The Dubai Mall is indeed the latest in a century-long series of attempts to use centralized planning to create vibrant and dynamic environments. It brings together mixed uses in an economically rich atmosphere with the design of offering a community center much as planners such as Howard and Le Corbusier envisioned. It builds on the widespread use of malls in the United States and elsewhere, and combines the mall concept with the even larger concept of urban planning. In this way, the Dubai Mall becomes not just a mall, but an urban environment where shopping is mixed with other everyday activities. Indeed, the mall has distinct "mini malls" within its confines that stretch Gruen's vision to its limit-if a mall is the size of a small city, can it still function as a community social gathering place? The Dubai mall is in keeping with other developments in the UAE which seek to provide the federation with income beyond its oil-producing years. The mall is not intended solely for UAE residents, but rather for travelers from around the world. In this way, it departs from Gruen's vision as "community center" and becomes something different. This is perhaps not a departure, but instead the natural evolution as the world itself is more global, and thus its malls must be more global, than during Gruen's time.
1. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. First of all, how important is centralized urban planning in the UAE?
2. How much of a role did central planning play in the development of the Dubai Mall?
A. It was critical to the development of the mall.
C. There was little or no central planning.
3. How much influence has the work of planners such as Howard or Le Corbusier had on planning in the UAE?
...