The Madan Reed Housing

The Ma’dan people, or Marsh Arabs as they are sometimes known, inhabit the marshlands at the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq. Around the marshes grow a substantial amount of reeds that the Ma’dan use to build with; wrapping them in bundles to create columns, arches and walls, a reed house can be erected in just 3 days. Sometimes they float on "islands" called "tuhul," and other times they are moved depending on the rising and falling water levels, re-erected in less than one day. These homes, though extremely simple in their material and construction, can last up to 25 years with proper care. Unfortunately, during the rule of Saddam Hussein the Marsh Arabs were persecuted for housing people the government regarded as terrorists or enemies of the state. The marshes were drained to the point where much of the Ma’dan population had no choice but to move in order to find adequate food, diminishing their population of half a million down to around 1,600 at the turn of the century. Over a decade later and after the fall of the regime, the dams were broken, restoring the marshes to around 50% of their original size and opening up an opportunity for the regrowth of the Ma’dan culture. 

A mudhif is a special type of sarifa; a structure made from reeds that grow naturally in the marshlands and is used by the village sheik as a guest-house.In the construction of a mudhif, reeds are bundled and woven into thick columns; larger and thicker reeds are bent across and tied to form parabolic arches which make up the building's spine. The arch radius varies between 40cm to 60cm based on the size of the Mudhif. These arches are strengthened by the pre-stressing of the columns, as they are initially inserted into the soil at opposing angles. A series of arches define the building's form. Long cross beams of smaller bundled reeds are laid across the arches and tied. Woven mats of reeds form the building envelope. Some of the mats are woven with perforations like a mesh to allow light and ventilation. The application of the woven reeds is well thought out. Other than simplistic patterns it reacts to the ventilation of the whole structure.  The pattern with a larger gap (almost open) is well-ventilated in hot summer while the weaved pattern (fully closed) may apply to several parts to protect the shades and winter wind. The intriguing point is that the façade may change throughout the year continuously.