"Sustainable architecture" in wetlands: Experimental approaches to design of eco-tourism sites in wetlands area of Southern Iraq

The Academy of Architecture and Arts of Southern Federal University, 344007 Rostov-on-Don, Russia

^* Corresponding author: ali.alsamawetli@gmail.com

Abstract

The aim of the study is to develop experimental approaches, as well as adaptive volumetric-spatial and functional-planning models of tourist complexes that contribute to the formation of "sustainable tourism" in the wetlands of Southern Iraq. The methodological basis for architectural shaping of tourism objects integrated into the wetland landscape on the basis of taking into account natural and anthropogenic factors is formed. The design of "sustainable architecture" of tourist complexes is proposed on the basis of "coordination" of planning, architectural-spatial and visual characteristics of the object and the natural context. Characteristic "types" of ecosystems in the wetlands of southern Iraq are systematised, distinguishing between cultural, degraded, and preserved natural wetland landscapes. For each type of wetland ecosystem, a set of author's conceptual approaches and adaptive architectural, planning and visual models of ecotourism sites in the context of "sustainable" architecture is proposed.