The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity and Urban Development - Introduction

Architecture in the Middle East 0690-421 Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

The Evolving Arab City
The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity and Urban Development
Editor - Yasser Elsheshtawy
Chapter 1: 1. Introduction: The Great Divide: Struggling and Emerging Cities of the Arab World Pages 1-26

The Evolving Arab City Chapter 1: Introduction: The Great Divide: Struggling and Emerging Cities of the Arab World
1. Introduction: The Great Divide: Struggling and Emerging Cities of the Arab World
2. Prologue: The New Arab Metropolis
Part I: The Struggling Arab City
3. Amman : Disguised Genealogy, Recent Urban Restructuring and Neo-liberal Threats
4. From Regional Node to Backwater and Back to Uncertainty: The Refashioning of Beirut , 1943–2006
5. Rabat : From Capital to Global Metropolis
Part II: The Emerging Arab City
6. Riyadh : A City of ‘Institutional’ Architecture
7. Kuwait : Learning from a Globalized City
8. Manama : The Metamorphosis of a Gulf City
9. Rediscovering the Island: Doha ’s Urbanity from Pearls to Spectacle
10. Cities of Sand and Fog: Abu Dhabi ’s Arrival on the Global Scene
Table of Contents

The book prolongs the debate initiated by the first book by introducing critical assessments of more contemporary Middle East cities .
Introduction

This new collection reveals the contrasts and similarities between older, traditional Arab cities and the newer oil-stimulated cities of the Gulf in their search for a place in the world order .
Introduction
Older traditional Oil

In addition to the six cities covered in the first book - Algiers, Baghdad, Sana’a, Tunis, Cairo and Dubai - the eight cities which form the core of the new book – Rabat, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Manama, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh – provide a unique insight into today’s Middle East cities.
Introduction

In his introductory chapter titled “ The Great Divide: Struggling and Emerging Cities of the Arab World ”, Elsheshtawy states the aim of the book as to enrich the study of urbanism and of globalization process as an accompaniment to the earlier book .
Introduction

Do Arabs still exist?
Doom and hopelessness
Colonialism
Symbols of Arab identity
Negative stereotype:
Arabs not contributing to science, literature and the arts.
Recipients, consumers, and proponents of extremist ideologies.
Introduction

There is a growing conservatism sweeping the Arab world, even in formerly liberal and cosmopolitan cities.
Introduction

How is this related to cities?
Baghdad and Beirut: Sites of struggle and contestation
Dubai and Doha: “New Arab Metropolis” by opening up to global capital adapting western models forms and planning models.
Introduction

There is a divide in the region between newly emerging cities and the traditional centers.
Gulfication!
Dubaization!
New centers are influencing and shaping the urban form of “traditional” cities.
Introduction
Emaar Tunis - Cedar village

The Struggle
Struggle for modernity: trying to ascertain one’s place in the 21 st century.
Determining the region’s direction.
Introduction

Exclusion discussed by:
John Friedmann
Gotez Wolff
Saski Sassen
Peter Marcuse
Newtworking:
Cities are conceived as lying on a network
Level of connectivity
Global City Theory
Space of flows vs. Space of Places
(Manuel Castells)

Saki Sassen
Impact of network infrastructure on city form.
Fragmentary nature of contemporary urban structure.
Global City Theory

Marginalized Cities
Certain cities are offered as a model to which other cities must aspire to if they are to emerge from “off the map” or otherwise be marginalized!
Global City Theory
Marginalized City Global City

“ A New Middle East”!
Global City Theory

He structures the book using both geographic and socio-cultural markers .
The structure of the book
Struggling cities Emerging Cities

Struggling cities:
Rabat, Amman and Beirut are included in the first group title ” Struggling cities ” as traditional centers desiring to move away from the restrictions of the tradition and to embrace modernity.

Struggling cities :
Elsheshtawy points to the theme of the ‘ struggle ’ as cities are viewed as both recipients of modernity and at the same time a focal point for Arabic-Islamic identity .

