Desert Paradises: Surveying the Landscapes of Dubai's Urban Model

Desert Paradises: Surveying the Landscapes of Dubais Urban Model explores how designed landscapes can play a vital role in constructing a city's global image and legitimizing its socio-political hierarchy. It argues that Dubais rulers employ a paradisiacal image of greening the desert as a tool for political legitimization and evaluates the designed landscapes against the principles of the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

Dubai's Urban Model: Exploring the Landscapes of Desert Paradises delves into the profound impact of meticulously crafted landscapes on the global perception and socio-political hierarchy of cities. Through the lens of Dubai, Bolleter examines how the city's rulers strategically employ a paradisiacal image of desert greening as a tool for political legitimization. Moreover, the book critically assesses the designed landscapes of Dubai against the principles set forth by the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects, highlighting a significant discrepancy between theoretical ideals and practical realities.

This groundbreaking work offers a fresh perspective on landscape design, a field that has hitherto remained relatively unexplored. It holds immense value for academics and students specializing in geography, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning, particularly those with a keen interest in Dubai or the numerous cities in the region undergoing a similar transformation known as "Dubaiification."

In the opening chapter, Bolleter provides a comprehensive overview of Dubai's urban development, highlighting the city's rapid growth and its pursuit of architectural and urban excellence. The author emphasizes how the landscape plays a crucial role in shaping Dubai's identity and reputation on a global scale. Bolleter argues that the city's rulers have capitalized on the allure of desert landscapes by promoting a vision of greening the desert, thereby creating a harmonious blend of urbanization and nature.

Through detailed case studies and analysis, Bolleter explores how designed landscapes contribute to the construction of Dubai's global image and legitimize its socio-political hierarchy. The author examines the various greening initiatives, such as the Dubai Miracle Garden and the Dubai Green Protocol, and assesses their effectiveness in achieving sustainability and environmental consciousness. Bolleter raises critical questions about the sustainability of these projects and the extent to which they align with the principles of the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects.

The book also delves into the cultural and social implications of landscape design in Dubai. Bolleter explores how the city's landscape is used to reinforce social divisions, promote tourism, and create a sense of belonging among its residents. The author examines the role of landscape design in shaping public spaces, such as parks and plazas, and how it contributes to the creation of a vibrant and inclusive urban environment.

In the second chapter, Bolleter examines the theoretical foundations of landscape design and their relevance to the case of Dubai. The author discusses the principles of sustainability, ecological resilience, and human-environment interaction, and how they are applied in the designed landscapes of Dubai. Bolleter highlights the discrepancy between theoretical ideals and practical realities, emphasizing the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to landscape design that considers both ecological and social aspects.

The third chapter explores the role of landscape architects in shaping the designed landscapes of Dubai. Bolleter interviews prominent landscape architects and architects involved in the development of Dubai's landscape, and examines their contributions to the city's landscape design. The author discusses the challenges faced by landscape architects in balancing the demands of developers, government agencies. Bolleter also examines the role of landscape architects in promoting sustainable practices and integrating green infrastructure into urban planning.

In the concluding chapter, Bolleter summarizes the key findings of the book and offers recommendations for future research and practice in landscape design. The author emphasizes the need for a more interdisciplinary approach to landscape design that incorporates the perspectives of various stakeholders, including developers, government agencies

Dubai's Urban Model: Exploring the Landscapes of Desert Paradises is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on landscape design, shedding light on the profound impact of meticulously crafted landscapes on the global perception and socio-political hierarchy of cities. Through the lens of Dubai, Bolleter examines how the city's rulers strategically employ a paradisiacal image of desert greening as a tool for political legitimization. Moreover, the book critically assesses the designed landscapes of Dubai against the principles set forth the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects, highlighting a significant discrepancy between theoretical ideals and practical realities.

This groundbreaking work offers a fresh perspective on landscape design, a field that has hitherto remained relatively unexplored. It holds immense value for academics and students specializing in geography, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning, particularly those with a keen interest in Dubai or the numerous cities in the region undergoing a similar transformation known as "Dubaiification."

In the opening chapter, Bolleter provides a comprehensive overview of Dubai's urban development, highlighting the city's rapid growth and its pursuit of architectural and urban excellence. The author emphasizes how the landscape plays a crucial role in shaping Dubai's identity and reputation on a global scale. Bolleter argues that the city's rulers have capitalized on the allure of desert landscapes by promoting a vision of greening the desert, thereby creating a harmonious blend of urbanization and nature.

Through detailed case studies and analysis, Bolleter explores how designed landscapes contribute to the construction of Dubai's global image and legitimize its socio-political hierarchy. The author examines the various greening initiatives, such as the Dubai Miracle Garden and the Dubai Green Protocol, and assesses their effectiveness in achieving sustainability and environmental consciousness. Bolleter raises critical questions about the sustainability of these projects and the extent to which they align with the principles of the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects.

The book also delves into the cultural and social implications of landscape design in Dubai. Bolleter explores how the city's landscape is used to reinforce social divisions, promote tourism, and create a sense of belonging among its residents. The author examines the role of landscape design in shaping public spaces, such as parks and plazas, and how it contributes to the creation of a vibrant and inclusive urban environment.

In the second chapter, Bolleter examines the theoretical foundations of landscape design and their relevance to the case of Dubai. The author discusses the principles of sustainability, ecological resilience, and human-environment interaction, and how they are applied in the designed landscapes of Dubai. Bolleter highlights the discrepancy between theoretical ideals and practical realities, emphasizing the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to landscape design that considers both ecological and social aspects.

The third chapter explores the role of landscape architects in shaping the designed landscapes of Dubai. Bolleter interviews prominent landscape architects and architects involved in the development of Dubai's landscape, and examines their contributions to the city's landscape design. The author discusses the challenges faced by landscape architects in balancing the demands of developers, government agencies, and the public. Bolleter also examines the role of landscape architects in promoting sustainable practices and integrating green infrastructure into urban planning.

In the concluding chapter, Bolleter summarizes the key findings of the book and offers recommendations for future research and practice in landscape design. The author emphasizes the need for a more interdisciplinary approach to landscape design that incorporates the perspectives of various stakeholders, including developers, government agencies, and the public.

Dubai's Urban Model: Exploring the Landscapes of Desert Paradises is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on landscape design, shedding light on the profound impact of meticulously crafted landscapes on the global perception and socio-political hierarchy of cities. Through the lens of Dubai, Bolleter examines how the city's rulers strategically employ a paradisiacal image of desert greening as a tool for political legitimization. Moreover, the book critically assesses the designed landscapes of Dubai against the principles set forth by the United Nations and the International Federation of Landscape Architects, highlighting a significant discrepancy between theoretical ideals and practical realities.

This groundbreaking work offers a fresh perspective on landscape design, a field that has hitherto remained relatively unexplored. It holds immense value for academics and students specializing in geography, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning, particularly those with a keen interest in Dubai or the numerous cities in the region undergoing a similar transformation known as "Dubaiification."

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815355502