From the Big Apple to Big Ben: International Guidance for Abu Dhabi’s Modern Heritage Preservation Initiative

Abstract

Preserving our “built environment” enriches our lives with history. Many great cities of the world formed over hundreds, or even thousands, of years; their skylines are a majestic mix of new and old. These cities have struck a balance between development and preservation through the use of laws and policies. But how does a city with relatively little “history” form a meaningful built environment for its people? This Note starts by highlighting the unique issue of architectural preservation in Abu Dhabi, a city whose built environment is remarkably modern. Competing views of modernization and preservation are pulling this particular city in opposite directions. In 2011, in an effort to protect Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage, a cultural organization launched the Modern Heritage Preservation Initiative, aimed at developing strategies for managing preservation in the midst of urban renewal. As of the writing of this Note, surveys, record gathering, and other assessments are still in process, but this Note discusses the goals of the initiative and the rationales behind it. Next, this Note discusses theories of why the law should help protect historically significant architecture in cities—both in general and in Abu Dhabi specifically. This portion includes an explanation of the “built environment” and why it merits protection and regulation. This Note then discusses how the goals of urban development and modernization compete