At the end of
the 20th century, Dubai attracted internationalmedia attention as the
world sought to make sense of thecity’s extraordinary growth. Exuberant
projects such as theBurj Arab, the Burj Khalifa and the Palm Islands
attractedinvestment in dreams to transform the region. While the
globalfinancial crisis kept dreams from becoming reality, this issue ofAD
seeks to present a view of architecture and urbanism inthe United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and other states in the wider GulfCooperation Council
(GCC) at a time when greater economic stabilitypromises new beginnings.
The issue presents examples ofarchitecture that transcends preoccupation
with fabricating images,and traces the process of making contemporary
Gulf cities, frommaterial tectonics to large-scale masterplans. By
presenting thearchitecture of UAE and the Gulf within the context of
broaderregional developments and global trends, it highlights how
projectsin the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have contributed
tounprecedented urban growth, while emphasising the
continuingenvironmental challenges of building in the region. In
addition tohighlighting various sustainable initiatives intended to
counteractthese challenges, the issue also explores how computational
designand new technologies are being innovatively employed to
mitigatethe impact of arid climates.
Contributors include: Ameena
Ahmadi, Kelly Hutzell, VarkkiPallathucheril, Todd Reisz, Rami el Samahy,
Terri Meyer Boake,Jeffrey Willis.
International architects: Foster +
Partners, Frank Gehry, HOK,IM Pei, Legoretta + Legoretta, Jean
Nouvelle, Reiser + Umemoto,Allies and Morrison.
Regional architects: AGi (Kuwait), DXB.lab (UAE), X Architects(UAE).
