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Currently, the architecture of the UAE is a marvel. Ranging from the biggest artificial islands in the world to a number of tall buildings in Dubai, great changes have taken place in the physical look of the country during the last fifty years. In order to come up with a modern image of architectural strength, most of the country’s architecture is a combination of traditional, Islamic, modern, and vernacular styles. Before the enormous changes took place in the country, its vernacular architecture responded to its harsh climatic conditions. Since the 1970s, with the discovery of oil, the economic development of the UAE has influenced the design and the construction of buildings. Consequently, the UAE has developed a unique fourth style of its own that has made it to be an architectural marvel in the world.
In the past, the residents of the UAE lived a simple and traditional way of life and the vernacular architecture found in the area reflected this way of life. This architectural design was influenced by the styles that that were being practiced in other neighbouring regions (Hurreiz, 2002). A particularly recognizable influence came from the architectural style of North Africa, Middle East and the Mughal Empire of South Asia. The Emiratis developed localized versions of the foreign models to suit the country’s mostly hot-arid weather conditions. The ancient Egyptian architecture was characterized by the building of huge structures using simple and efficient tools that were available to them. The Emirati traditional architects adopted this in construction of the houses, especially the precision and accuracy that the Egyptians used in construction. The design of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (in Tunisia) served as a model for the construction of similar buildings in UAE. The Emirati architects adapted the techniques that were used in the construction of the impressive and largest architectural marvel of the Islamic world to suit the demands of lifestyle and climate of the country.
Other past influences of UAE architecture came from the Middle East. The Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, having seventeen aisles and walls decorated with mosaics, and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, famous for its massive dome, also influenced the Islamic architecture of the UAE. The important characteristics of these impressive buildings, such as the ordered use of repetition, fractal geometry, piers and arches having discontinuous series of niches and colonnettes, as well as different unique metric patterns, influenced the vernacular architectural design of United Arab Emirates buildings. Another influence of the traditional UAE architecture came from the Ottoman Turkish architecture. The UEA adopted the techniques that the Ottomans were using to construct huge inner spaces that could achieve a perfect blend of light and shadows. This made the vernacular buildings to be refined into elegance. The UAE architects borrowed and adopted the example of Mughal architecture, which combined Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. The Mughal architecture was characterized by the presence of overhanging enclosed balconies, dome-shaped pavilions, projecting or overhanging eaves, ornamental patterns, and symmetry.
Therefore, until the 1960s, the architectural style of UAE was mainly vernacular. However, with the discovery of oil, the architectural style of the country transformed to reflect the new economic development. The country’s social and cultural values changed because of the urge to imitate the Western aspects of modernization and economic development; consequently, the urban environment was transformed to meet the new aspirations and modern buildings sprang up to replace the vernacular buildings. The economic prosperity of UAE motivated the utilization of contemporary construction systems and materials, which resulted in the introduction of new architectural styles in the erection of buildings in the country. For example, Mahgoub notes, “air-conditioning units became available in all buildings replacing the traditional wind catchers. Concrete, steel, glass, and other modern building materials were introduced. Shiny glass skyscrapers, reflecting the burning sun, have changed forever the urban landscape of Gulf cities” (1999, para. 3).
It is important to note that architecture in the Gulf region signifies several social and cultural elements of its mostly Islamic society; therefore, the introduction of modern way of constructing buildings resulted in UAE losing its architectural identity. In the Gulf region, vernacular style of constructing buildings signifies the simple and traditional lifestyle of the residents. On the other hand, modern construction style depicts economic prosperity and new social and cultural values adopted from the western world. Western ideas of construction imported into the country have failed to factor in the country’s local way of life, specific requirements, and ways of doing things. The new buildings in UAE are constructed using the latest construction technology and this has led to the loss of relation to the context in which the buildings are being constructed.
The failure of the modern ideologies to relate to the needs of the local society prompted a new awareness in the 1990s in which the significance of the traditional and cultural values were emphasized. Consequently, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Naheyan made efforts to ensure that there is no interruption in the cultural continuity between the old and the new generation by asserting that the total submission to the modern cultural values influenced negatively the UAE society. As a result, this realization led to the adoption of new attitudes as appertains to architecture and work was started to transform many of the country’s deserted old buildings to become centers for tourist attraction. In addition, new techniques of constructing structures were employed to include some aspects of vernacular architecture with the intention of connecting the modern culture of the country with its history. The continuing efforts to reinstate the lost cultural identity of the country by incorporating some aspects of the traditions are seen as a major step towards recapturing the quality of its vernacular architecture. The restoration work is a modern technique of reinterpreting the old construction techniques in a polished and structurally sustainable form. The resulting buildings have a valid as well as functional design ethos that suits the local context. More over, the new technique is far more pleasing in style and relates more to the social and cultural environment of the country.
The Directorate of Heritage and Conservation has been endowed with the task of carrying out the reconstruction efforts. Various traditional buildings have been recreated and rehabilitated into museums. Damluji notes that the new buildings are “well restored and finished using the original building materials with integrated lighting, air-conditioning and upgraded furnishing. The interior spaces are cool and privately enclosed, restoring the original proportional elements of design and scale. The exteriors are attractive” (2006, p. 267). Consequently, the rebirth of traditional Islamic techniques of constructing buildings has given a sense of place to the architecture of the region. In most cases, the modern buildings sprang up mainly to express how rich the owners were and they were meant to increase their riches. However, the restoration of the traditional buildings has resulted in the re-examination of Islamic forms and patterns of construction and the creation of architecture that takes into consideration the local climatic conditions and cultural environment.
Although the architectural heritage of the UAE has experienced several losses and degradation during the previous three decades, the future of architecture in the UAE is based on the success of the efforts that are currently being made to ensure that the country’s traditional architecture is not alienated by the adoption of Western technology. In this contemporary society, certain architectural features ensure that the region maintains its identity and the adoption of other models that were designed for other cultures cannot fulfill this (Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization, 2010). Therefore, to avoid an identity crisis in the future, the UAE should be engaged in efforts of preserving its architectural heritage by protecting the isolated buildings, preserving the urban patterns, and ensuring that the historical elements are used conveniently in the construction of new buildings. The UAE should react to the invasion of the foreign culture since it contravenes the traditional Islamic architecture that has always demonstrated the concepts of unity and harmony with the people, the environment, and the Creator. The architectural changes that the UAE is currently carrying out can be surmounted when the planners and architects in the country endeavour to preserve its rich architectural heritage. The future of UAE architecture rests on the changes that are being done to reflect the local experiences of its society.
Reference list
Damluji, S. S. (2006). The Architecture of the United Arab Emirates. Reading: Garnet Publishing Ltd.
Hurreiz, S. H. (2002). Folklore and folklife in the United Arab Emirates. New York: RoutledgeCurzon.
Islamic Arts and Architecture Organization (2010). Architecture. Salaam. Web.
Mahgoub, Y. (1999). Architecture in the United Arab Emirates. The Architecture of the United Arab Emirates. Web.
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