Emerging Cities:
Cities from the Arabian Peninsula: Riyadh, Manama, Kuwait, Doha and Abu Dhabi are included in the second group titled “ Emerging Cities ” .

Emerging Cities:
Cities in the Arabian Gulf region are eager to reassert themselves as world cities and not mere producers and exporters of oil .

Riyadh, Kuwait and Manama are reintroducing themselves as regional capital and investment centers , while Doha and Abu Dhabi are emerging as global educational and cultural centers .

The Arab city is undergoing massive urban transformation comparable to changes that took place during the 20 th century, while they were under foreign occupation or protection .
However this time changes are fuelled by globalization and global capital .
Emerging Themes

Furthermore, the impact of Dubai – Dubaization!- is quite strong as Dubai’ ‘daily’ successes are being envied by other cities.
Emerging Themes

Moments of change
Rupture
Change in cities urban form
Local and external elements
Emerging Themes

Gap between GCC and the rest of the Arab world.
Economic growth and development
GCC population = 37 M in 2006 – 12% of Arab Population
GCC economy = US$ 1.25 trillion – 55% of Arab World
GCC 1995 per capita income = US$ 8,500 – 7.3 of Arab Countries
GCC 2006 per capita income = US$ 19,300 – 10.4 of Arab Countries
Qatar per capita income = US$ 63,000
UAE per capita income = US$ 38,000
Emerging Themes: The Great Divide

In his prologue to the chapters titled “The New Arab Metropolis”, Fuad Malkawi calls for a new research agenda pertaining to Arab cities .
He notes the absence of the Arab city from global city literature .
Fuad Malkawi

He argues that “ no city should be viewed in isolation or as part of some global network; in their globalizing efforts they interact with a variety of forces at different scale and levels, simultaneously guiding and shaping their development .”
Fuad Malkawi

Jamila Baragach’s chapter on Rabat titled “ From Capital to Global Metropolis ” describes the role of the ‘ State ’ in constructing housing environments and the experiences of residents within these constructed environments illustrating the ‘ clash ’ between state policies and citizens .
Rabat

Sofia Shwayri’s chapter titled “ From Regional Node to Backwater and Back to Uncertainty: Beirut, 1943–2006 ” shows the role of both ‘ local and global’ actors in the reconstruction process of Beirut .
Beirut

A devastated street in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War

Down Town Beirut.

Banks Street in Down Town Beirut

In his chapter titled “ Amman: Disguised Genealogy and Recent Urban Restructuring and Neoliberal Threats ” , Rami Daher discusses the impact of global capital on Amman’s urban development focusing on Abdali project , modeled after Beirut’s Solider, as a case study.
Amman

The massive Abdali Downtown development in Amman, Jordan was launched in June 2003 with the goal of creating a vibrant central business and residential district to catapult the city into the 21st century. Although the project is still in its construction phase, early signs indicate that it is well on its way to meeting its objectives.

In his chapter titled “ Riyadh: A City of ‘Institutional’ Architecture ”, Al-Naim provides a critical insider’s account of Riyadh – a city rarely written about.
Introduction

He introduces this state capital as a ‘ city of institutional architecture ’ projecting an image that is resisting modernization while at the same time providing an alternative .
Introduction

King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives 1996-1999

King Abdullah Financial District

Riyadh business park

Sport City Riyadh

Yasser Mahgoub’s chapter on Kuwait titled “ Kuwait: Learning from a Globalized City ” provides an overview of this cities’ development and the impact of global economics, politics and regional conflicts on its development.
Introduction

As one of the early cities to modernize in the Gulf during the middle of the 20th century, Kuwait is experiencing a second wave of modernization following major setbacks during the 1990’s .
Introduction

The chapter introduces the voices of local architects and the struggle to regain Kuwait’s lost position in the region .
Introduction

