Reconciling Globalization and Localization in developing the Architectural Heritage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.421.3820

Keywords:

Globalization, Localization, Architectural Heritage, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of Globalization and Localization on architectural design evident in the unprecedented building boom in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the relationship between such impact and its influence on the Architecture of these new developments. To date, although research on the stunning architecture in UAE has focused on several aspects, much of the attention has been paid to the descriptions of the mega projects in the contexts of its historical development, documentation of the new developments, and discourse on the role and function of these new developments in relation to social aspects. In contrast, this study aimed to determine: the impact of the coexistence of these forces of change on the built environment in UAE in order to understand the impact of Globalization and Localization, and the rise of Traditionalism and Modernism during this transformation process. This research adopted a multi-disciplinary logic of inquiry combining the interpretivist and structuralist paradigms in association with a framework incorporating both semiotics and hermeneutics, in order to interpret the Star Architects’ intentions and associated actions during the creation of these structures. Research data were collected from archival records, books and various electronic sources. Data analysis revealed that there is a dialectic relationship between Globalization and the design of these stunning developments in UAE. This paper therefore, can offer new insights, which is likely to add to knowledge in this field by widening and strengthening the understanding of Globalization, Localization and architectural historical theory in UAE.  

Author Biographies

Tareef Hayat Khan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Department of Architecture,

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,

81310 Johor,

Malaysia

Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi

Professor,

School of Architecture and Built Environment,

University College Sedaya International (UCSI),

Malaysia

References

Heard, B, F. (1982). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates: A Society in Transition. London: Longman.

Mitchell, G. (1978). The Architecture of the Islamic World. London: Thames and Hudson.

Bosse, C. (2007). “The injection of building culture into the construction boom: new architecture in Dubai”, A+U: architecture and urbanism. 86- 95.

Longrigg, S. (2008). “The Liquid Gold of Arabia”. Journal of the Royal Central Asian Society. 36: 20-33.

Damluji, S. S. (2006). The architecture of United Arab Emirates. (1th ed.) UK: Garnet publishing.

Lorimer, J. G. (2010). Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia. 11: 14-31.

Hakim, B. S. (1986). Arabic-Islamic Cities: building and planning principles. London: Kegan paul International.

Davidson, C. (2007). The emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Contrasting roles in the international system. 38 (1): 33-48.

Besim, H, S. (1986). Arabic-Islamic Cities: Building and Planning Principles. London: Kegan Paul International.

Damaljui, S.S. (2006). The Architecture of United Arab Emirates. UK: Garnet Publishing

Heard- Bey, F. (2005). From Trucial states to United Arab Emirates. UAE: Motivate Pub.

Kay, S., and Zandi, D. (1991). Architectural Heritage of the Gulf, Arabian Heritage Series. Dubai and London: Motivate Publishing.

Al Ayn Municipality and Town planning Department. (1997). Nations in Bloom 1997. Abu Dhabi: Governments of Abu Dhabi.

Ibraim, A. ,Vine,P and Hellyer,P. (2008). United Arab Emirates Yearbook 2008, London: Trident Press.

Newman, P and Thronley, A. (2005). Planning world Cities: Globalization and Urban Politics. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.

Khattab, O. (2001). Globalization versus Localization: Contemporary architecture and the Arab City.

Amin, A. (2000). The economic base of contemporary cities. In G. Bridge & S. Watson (Eds.), A companion to the city. Oxford : Blackwell.

Bergeron, L., and Maiullari- Pontois, M. T. (2000). Industry, Architecture, and Engineering: American Ingenuity, 1750-1950. New York: Harry N. Abrams.

Ibelings, H. (1998). Supermodernism: Architecture in the Age of Globalization. Rotterdam: NAI Publisher.

Acuto, M. (2010). High-rise Dubai urban entrepreneurialism and the technology of symbolic power Michele Acuto. Cities, 27(4): 72-284.

Suisse (2008). Abu Dhabi real estate mimeo. Abu Dhabi.

Elsheshtawy, Y. (2008). Cities and sand and Fog: Abu Dhabi’s global ambition. London and New York: Routledge. 258-304.

Ponzini, D. (2011). Large Scale development projects and star architecture in the absence of democratic politics. The Case of Abu Dhabi (UAE). Italy: Department of Architecture and planning.

Ardalan, N. (1997). “Innovation and Tradition”, Arts and the Islamic World, No. 23: Architecture, Archeology and the Arts in the United Arab Emirates.

UPC (Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council). (2007). Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan. Mimeo. Abu Dhabi.

Bellini, O, E., and Daglio, L. (2010). New Frontiers in Architecture the United Arab Emirates Between vision and Reality. Vercelli: White Star.

Fiske, J. (1994). Audiencing: Cultural Practice and Cultural Studies. In Denzin N.K., and Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Leeuwen, T. V. (2005). Introducing Social Semiotics. London: Routledge.

Saussure, F. (1966). Course in General Linguistics. New York, Toronto, London: McGraw-Hill book company.

Barthes, R. (1985). The Semiotic Challenge. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Chandler, D. (2002). Semiotic: The Basic. London: Routledge.

Gottdiener, M. (1995). Post Modern Semiotic: Material Culture and the forms of postmodern life. U.K: Blackwell.

Gottdiener, M. (2003). Recapturing the Center: A Semiotic Analysis of Shopping Malls” in designing cities. In Cuthbert, A. (Ed). Critical Readings in urban design. U.K: Blackwell Publisher.

Fernando, L. (2001). Popular Modernism: An analysis of the Acceptance of Modern Architecture in 1950s Brazil. Doctor Philosophy, University of Michigan.

Johnson, A. G. (2000). The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology: A user’s Guide to Sociological Language. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.

Schlieiermacher, F. (1998). Schleiermacher: Her, enutica and Criticism: and other writings. USA: Cambridge University Press.

Guba, E. G., and Lincoln, Y. S. (1998). “Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research”. In Denzin N.K., and Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.) Landscape of Qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication.

Carruthers, K. D. D. B. (1986). Architecture is Space: The Space Positive Traditions. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

Downloads

Published

2017-11-12

How to Cite

Atry, S. D. B., Khan, T. H., & Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi, M. (2017). Reconciling Globalization and Localization in developing the Architectural Heritage of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 4(21). https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.421.3820