Building Sharjah

Sharjah's potential enticed an international cast of experts to create a bold, new city. This book preserves their projects through unseen photographs and recovered documents, examining the confident promises made by global practices of urbanization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2021
Publisher: Birkhauser

Sharjah, the third-largest city in the United Arab Emirates, has undergone a remarkable transformation through modern architecture. The city's fortunes changed in 1972 with the discovery of oil, leading to a metamorphosis similar to Kuwait, Riyadh, and Dubai. The question was whether Sharjah would repeat the past's mistakes or reimagine how wealth could shape a city.

To realize Sharjah's potential, an international team of experts came together to create a bold and innovative city. However, as time passed, many of these projects began to fade away, leaving behind unseen photographs and recovered documents that capture their essence. This book serves as a preservation effort, offering a glimpse into these disappearing projects through unseen photographs and recovered documents.

In addition to documenting the local perspective, the book delves into the experiences of local and arriving residents as they adapted the designed, concrete environment into their homes. It goes beyond being a local artifact and examines the confident promises made by global practices of urbanization.

Sharjah's story is a testament to the power of architecture and urban planning in shaping cities and communities. It highlights the importance of considering the social, economic, and environmental aspects when designing and developing urban spaces. The book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by cities in the globalized world, and encourages readers to think critically about the future of urbanization.

Weight: 1482g
Dimension: 257 x 277 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783035622768
Edition number: 27 x 18