Riyadh: Transforming a Desert City (Planning, History and Environment Series)

By: Yasser Elsheshtawy

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Riyadh has set its sights on becoming a world city befitting the twenty-first century. To that end it has embarked on a massive construction drive evidenced in the proliferation of proposals for high-end districts, giga-developments and elaborate infrastructures. An urban vision seemingly dedicated to attracting global capital. Yet such a narrative can be misleading. A ‘humanization programme’, initiated during the tenure of its former mayor Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, has complemented the city’s rapid rise by providing spaces catering for the everyday needs of its inhabitants. Yasser Elsheshtawy, in this richly illustrated book, targets these people-centred settings. It is a compelling counter-narrative interweaving critical theoretical insights, personal observations, and serendipitous encounters. He deftly demonstrates how Riyadh thrives through the actions of its people. As the world moves towards an urban model that is resilient and humane, the humanizing efforts of an Arab city are worthy of our attention. Riyadh’s premise is perhaps best captured in the cover image depicting the desert riverbed of Wadi Sulai, filled with rainwater, making its way towards the Saudi capital. Along its banks there will be dedicated public pathways and urban parks. It is a vision of an urbanity where both the spectacular and the everyday coexist. A city that is not just dedicated to the few, but one that serves the many.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
Book Size:: 308 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9781000460643
Related ISBNs:: 9780367485177, 9781003041405, 9781032038742
Publisher:: Taylor and Francis
Date of Addition:: 09/27/21
Copyrighted By:: Yasser Elsheshtawy. This book was commissioned and edited by Alexandrine Press, Marcham, Oxfordshire. The right of the authors has been asserted in accordance with sections
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: Nonfiction, Art and Architecture, Home and Garden, Politics and Government
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.