.