Arabic

Rashad M. Bukhash

The Development of Coastal Facades

(Case Study-The Emirate of Dubai)

Traditional Architecture of the UAE was associated with the coast since a very long time. The urban planning of the city was influenced by the existence of the Gulf due to many factors. In other words, the Gulf is a main source of maintaining livelihood in coastal cities. The cities of the Emirates were blessed by Allah with lagoons that became a place where ships carrying the only source of income we kept safe. It is noticed that traditional buildings were built around and close by these lagoons forming the central nucleus of these coastal cities. The best example is the Emirate of Dubai, the fact that it is split by the creek allowing prosperity of each side of the coast of Deira and Bur Dubai. Both traditional cities were formed on each side of the creek and of which we are to explain today the development of their coastal facades. This research mentions exact dates and strategic locations that contributed to the formation of a nucleus for worldwide trade, the important stages of development of the coastal facades, the restoration and conservation of traditional elements that qualified these facades to win the prize of the Islamic Capitals and Cities Organization, and finally the ideas identified for potentially new aqueous projects with traditional character. These projects were applied along the coast or in the water, which has been and definitely remains the main source of life.