“Old” and “new” Dubai represent the city’s dual cosmopolitan context. The almost drastic stylistic evolution from “old” Dubai’s areesh, coral stone, and palm frond houses to “new” clean-cut whitewashed modernist buildings highlights a significant polar shift from tradition to modernism, not only as a mode of building, but also as a way of life. To understand architecture in Dubai in relation to the International Modern Movement, reflections on the context are essential: why was modernism introduced in Dubai? How was it applied to its architecture? This talk explores these questions, hoping to contribute to the preservation of the city’s heritage, both traditional and modern.

Speakers

Maryam M. Ahli, Architect & Architectural Historian