Architecture in the United Arab Emirates

Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

 

Conclusions

As in more familiar exercises in close reading, ocan start anywhere in a culture’s repertoire of forms and end up anywhere else.
The study of architecture in the United Arab Emirates revealed the impact of changing economic wealth on cultural and social aspects which, in turn, influenced the shape of the built-environment. Advanced construction technology, modern building materials, imported expertise and economic wealth all contributed to the rapid change in architecture. Above all, the desire to follow the western path of progress and development was the main factor for change. For years, traditional architecture was regarded as backward and undesirable. Recently, a consciousness of the importance of heritage and traditions was ignited by His Highness Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan instructions to recognize the historical past of the United Arab Emirates.
 
New Buildings Imitating Traditional Style

A new trend to utilize the architectural heritage of the past is encouraged in all aspects of culture. International and local consultants in the field of architecture are struggling to design modern buildings using vernacular architecture features and elements borrowed from historical buildings. The use of courtyards, small openings and Barajeel is combined with air-condition, escalators, reflected glass and high rise buildings. Most of the buildings are not reflecting the culture of UAE, they are merely imitations of traditional architecture without essence.

Rapid culture change enables one to identify core versus peripheral elements, those elements changing rapidly versus those remaining relatively constant.

The impact of rapidly changing technological and economic systems is evident in the case of UAE architecture. Also, the interrelationship between social and cultural change and architecture is manifested in buildings and environments being developed in the region.

Loss of Architectural Identity in the UAE

The UAE is experiencing a construction boom that is rapidly changing the surrounding environment. There is a loss of identity in architecture and the built environment which are produced to satisfy technological advancement and profit making purposes. Some efforts are being made to produce architecture related to the area and needs of the society. Western ideas of architecture are being imported to satisfy desired images of progress and development.
There is a danger in applying Western concepts, which represent only one choice among the many possible, to the problems of other areas, instead of looking at them in terms of local way of life, specific needs, and ways of doing things.
Air-conditioned, glass covered buildings and architecture styles borrowed from other parts of the world are used by architects in the design of new buildings. The use of latest construction technology and materials is unchallenged. This trend results architecture that has no identity or relation to the context in which it is being built. The issues of identity and heritage should be stressed. This is important because the impact of what is built is not only limited to the living generations but also to the future generations of this country.
Architecture must relate to the needs of society- dynamic and confident architecture being produced by dynamic and confident societies, whereas uncertain or decadent societies have their characteristics in what they build. Now that we have the wealth, technology, means of communication and transpiration to build almost anything almost anywhere- not an entirely beneficial state of affairs- perhaps the major challenge facing architecture at the turn of the century is one of identity.
Also, a cheap imitation of traditional architecture is not a desirable trend. Many foreign architects resort to producing architecture with elements and features extracted from vernacular architecture to satisfy the growing need for identity and character in new buildings.
The search for identity in the countries of the Third World borders on a search for the impossible. The obstacles and counter forces against it are gigantic, and the gap between the industrially developed nations and those which are not is increasing. While the chasm between the rich and the poor grows wider in all countries, and world destruction becomes a threat, cultural identity becomes a necessity for survival not only in the Third World, but in the entire world.
Many examples are worth examination and contemplation in the rapidly growing building stock. Most of what is being built imitates architectural styles elsewhere. Because of the limited number of historical buildings in the area, very few historical examples are being studied. The dilemma is not an easy one, and it is not limited to the UAE or the Gulf region.
The enormous pressures to build, and the inappropriate cultural and social images being transmitted from the West, are occurring at a time when Third World countries are struggling to redefine and reestablish their national identities after long periods of foreign domination, and in some instances, lingering hegemony. The architectural acid rain fallout from First World design games and their attendant technology is the last thing these countries need.
Identity should not be imposed on architecture, rather identity should be a natural product of consciousness and deliberate search. Architecture reflects the time and the way of thinking of a society.
It is, therefore, not just the use of appropriate materials or local building techniques, or the re-evaluation of traditional devices for cooling and ventilation which have to be preserved, it is the identity of a people which has to be reestablished in order to overcome the exploitation and the cultural neocolonialism which plays such a great role in contemporary Third World economics.
Identity is a process of self understanding and self actualization. It relates the past to the future through a changing present. The question should not be about what we are but what we want to be.
There is no immediate hope for solutions of even the most urgent problems in the Third World architecture. It will probably take generations to overcome the existing obstacles which, beyond the physical, remain in the old line of colonial thinking.
Generalized and borrowed models of planning and design that are blindly applied are doing more harm than good to societies and cultures of Third World countries. In all aspects of life, imitating foreign ways of living is a constant threat to Third World ways of living. It is not that people should be denied access to technology and easier ways of life. It is certainly hoped that every human being can have the opportunity to live the best possible life. However, as we all might know, technology and modern ways of life are applied and adopted all around the world without sufficient knowledge of how they work. Most of the Third World countries are introduced to technological innovations from the western world. These innovations were not part of their life. These situations could result in all countries adopting a more western way of life and the world becoming more homogenized and unified.
Ironically, vernacular lifeworlds are all but destroyed as we begin to realize their significant value is helping us to understand better who we ourselves are.
The disappearance of distinctive and unique cultures and ways of living from the face of the earth is not beneficial for the human species as a whole. On the contrary, we can enjoy life more by having these distinct cultures around us.
Architecture is part of a social reality of a group of people who live and experience it. Architecture should be responsive to cultural values and architects should worry about whether their creations cater to cultural values or do architects have a mandate for designing buildings in which the important issues are structure, cost, form, texture, materials, beauty and the like.
We seem to be entering a post-stylistic age, where architecture is having to respond to the context and culture of a place, and where architects are having to work increasiwithin local vernaculars.

