Residents of Peter Cooper Dubai in the Gulf why it is a good bet for architects in difficult times
In the UK, the recession of the early 1990s, the architects have lost their jobs en masse, many practices and not really interesting commissions dried up. Then, the ambitious head in Hong Kong, where the pre-1997 transfer from airport construction boom is booming. These days, to avoid the worst British economy in 60 years must go to Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi and meet the challenges of the third great oil boom.
The Gulf States have an incredible $ 1.3 billion (£ 715 million) worth of projects under way on the whole of China, and the construction of a boom never seen in the Middle East since the time of the pharaohs.
It is epic in scale, so that the best in modern architecture, and the height epic.
The world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, took the helm of the 160 floors and will be over 700 meters high. At its core is the sixth largest commercial center, a series of iconic towers and development center in Dubai. The interior will be the first Armani hotel, offering a chance to see if they can designer Versace monkey in the translation of fashion for interior decoration.
Needless to say, not far from the second Palazzo Versace hotel is already under construction, with an excellent view over the Dubai Creek. But if fashion is high in Dubai, the architecture of your ambitions are even more pretentious - Zaha Hadid tower in the shape of flickering flames in the new shopping center on increasing the skyscrapers of Dubai International Financial Center and, of course, all three of Palm Island.
The largest airport project is also underway in Dubai, and his first runway will open later next year. If this is not enough, you'll find a number of projects in Doha, who is jealous of Dubai and copies of everything. Or try to Abu Dhabi, whose oil wealth is funding a major new cultural space with a Guggenheim and other cultural buildings of the main architects, and the splashes of $ 200 million (£ 110 million) in other areas of the city.
But what is to live in the Gulf? Architects request for a stimulating environment for their creative work, and it is fair to say that the deserts of Arabia have little indigenous culture. The Islamic art, like life, has been introduced from ancient nations in the region. The challenge for the commission to eliminate the deficit in the local cultural stimulation.
However, this can be very rewarding. Consider the work of Brian Johnson, a British architect who has worked on many large projects in Dubai since 1975. He managed to instill traditional Arabic and Islamic architecture in buildings such diverse topics as the emblematic beach of the luxury hotels and the Emirates Golf Club clubhouse.
From a more practical point of view, architects moving to the Gulf countries should take into account the cost of living has increased in recent years, particularly for housing. Locations have soared sky-earlier levels in London, although the level of the apartments is generally good and spacious.
Wages are exempt from taxes, but it became increasingly difficult to implement, with high rents, and the many distractions of consumerism and high-end travel destinations on offer. Winter sun is very pleasant on the beaches, but the sun of summer can be oppressively hot, and living with constant air conditioning has its disadvantages.
Dubai is more liberal in its social attitudes in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Alcohol is tolerated within three, and there is a very open approach to women's employment. In fact, some barriers to career women, especially in large practices, and the success of Hadid, that speaks volumes.
More of a problem is traffic. The number of road accidents in Dubai is ten times higher than in Europe, and accidents are the leading cause of death for young people. Public transport is very limited, although the subway opened in Dubai in September 2009.
You will not be alone as an expatriate living in one of these cities. In fact, citizens are in the minority. Dubai United Kingdom 120,000 expatriates, while residents make up only 5% of 1.4 million. Finally, an important point to note is that, aside from traffic accidents, the Gulf is a safe place, exceptionally, to live and work.
