Architecture and Urbanism in the Middle East

Mitchell...

liberate emphasis on the external appearance of the building, epito-

mizes the search for the iconic.

The soon to be world’s tallest Burj Dubai could be viewed as a definitive
conclusion to the search for the iconic that has extended to the creation
of large-scale artificial islands and canal systems in projects such as the
trilogy of Palm islands, the World, and the Arabian Canal. However,
the announcement of Jumeira Gardens in late 2008 indicates that the
scale of projects may actually continue to increase. Occupying the site of what was one of Dubai’s more established neigh-
borhoods, Jumeira Gardens will cover an immense area and contain “one of the world’s tallest and largest buildings.”

An increasing focus on iconic statements to attract the attention of
tourists and investors has placed the emphasis on the individual build-
ing rather than on the relationship between building and urban context.
This has led to fragmentation and a lack of cohesion. Individual build-
ings are viewed as commodities and their success is determined by the
ability to attract investment rather than by contributions to creating a
cohesive urban environment.

In the early part of the 20th century, the introduction of the windtower house resulted

from the exchange of goods, ideas, and technology. Well-suited to address the climate

and context, the house type was flexible enough to be adapted to fit specific needs.

Interior spaces were scaled for human habitation and, when grouped, the houses cre-

ated an urban environment that was also humanely scaled. This part of Dubai’s past

has been obscured by the emphasis on the windtower as an iconic element.

The quest for large-scale icons has been characterized by impatience. There is lit-
tle time for design and construction, and this has impacted the quality of the built
environment. Recently, more attention has been given to labor-related issues in the
construction industry in the Gulf. To date, the focus has been on improving basic
conditions, but until those performing the work are viewed as integral rather than
dispensable, there is little chance that the quality of buildings will improve. Ulti-
mately addressing the small-scale concerns that have a fundamental effect on the way
we inhabit or experience space takes a great deal of time and effort on the part of those designing and constructing
buildings. The demand for increased speed and larger scaled projects in Dubai means that there is little investment in
design and in those responsible for the actual construction. Buildings may be sufficient for the present, but perhaps not
invested with an understanding of the past or with the time and attention necessary to secure the future.

Figure 5

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