engleski

A View from Above... and from Within

What the Middle East is, depends primarily on the perspective of the observer . The disputed term originates from the meta-language of the Anglo- American intelligence services: the Middle East was located precisely in the middle of the way to the British possessions in India and Indochina . The Middle East in English, Italian, French and Spanish translates as the Near East in German and Slavic languages . Seen from Europe, the Middle East coincides with Asia Minor, the Outremer, the Levant where the sun is rising, the Morgenland where the day begins as opposed to the Abendland where it ends ; observed from within, it corresponds with the Mashreq as opposed to the Maghreb, or with the Bilad al Sham beyond national borders and discourses . Where the Middle East is, is rather clear . As medieval world maps and pilgrim’s itineraries clearly indicate, it has been in the middle of the Old World ever since the beginning of time . In the contemporary world of flows, this central position is confirmed, first by the emergence of the Dubai International Airport, then the Dubai Stock Exchange, and finally, the entire Dubai Phenomenon in the global scene . With its geomorphologic and geopolitical complexities, the Middle East is the perfect paradigm for an architectural observation of natural and cultural forms within a truly large spatial envelopment . One major topic comes clearly in focus: the regions’ multi-layered history has been decisively conditioned by its physical shape ; the perceivable landform and the abundance of natural riches below . The Middle East’s geographical references are high mountain peaks with distant views, fertile but narrow valleys below, and vast arid desserts with lush oases resembling relentless seas with safe islands that surround the region . The south-north stream of the great River Nile has been explaining the nature of things, binding human destinies with the supreme celestial order long before the drawing of Cartesian maps.

Middle East, Architecture, Desert, Landform, Cosmic Landscape, Islamic Architecture

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