Watch the PBS - WIDE ANGLE show that shows the process by which OMA got the commission for the design of Ras al-Khaimah, a new city in the UAE, and Snohetta the commission for its civic center.
the guy takes his architect's scale presses it on the sand they brought from the emirates, imprints the stick and says "this is the city". great concept is born to waste arab money which is controlled by few shoulder kissing regional families and their emirs.
15-20 years from now...
money shot after money shot... of course the documentary had to start with a call to prayers.
muslims are okay as long as they have money to blow.
nam, it is perhaps the cynic in me who sees it right through the snake oil sales and century old ideas of capitol building just packaged differently.
are we still relying on the formal ideas or there is something new? what good is going to really come from the emirates who use all kinds of dubius profit sharing with their subjects and rule their realm with holy shoulders.
these cities they are building high with cheap labor to play poker on the top floor, are they really new? if they are successful, will we build similar cities, let's say in arizona or somewhere in europe? do we have to be, not cynical? am i really cynical? how do you know i am cynical? maybe i am just plain upset at the hoopla.
maybe most of these sand lines drawn in norway or in some other 'burg', not helping me to see beyond the concierge and dishwasher jobs the new city will provide to local slaves. maybe i am not cynical but plain stupid.
does the emir really thinks he is going to re enact the andalusian glory as if does exists in todays world? does it apply? what makes them any different than any other speculative developer except, they don't have to check with or bribe city councils to gain permits? all those architects posing in front of the crane shot, will they do anything that enthusiastically for the everyday below poverty arab condition? what do they really say about guest worker programs to build their ego prints on the sand?
god damn it, yes i am cynical. there are many more people who share similar sentiments about above mentioned issues.
we are called cynicals and proud of it.
Oct 1, 07 11:17 pm ·
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the guy takes his architect's scale presses it on the sand they brought from the emirates, imprints the stick and says "this is the city". great concept is born to waste arab money which is controlled by few shoulder kissing regional families and their emirs.
15-20 years from now...
money shot after money shot... of course the documentary had to start with a call to prayers.
muslims are okay as long as they have money to blow.
previously, on archinect's discussion forum!
http://www.archinect.com/forum/threads.php?id=61686_0_42_0_C
some interesting comments there...
Orhan,.
You sound so cynical.....?
nam, it is perhaps the cynic in me who sees it right through the snake oil sales and century old ideas of capitol building just packaged differently.
are we still relying on the formal ideas or there is something new? what good is going to really come from the emirates who use all kinds of dubius profit sharing with their subjects and rule their realm with holy shoulders.
these cities they are building high with cheap labor to play poker on the top floor, are they really new? if they are successful, will we build similar cities, let's say in arizona or somewhere in europe? do we have to be, not cynical? am i really cynical? how do you know i am cynical? maybe i am just plain upset at the hoopla.
maybe most of these sand lines drawn in norway or in some other 'burg', not helping me to see beyond the concierge and dishwasher jobs the new city will provide to local slaves. maybe i am not cynical but plain stupid.
does the emir really thinks he is going to re enact the andalusian glory as if does exists in todays world? does it apply? what makes them any different than any other speculative developer except, they don't have to check with or bribe city councils to gain permits? all those architects posing in front of the crane shot, will they do anything that enthusiastically for the everyday below poverty arab condition? what do they really say about guest worker programs to build their ego prints on the sand?
god damn it, yes i am cynical. there are many more people who share similar sentiments about above mentioned issues.
we are called cynicals and proud of it.
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