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The Documentary; Building on Sand

The Documentary: Building on Sand

Building on Sand

07/05/2011

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Building on Sand

How does architecture in Dubai compare with Doha?

Jonathan Glancey looks at architecture in Middle Eastern countries such as Dubai and Qatar, and asks: Is it all built on sand?

Dubai is a phenomenon.

It's like no other city on earth. In terms of architecture, it has been reaching for the stars with the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.

It stands as a symbol for the way power, money and influence appear to have moved away from the west to newly-confident countries in the east. But what is it all built upon?

In this two-part documentary, Jonathan Glancey looks at whether Dubai has a sustainable policy towards building in one of the harshest environments on earth.

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