Architectural Style in the UAE

In his book Architecture without Architects, Rudofsky commented, "There is much to learn from architecture before it became an expert's art."
The physical configuration of the environment around us is just one aspect of our perception and experience of the environment. Another, and more important, aspect is the taken for granted meaning of the environment which is part of our social and cultural upbringing. Other people around us, or the society, and its way of thinking and view of the world, or culture, play a more important role in how we understand and perceive the environment around us. Instead of following the traditional method of researching architecture from the architects' point of view, we should look for the social and cultural meanings of architecture in the daily life experiences of community and people in order to understand their experience with architecture and environments.
The enormous pressures to build, and the inappropriate cultural and social images being transmitted from the West, are occurring at a time when Third World countries are struggling to redefine and reestablish their national identities after long periods of foreign domination, and in some instances, lingering hegemony. The architectural acid rain fallout from First World design games and their attendant technology is the last thing these countries need.
Identity is a process of self understanding and self actualization. It relates the past to the future through a changpresent. The question should not be about what we are but what we want to be. We should not try to impose identity on architecture. Architecture reflects the identity of the time and the way of thinking of the society.
It is, therefore, not just the use of appropriate materials or local building techniques, or the re-evaluation of traditional devices for cooling and ventilation which have to be preserved, it is the identity of a people which has to be reestablished in order to overcome the exploitation and the cultural neocolonialism which plays such a great role in contemporary Third World economics. There is no immediate hope for solutions of even the most urgent problems in the Third World architecture. It will probably take generations to overcome the existing obstacles which, beyond the physical, remain in the old line of colonial thinking.
Generalized and borrowed models of planning and design which are blindly applied are doing more harm than good to societies and cultures of Third World countries. In all aspects of life, imitating foreign ways of living is a constant threat to Third World ways of living. It is not that people should be denied access to technology and easier ways of life. However, as we all might know, technology and modern ways of life are applied and adopted all around the world without sufficient knowledge of how they work. Most of the Third World countries are introduced to technological innovations from the western world. These innovations were not part of their life. This situations could result in all countries adopting a more western way of life and the world becoming more homogenized and unified. The disappearance of distinctive and unique cultures and ways of living from the face of the earth is not beneficial for the human species as a whole. On the contrary, we can enjoy life more by having these distinct cultures around us.

The Future of Architecture in the UAE

There is a growing public consciousness of the impact of the rapid social and cultural change on architecture. Evident is the break of cultural continuity between old and new architecture. Also, the loss of identity in the built environment is experienced in all major cities of the UAE.
Architecture should reflect meaningfully all aspects of the society’s past-present-future. There is a need to introduce architecture that respects the environment, the people, and reflect the identity of the place.
What to do
The architectural heritage of the country suffered many losses and degradation during the last twenty years. Preservation of architectural heritage is very critical especially that the remaining buildings deteriorating rapidly. It is not sufficient to preserve isolated buildings. The urban patterns should be preserved for future generations to appreciate. Very few areas still retain the urban pattern of the past; i.e. Bastakia and Old Souq in Dubai.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abra area in Dubai before renovation (1995)
 
 
 
 
Abra area in Dubai after renovation (1998)
 

A meaningful use of historical elements should be stressed in new buildings. The origins and uses of these elements should be studied and careful selection should be made by governmental committees concerned with the preservation of the architectural heritage. Building regulations and planning require major revisions. They were introduced to the country amidst all this social and cultural change. An exhaustive review of their impact on the built environment should indicate areas for improvement and correct past mistakes. Change is inevitable. Every society and culture experiences change everyday. When change comes gradually, people accept it as part of their life, but when it happens rapidly it affects all aspects of the society and culture in an uncontrolled way. Architecture reflects the experience of the society.