One thing is striking: An AMERICAN (I ssume) says thatcity built for driving. I am afraid to even imagine when a guyfrom have-a-car-or-starve-because-of-no-foodstores-in-walkable -distance country make such statatements, what a place it is.
Dubai: How not to build a city
21–28 of 28 posts
Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but those immigrants had a better life and more opportunity in America than their homeland. They came and stayed voluntarily.
I don't really know the details of Dubai's labor situation, but aren't they also there voluntarily? I know laws are different in the Middle East, but I thought slavery was still illegal in the UAE.
Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#23Wasn't it just a year ago that Dubai was held up as a shining example of modernity in the Arab world? The future of cities in this interlocking global economy? Its reliance on tourism and finance was lauded because everyone knew that oil in the Persian Gulf would eventually run out. And a lot of people I know wanted to go to Dubai (my sister actually wanted to be spend a year working overseas there) just to check it…
Should Dubai fall into ruin, it will serve as a powerful weapon in the hands of those that oppose a secular society in the Middle East. Dubai should be a lesson we learn from, but not at the expense of positive modernization.
Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#24Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah. I read them and occasionally re-read them when I start thinking that the explanation for WTF these stories make it to the front page might be that the criteria have changed.
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Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
our icons of today are our counter-examples of tomorrow. Moreover I think the list of counter-examples bout cities is full, thank you everybody: Brasilia, Valparaiso, Paris, New York, Tokyo, etc., now Dubai. Maybe now is time to resurrect Christopher Alexander's spirit (I just checked, he is medically alive) and look at what is good and why it's good.
not sure I understand the comparison between Paris/NY/Tokyo and Dubai...?
Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#27Wasn't it just a year ago that Dubai was held up as a shining example of modernity in the Arab world? The future of cities in this interlocking global economy? Its reliance on tourism and finance was lauded because everyone knew that oil in the Persian Gulf would eventually run out. And a lot of people I know wanted to go to Dubai (my sister actually wanted to be spend a year working overseas there) just to check it…
For me, the city looks like if they were trying to build already complete adult human, then turn it on and hope it will live, without having to be born and then grow up to that form. Which is something I'm quite afraid of, because it usually works badly.
Re: Dubai: How not to build a city
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but those immigrants had a better life and more opportunity in America than their homeland. They came and stayed voluntarily.
I don't really know the details of Dubai's labor situation, but aren't they also there voluntarily? I know laws are different in the Middle East, but I thought slavery was still illegal in the UAE.