‘Falcon City of Wonders’ is a major construction project in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It is an approximately 7 square-kilometer large urban development which main characteristic are reproductions of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. Construction has started in 2008, however, the financial crisis of 2008 has paused the project. If the project is ever finished - will it make the people want to see the original monuments or does it reduces the value of the real?
[official link: http://www.falconcity.com]
Falcon City of Wonders is an abomination of a development project. It represents a developer who can't think further than 'If I copy things that are excellent, I'll be excellent too', without any regard for context or any of the other aspects which make great architecture great. Unfortunately, the development market in Dubai entertains enough imbecilic investors for such a ridiculous idea to have gotten off the ground. The only good thing to have come out of the GFC is that projects as offensive as this one have been halted.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to agree. It's a project with no thought and no soul.
ReplyDeleteIt's insulting to even suggest these copies could "reduces the value of the real". The reason the Wonders are Wonders are because they are examples of great creativity and dedication at a point in human history where computations were done by people, not computers, and heavy lifting was done with manpower and a deep understanding of leverage; to recreate them today is easy, and that is what makes this project meritless. It shows no appreciation for history or context, and is a cheap way to appeal to the part of the human psyche that reaches out to fame and grandiosity, no matter how superficial.
From the beginning on, this project was a copy of everything. The original design of the Falcon Project was meant to be in Fujeirah and had no copies of the Eiffel Tower etc.
ReplyDeleteIt was planned to have a pyramid in the center of the project that was supposed to function as a cultural center for the elite university that was planned within the project to establish an alternative educational opportunity for locals and international expats. The original idea came from a German/American architect. Once introduced to Fujairah and Dubai authorities, the whole project idea suddenly popped in the mind of His Highness of Dubai as his vision. It was said that he woke up one morning and suddenly had this idea.... great lie as everything else what is going on there.