Saturday 6 August 2011

Dubai Architecture


Dubai is a modern city, go back to 1966 before oil was discovered and there were only nomads in the desert and some pearl fishermen on the coast. In fact the emirate did not even have their own currency, but instead relied on the Gulf Rupee which was actually issued by the Government of India.

The expansion of the Emirate, and the construction boom which is unparalleled in modern human history led to a truly futuristic city with an amazing skyline. But the financial crisis has left its mark with many partially completed projected obscuring the landscape.

Close to where I live in Business Bay I can see many towers of all shapes and sizes in the process of completion or even abandonment. Some of the designs are fascinating, others are completely weird. Surely the architects must have been on drugs to come up with some of these buildings.

I’d love to see the expression on the face of Prince Charles if some of these towers graced the London skyline, given his withering hatred of modern architecture. Actually having seen some of the wild and wacky building designs in Dubai I’m becoming a little sympathetic to the Prince.



Buildings in photo
Prism tower $70m project & looks like a prism with a helipad on top.
Iris Bay – oval shaped construction, looks like a crescent moon
One business bay – wedge shaped with increasing floor area as the building rises