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Kabul City Nights - Series 001

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The landscape and architecture of Kabul city on a moonlit winter night
in Our World, on the 30th of January 2010
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The beauty of a city such as Kabul lies in it's geography. In the warmer months the dramatic mountain landscape that meanders through and around this city is hidden behind a haze of smog. At this time of year though, the clear still air of winter allows this landscape to reveal itself along with the informal settlements that have grown to cover these slopes. In the more established neighbourhoods of the city are the many new concrete and brick infill houses - known locally as 'Pakistani Palaces' -which continue to spring up in ever more creative styles, seemingly oblivious of context, turning their back on the city to shelter behind high, impersonal walls topped with razor wire.

Despite the many difficuties faced in Afghanistan, in Kabul itself there is something of a building boom underway. On a moonlit night the extent of this development shows itself in the garish techicolour lighting of huge wedding halls and the more modest, but no less significant, grid powered lighting of individual homes. The illusion, at least, of a bustling modern metropolis.

Kabul City Nights

Comment

New: Thank you Wais. It is true

Submitted by Sam Woodbridge on Wed, 03/02/2010 - 13:46.

Thank you Wais. It is true that a majority of new construction in Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan draws upon influences from Dubai and Pakistan rather than vernacular building traditions. Some Afghans are beginning to question whether this is the most appropiate response to the environmental conditions and social/historical context of their country. That said, the current popularity of the 'Pakistani Palace' suggests that there are many here who are very happy to choose this option when buying or building a home.

New: Thank you for showing to us

Submitted by WB on Mon, 01/02/2010 - 13:55.

Thank you for showing to us the beautiful pics, as I recall the "Pakistani palaces" have caused resentment among locals for their Pakistani architecture rather than traditional Afghan styles did you experience the same attitude?

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