Adil Najam
For all of those, me included, who wondered what a 7-star hotel looks like; this is it.
To find out what it feels like, you will have to wait an indefinite amount of time until this surreal StarTrek-like structure actually comes about in Islamabad. Will it? And if it does will it really look like this!
This would have made a great photo-quiz had written about the hotel a few days ago, had Asma not already posted the URLs to these pictures as a comment on that post, and had these pictures not been flying around in all sorts of emails from Pakistan. Despite all of the above, I thought they would still make a great post; maybe some of the koolness will rub off on the site. And I am sure the builders could do with some more free publicity.
Plus, as regular readers know, I have a thing for pictures with tullas (cops) in them (see here, here and here). And this one - even though imaginary - has that traffic cop perched right in the foreground. By the way, don’t miss the helicopter hovering above (near the helipad) either!
Dear Dakter…
You’ve rightly pointed out that Lahore is into red brick.
But still… we know there are several structures in Lahore that are not red brick and still quite Lahore-like.
Frankly I was quite unimpressed with Guggenheim - it never struck me in all my years in New York City.
Yasser, the problem with ‘transplanting’ a structure is exactly what the problem is with this. It will be a transplant, and out of place. But I think the direction you are taking this is a good one. So, what type of structures might fit? I immediately think of the Frank Lloyd Wright style (The Gugenhiem he designed for example). Straight lines, framing the hills, grand but not high rise. That seems to be more in line with Islamabad’s sensibility (even this building without the ‘pointy’ thing would be so much more elegant. Again, this is one person’s opinion, that is all it can be.
P.S. Lahore, I think, has developed a new ‘red brick style’ recently, which is very organicc, very Lahore, and still modern.
Dubai’s Al Bujr is my favorite 7 seven star hotel.it gives best view.. I like Mumbai’s Taj hotel also. In Fact, i love Mumbai city and ya Dubai is always my favourite
No… I am not forcing my views on anyone … However… I think this “contentious” issue has more to do with frowning on success.. but I admit - I might be wrong.
Could you maybe produce a structure of equal magnitude from some where in the world that would be acceptable to Islamabad and its “skyline”? Something, which if transplanted into Islamabad would be neutral?
Hypothetically speaking ofcourse…
No. There are no other words. Some people like some things, others don’t. For example, I don’t happen to like the color light blue. I have no problems with people who do; only with those who insist that I must.
It woudl be ’self righteous’ only if someone those that only their opinion was right, or that they had the right to define what was the ‘right’ opinion for everyone. Is that what you are saying; that because you like this, everyone must?
In other words…. it is “self righteousness” and “angoor khatay hain”.
I guess that depends on how we define ‘classy’ and ’success’. Its a question of taste, and personal preferences can differ.
From what I see Dubai is a pretty classy place… how long are we going to frown on success?