In 2021, Studio Lauria joined Zaha Hadid Architects in the international competition promoted by UNESCO for the restoration, reconstruction and extension of the Al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. Severely damaged in 2017 during the war against ISIS, the complex is a fundamental religious, historic and civic landmark for the city.
The project covered approximately 6,200 square metres and extended beyond the reconstruction of the sacred building itself. It also addressed the relationship between the mosque, collective spaces and the surrounding urban fabric, with the aim of contributing to the area’s social and cultural rebirth.
Studio Lauria supported Zaha Hadid Architects in defining the master plan and urban-recovery strategies, before focusing on the design of the mosque. The practice’s experience in heritage restoration was applied to a context in which reconstruction also meant reassembling a shared memory.
The proposal sought a balance between the recognisable character of the original architecture, liturgical requirements, safety and new community functions. Rather than simply reproducing what had been lost, the design aimed to restore continuity to the place, making architecture a tool for resilience, dialogue and reconciliation. A challenging international and multidisciplinary collaboration integrated design, urbanism and restoration skills.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
