In search for context!
مصنف فى :مقالات
Context has always been an important element of architectural design and thinking. However, in this day and age context is quite difficult to define. That is even more challenging in certain locations.
I believe that in Kuwait and the Gulf States it is even more difficult to define and identify the appropriate meaning of context, so that it could be useful for Architects.
There are many factors that contribute to the lack of context.
- The geographical location that is characteristic to a harsh environment with no strong features. The climate is extremely hot, with mostly flat desert terrain.
- The limited economic condition of the states and coastal towns before the discovery of oil prevented the establishments of rich architectural forms.
However, after the discovery of oil, and during the rapid growth thereafter, the Arabian Gulf States choose to neglect their primitive urban and architectural forms; in an attempt to demonstrate modernity and development. This process resulted in the production of global architectural forms that rarely carry any contextual significance.
To this day our cities are considered white pages that allow real estate developers, decision makers and commercial architects to design and develop wired architectural and urban forms. Collectively these common architectural forms, despite being iconic; produce an environment of sameness and lack of significance.
Our duty today is to find a new meaning for context; in its complex nature we have to search for the meaning of local context in social practices, were local culture and experience of space can help define context. Also, local climate can provide hints to design unique architectural forms that are rooted in local context; beyond the simple agendas of green architecture. There is still a long way ahead of us in the study and analysis of historic urban and architectural forms, and distil lessons that can provide guidance in our search of context and specificity.