Adopting a planning perspective, Mustapha Ben Hamouche’s chapter on Manama titled “ Manama: The Metamorphosis of a Gulf City ” provides a unique account of the first city in the Gulf to encounter the depletion of oil economy.
Introduction

He identifies three modes of urbanism that characterized its growth and their impact on its urban form.
The city is remerging as financial hub through new projects such as the Bahrain Financial Harbour .
Introduction

Hamouche advocates a policy of preservation for the ‘dying heart of the old city’ that is degrading under the influence of new developments and rapid urbanism of globalization .
Introduction

Khaled Adham’s chapter on Doha titled “ Rediscovering the Island: Doha’s Urbanity from Pearls to Spectacle ” provides an analysis of a city that is emerging as a global center for media, education, culture and finance.
Introduction

‘ Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’
‘ Pearl Island’ reclamation project ,
180 high rises of the West Bay area
I.M.Pei Islamic museum project .
Introduction

I.M. Pei Designed Museum of Islamic Art to Open in Qatar, November 2008

In his chapter on Abu Dhabi titled “ Cities of Sand and Fog: Abu Dhabi’s Arrival on the Global Scene ”, Elsheshtawy illustrates this city new global orientation through the spectacular development of Saadiyat Island – which will house four museums and performance centers designed by word top ‘ starchitects ’ – Gehry, Hadid, Nouvel and Ando .
Introduction

He raises significant issues related to social sustainability , the role of capital in creating spaces of exclusion , and the role of museums and art in a globalizing world .
Introduction

By using the symbols of Arab/Islamic architecture these new cities are projecting themselves as the new centers of the region.
Concluding Thoughts

Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi

The chosen symbols suggest power , a new hegemonic condition.
They are not ‘ tribes with flags ’ anymore.
Concluding Thoughts

Muscat
While being part of the GCC, has adopted a different mode of development. It still retains its traditional cityscape, its growth is measured and sustainable.
Concluding Thoughts

Artificial neo-Islamic symbols of power should not deflect our attention from the intimate scale of our old markets .
Concluding Thoughts

The Great Divide in the Arab World !
(Is there is still an “Arab World”?!)
The poor are driven out to invisible labor camps.
The city is designed for the rich and powerful .
Concluding Thoughts

Dubaization!
The increasing presence of Dubai’s real-estate companies in the Arab world’s major centers.
Concluding Thoughts
Emaar Misr - Uptown Cairo Emaar Middle East - Jeddah Gate Emaar Tunis - Cedar village

Inequality
The great rift in the Arab World and the extent to which this is negatively affecting socio-cultural sustainability among other things.
Concluding Thoughts

Arabs don’t exist anymore!
With regard to cities, Arabs are simply hapless recipients of modernism .
Officials in the Gulf are turning towards western architects and planners to plan, design, form and shape their cities .
Concluding Thoughts

Arabs don’t exist anymore!
The “ New Middle East ” is based on Western conceptions of what our cities should look like.
Arabs have disappeared from contributing to the design of their built environment .
Concluding Thoughts
? ?

Signs of new urbanity .
The emergence of a ‘ new Arab metropolis ’.
Growing presence of civic institutions which are effectively beginning to question authorities and planners .
Concluding Thoughts

Arab architects and planners need to take advantage of this unique ‘ global moment ‘ and begin to adopt a view that unshackles us from the heavy burden of the past and embraces modernity.
Concluding Thoughts

We do exist after all !!!
Concluding Thoughts

This book and its predecessor provide unique insiders’ accounts of Middle Eastern cities’ development and current state of globalization .
The stories reveal the struggles of these cities to retain their Arab/Islamic identities while emerging as global cities .
Epilogue

Other cities that can provide even a greater insight into the struggle are still absent from the spectrum – Jerusalem, Damascus, Khartoum, Mecca, Jeddah, Tripoli and Masqat .
Epilogue

The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity and Urban Development - Introduction

by Yasser Mahgoub

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