Ordinarily with construction, the architect's designs, much like the outlandish creations gracing the catwalks of Milan, Paris, New York and Rochdale, are in essence a taster, an initial extravagance, an idea which will inevitably be whittled down in due process until the constructions/apparel appear on the high street, ready for the great unwashed. Not so in Dubai...
What is remarkable about many of the current and proposed projects in the UAE is not so much the astonishing designs suggested by architects but that such designs are quickly becoming living, breathing buildings.
It is of course common knowledge that the Middle East's Monte Carlo now boasts 7 star hotels, is soon to have the world's biggest indivudual and indeed collection of theme parks and is planning to become the world's leisure capital. Its much wealthier (!!) rival down the coast, Abu Dhabi plans the world's biggest waterpark and various other leisure and retail related projects each of which is set to up the ante in the region's attractions industry arms race. A visit to Dubai can of course make one's own local attractions seem a trifle parochial.
In 2012 the City will open the world's largest, tallest arch-bridge ever (see image above). A mile long and pushing 700 feet in height, incorporating a metro line and 12 lanes of traffic, the bridge is to cost over $800 million.
A client in themed design sent me the show beneath (scroll down for slideshow), a collection of sometimes weird and always wonderful images highlighting the more eye-catching resorts, hotels and attractions set to appear in the UAE. His mail might have been titled, somewhat facetiously, " The UAE: mad as a box of frogs" but he is as enthused and excited as a small boy with a bucketful of tadpoles. He starts a new job next month. In Dubai. CR
Related articles:
Letter from Dubai: Head-Over-Heels Race to the Future Causes Growing Pains
Theme Park Dubai: where the Dream's the Theme
Image at top: courtesy Fxfowle (www.fxfowle.com)