Baghdad, Iraq
Baghdad International
A new destination for a recovering Baghdad.
Client: Eagle Hills, EX Development
Collaborators: Verform, Design & More, Eggink Designs
Year: 2023
Project Size: 234 hectares
Service: Technical Masterplanning
Expertise: Urban Economics, Strategic Planning, Mobility, Utility Infrastructure, Drainage and Surface Water Management
Baghdad International is one of the first large-scale developments in Baghdad to be progressed by an international developer, representing significant inward investment into Iraq's recovery. Located adjacent to Baghdad International Airport, the 234-hectare project provides high-quality, secure housing for business people, diplomatic workers, and globally-connected Iraqis—a residential offer essential to attracting talent and investment back to the country. The masterplan includes what will be only the second golf course in Iraq. Homa provided technical masterplanning services to Verform as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering the concept masterplan for Eagle Hills and EX Development (a subsidiary of Emaar).
Homa's economics and development modelling work was critical to shaping the project outcome. With the original brief focused on golf-based residential product, Homa's analysis identified the opportunity for a mixed-use town centre and a more diverse product mix including villas, townhouses, and apartments. Development modelling rapidly iterated scenarios and established target development quantum for the overall site and its thirteen residential neighbourhoods, including golf, downtown, and canal districts. Homa worked closely with the urban design team to develop an integrated land use and mobility strategy for the site, and established plot-scale development controls.
The infrastructure strategy addressed the demands of a large-scale development in an arid climate, prioritising resilience and resource efficiency. On-site potable water storage provides supply security, while the irrigation strategy maximises treated sewage effluent reuse—modelling demonstrated that at typical occupancy levels the development could meet all irrigation demand, including for the golf course, from on-site TSE generation. Stormwater management based on water-sensitive urban design principles ensures runoff is treated before discharge, protecting water quality in the canals that are central to the masterplan's landscape and public realm.
