The document discusses the work of architects Perry King Neubauer and Michael Gebhart at The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in the Middle East from the 1950s through the 1980s. It describes some of TAC's major projects during this period, including master plans for cities and universities in Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad. Specific projects discussed include the National Library in Abu Dhabi, the US Embassy in Cairo, and the Grand Hotel Bernardin in Yugoslavia. The document notes that TAC's work in the region was threatened after the Gulf War and Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, but that their influence is now recognized through exhibitions and research on endangered architecture.

1. Boston Society of Architects
GLOBAL ARCHITECTS
PAST FUTURES
A discussion with
Perry King Neubauer FAIA
Michael Gebhart FAIA
On their experience in working abroad in the 1970’s and
80’s
with Deborah Bentley RIBA
10th June 2017Transition I Space

2. TAC ABROAD: THE EARLY YEARS
BAGHDAD : 1957
The Rome office mainly dealt
with projects in N. Africa.
Masterplan fee proposal for Libya
university. ( 1961)
ROME : 1959 KUWAIT 1968
Image MIT Dome
Kuwait Fund for Arab
Development (1968-74) with
PACE
WTD Magazine Spring 2013
TAC were asked to design
Bagdad University (without
competitive bid.)
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3. 1971-74:
YUGOSLAVIA
Hotel Bernardin
$24 million resort
and Convention
Center was partially
funded by the
World Bank.
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Perry
King
Neubauer

4. Grand Hotel Bernardin, designed to lie against
the cliff was a precursor to the TAC
Intercontinental Hotel in Sharjah (1980)
Hotel Port Bernardin
Hotel Bernardin
1971-74
The ground floor was as
designed to be transparent so
you could see the sea.
Transition I Space
Perry
King
Neubauer
Perry
King
Neubauer

5. 1976-78: NEW SAUDI
CITIES :JUBAIL (EAST COAST)
In 1976 Bechtel received a 20 year $45 billion
contract to manage the development of Jubail. The
city was master-planned by TAC as a subcontractor
to Bechtel .
MIT Dome
Perry
King
Neubauer
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6. 1974: NEW
SAUDI CITIES
YANBU
(RED SEA)
“The overall urban
design concept is to
ensure that privacy for
individual dwellings is
maintained while
providing convenient
access to community
facilities. Private, semi-
public, and public areas
are created by
grouping the villas,
townhouses, and the
apartments around
common access points.
This housing fabric is
linked to the mosque
and other activity
centers by narrow and
shaded pedestrian
ways and an
unobtrusive vehicular
network.”Archnet : Aga Khan
Google Earth 2016
Perry
King
Neubauer
Designed to be “livable cities”
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7. Design Guide for Jubail and Yanba
Traditional Domestic
Architecture of the Arab Region
Friedrich Ragette
These are design guidelines for the design of the new cities.
This is vey similar to Foster + Partners approach at Masdar City in the UAE. Transition I Space

8. YANBU
Recording and learning
from historic buildings
New home in
Yanbu
Checking precast
concrete
production MIT DomeMIT Dome
MIT Dome
Perry King Neubauer
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9. 1974-81
National Library: Abu Dhabi
Old and New Houses in Abu Dhabi
1975
Competition for a Cultural
Center and National Library
in the heart of the new city
Site analysis submitted in January 1975
MIT Dome
MIT Dome
Perry King Neubauer
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10. National Library:
Abu Dhabi
1974 Competition submission.
TAC were awarded the commission.
In the first scheme TAC were asked to
redesign the cross shaped plan.
in the second scheme the design was
simplified into one building and the cut
in the building to frame the view of
the fort was added.
1975 Developed
scheme, the
elevations were
then simplified
panels with
openings.
Perry King Neubauer
Perry King
Neubauer
2nd scheme illustrations by Michael Gebhart
2nd scheme illustrations by Michael Gebhart
Original Site Plan
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11. National Library:
Abu Dhabi
There were only
45
Sheets of
construction
drawings for the
whole project.
Construction supervision was essential to the
To ensure the details were constructed as
designed
Perry King Neubauer
MIT Dome
MIT Dome

12. National Library:
Abu Dhabi
It is now being
carefully renovated,
after being
threatened with
demolition in 2009.
The most beloved building in the city
2014 Deborah Bentley 2014 Deborah BentleyTransition I Space

13. 1985- 87: Cairo
The Egyptian Museum Project 1985. (Not Built)
The Chancery at the
US Embassy 1987.
Watercolor by Frank Costantino
Princeton Alumni Magazine
Perry King Neubauer
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14. 1978-89: Return to Baghdad
University of Bagdad
Khulafa Street Revitalization Masterplan.
The project slowly came to a halt due to non
payment of fees in hard currency. Perry King Neubauer
MIT Dome
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15. 2nd August 1990
Iraq invades Kuwait
Al Wataniyah Souk after the invasion
TAC was working on projects in conjunction
with local architects. The direct losses from
the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 ran to
about $2 million
Public Authority
for Information
completed 1992
with PACE
College of Engineering TAC with Zamami & Jedda submitted in
1990
Michael Gebhart
Michael Gebhart
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16. The Middle East After TAC
Michael in Kuwait in
1995
Michael Gebhart
The Prime
Minister’s
residence at
Jibbah
Island
Bahrain.
PACE offices: competition
win for a project in Abu
Dhabi. (Unbuilt)
Michael Gebhart Michael Gebhart
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17. TAC Buildings under threat
University research programs raise awareness.
2009 :The model of the new
development on the site of the cultural
center
LWF Workshops 2014: Run to raise awareness of
The importance of architectural heritage.
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18. Venice Biennale 2014 : Fundamentals
UAE Pavilion: The National Library Abu Dhabi. USA Pavilion: Had many of TAC ‘s projects displayed
2014 Deborah Bentley2014 Deborah Bentley
The influence of TAC’s portfolio of work in the Middle East is recognized internationally.
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