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August 03, 2005
Dubai & London
Here was the first inkling of the Ink Dubai will be getting as it embarks on a Massive Simulacra; simulating nothing but The Massiveness of its own self. The hot new middle eastern a&e magazine, Bidoun, sounds off with an excellent array of Dream Dubai projects...stolen rendering below.
work.ac & concept beind the image.
In addition to this little dream project derive, there is a nice theory slash background article by George Katodrytis. Situating Dubai as the closest possible total illumination of the 21st century urban form - "prosthetic and nomadic oases presented as isolated cities that extend out over the land and the sea." Or as Koolhaas has said, The Airport -- appropriately enough G Kat does good to include a number of Koolhaas musings, peppering the piece into a small but Energizing hunk of criticism. Add it to the Dubai Pile.
Back to Tranfer's most recent lover, London, and her New Foray into Hi-Rise Office building, well detailed here -- but also looking to the extreme anxiety its producing, recently expressed in this Guardian Observer article. I'm a fan of swatting these flies out as public discourse, and there hasn't been quite enough ink on this $195bn building boom. Which, on aside, reminds me of this fantastic little site, London Destroyed. But this position, in the Guardian piece, is Somewhat Classic, coming from someone who rechristened the Gherkin: "Norman Foster's howitzer-shell Swiss Re subsequently redefined the limits of the aesthetically acceptable". Pretty much gives up his slant straight-away. Yes, London is a low-rise city to be sure, and one that should keep herself that way -- embracing speculative organic growth that create small Patches and Nooks. The infamous Yards. But London shouldn't repress the urge to create new higher density pockets, as it has historically with it's council estates and the less than sexy mini La Défense, Canary Wharf. And they've got it going right by enlisting Real Architects, not Developer Cronies, as crucial players in this huge building boom. Whatever you think of Ken Livingstone and his days with the GLC, as Mayor of London he's proven to be an aficionado of architecture & a believer in long term planning analysis as a tool to drive good city policy. Not too mention his ambitious Housing Capacity research. In addition, his politically risky congestion charge has turned out to be a great success - increasing bus ridership, cutting the number of pedestrian fatalaties, and just generally making for a more pleasant central London. He's been credited with bringing the 2012 Olympics to London as well. Although my opinion of Olympic bids and Tourist Focused mayors (which he's also proven to be) are a bit jaded. Some photos of projects being pushed thru London recently...
original images found here
Posted by jmarston at August 3, 2005 01:21 PM