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Desert of Pharan: Unofficial Histories Behind the Mass Expansion of Mecca
Through a series of photographs, Ahmed Mater charts the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca’s origins to its more recent history over the last 5 years. It is a study of the site’s recent transformation ― Mecca, until recently, embodied a unique urban tapestry, layered with histories that are stitched together by an abundance of organically rooted communities and cultures. It is a place that accommodated not only sacred structures and sites but also huge fluctuations in population during Ramadan (up to 3 million visitors a year travel to Mecca for Eid and Hajj). More recently, these sites and communities have been eradicated and are being replaced with five-star-studded high rise developments, transforming it from an active metropolis to the world’s most exclusive, yet most visited religious tourist destination, reflective of an unprecedented experimentation with architecture and its possible impact on social stratification. This photographic essay is a celebration of Mecca’s real and projected or imaginary states. It provides singular access to this site and its associated social and religious rituals, along with its architectural urban planned and proposed development.
- GenresArt
632 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2016
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August 24, 2021
This is an incredible photo book showing scenes from the city of Makkah in the 2010's, when it was undergoing massive, rapid changes due to the masjid expansions and new buildings. The book does very well to show the sharp contrast between the 5-star hotels being built and the slums/poorer areas where the builders of such hotels live.
I learned so much about the often-overlooked poor populations living in the Makkan slums - clusters of buildings built without permits and often subjected to demolition to make way for newer buildings. Though I knew of people who came from West/Central African countries for Hajj and decided to settle to a life of poverty without any permits, I didn't know that there is a huge community of residents who are second or third generation refugees from Burma living in very poor conditions in the shadows of 5-star hotels. There are also photos of the homes/living spaces of construction workers, most of them single men working as builders and electricians for the Bin Laden Company.
The author has interesting commentary in the form of captions and some passages that discuss the histories/contexts of the pictures. I especially appreciated the discussion on the forces behind urban planning of Makkah, controlled by various factions such as awqaf, tribes/noble heritages ("ashraf" or descendants of the Prophet and other tribes), the Saudi royal family, and mega-corporations such as the Saudi Bin Laden construction company. There were several good points made about how Makkah is being shaped by modernism, materialism, and a "consumer-driven understanding of urban space."
The book also includes two interviews with people who were involved in Makkah's urban planning - civil engineers and researchers who contributed to the city's development.
There were some typos and strangely worded phrases but overall this book is great - and not just because the pictures are beautiful and nostalgically capture the city of Makkah from a perspective that is usually not featured on your typical social media page.
I learned so much about the often-overlooked poor populations living in the Makkan slums - clusters of buildings built without permits and often subjected to demolition to make way for newer buildings. Though I knew of people who came from West/Central African countries for Hajj and decided to settle to a life of poverty without any permits, I didn't know that there is a huge community of residents who are second or third generation refugees from Burma living in very poor conditions in the shadows of 5-star hotels. There are also photos of the homes/living spaces of construction workers, most of them single men working as builders and electricians for the Bin Laden Company.
The author has interesting commentary in the form of captions and some passages that discuss the histories/contexts of the pictures. I especially appreciated the discussion on the forces behind urban planning of Makkah, controlled by various factions such as awqaf, tribes/noble heritages ("ashraf" or descendants of the Prophet and other tribes), the Saudi royal family, and mega-corporations such as the Saudi Bin Laden construction company. There were several good points made about how Makkah is being shaped by modernism, materialism, and a "consumer-driven understanding of urban space."
The book also includes two interviews with people who were involved in Makkah's urban planning - civil engineers and researchers who contributed to the city's development.
There were some typos and strangely worded phrases but overall this book is great - and not just because the pictures are beautiful and nostalgically capture the city of Makkah from a perspective that is usually not featured on your typical social media page.
Displaying 1 of 1 review