framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

2.2.2 UAE POST-1971
This British announcement, which was reaffirmed in March 1971,
affected Bahrain and Qatar, states that had also been under the
protection of the British. Abdullah 72 points out that the states attempted
to form a union of Arab Emirates, but by mid-1971 it became clear that
they were unable to agree on terms of union. The termination date of
the British-Trucial Sheikdoms Treaty was the 1st of December 1971,
after which they became fully independent (it may also be recorded that
Bahrain became independent in August 1971 and Qatar in September
1971). Following independence, six of these areas, namely Abu Dhabi,
Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ummal Qaiwain and Fujairah, entered into a
union named the United Arab Emirates (the seventh Emirate, Raѕ al-
Khaimah, joined in early 1972) 73 . After the unification, the UAE gained
recognition by the United Nation and became a member of the League
of Arab States. The UAE has developed very fast since its unification.
Human development as well as infrastructure development is at the core
of the UAE‟s strategic vision for the future.
2.3 Arсhitесtural Development in the UAE
The architecture style in the UAE has changed due to the economic
changes within the country in the last four decades. The UAE
architecture style could be classified according to Al Harthy 74 into three
different styles, the traditional, the contemporary and the post-modern.
Each reflects the time when it was built. There are some arguments
regarding the relevance of traditional architecture to contemporary
architecture varying from complete rejection to complete acceptance.
Niezabitowski 75 describes how complete acceptance involves the
imitation of traditional architecture and its unique features. To
completely accept the relevance of the traditional, Niezabitowski argues
that traditional architecture is the only truly authentic architecture in the
70 Lootah, M. S. (2007). op.cit. p7.
71 Abdullah M., (2007). op.cit. p62.
72 Abdullah M. (2007). op. cit. p156
73 Al-Fahim, M. (1995). op.cit. p55
74 Al Harthy, S. (2002). Reading the Traditional Built Environment of Oman. Lausanne: Comportments.
75 Niezabitowski, A. M. (2009).op.cit. .p92-129.
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