Well Planned Town in Somalia

[500ml]

Just invest in cities, simple!
The cities desperately need investment

[Adali]

Lilaahiya I need only to worry about local clans harassing me, not some phantom dowlad.

[GeoSeven]

I know someone who bought a large chunk of empty land near one of the regional capitals for 500k. It's not pocket change but for the size of the land they bought (something like a 100 hectares) it's ridiculously cheap. All they did was feed the nomadic elders, pay them $500 each to have permission to buy land, pay off the local admin and get their legit papers. So land is really cheap, as long as it's not near any important urban settlements.

Construction of a small "gated community" or a "mini town" would be costly though. Easily amount to millions I would assume.

[PrinceDaadi]

I like when people day dream! no body talks wether these settlements r economically viable and can support them selves.

[SecretAgent]

Jus expand barawa, marka, hobyo, ely dis r very nice towns

[mohnig23]

I like when people day dream! no body talks wether these settlements r economically viable and can support them selves.

This isn't a daydream. But will be put into action inshallah.
Keep it moving hater.


Geo
That's amazing what area was it?


Why invest in cities it's better to start a new town clean fresh ? It's too much work and too much money for big cities.

[CushiticReflections]

Would it be expensive to buy land and build a small well planned town with great infrastructure in Puntland or a place with small population?
I mean this town would have a sewage system, homes, 3 schools (primary, intermediate, secondary), grocery stores, water pipes, solar power, maybe wind turbines, and electricity 24/7.

This is meant for a small town with about 5,000 - 10,000 population.


All opinions and input would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know but that's a beautiful thought. Just please don't design the buildings cadaan or Arab-style, it'd be nice to have a whole town with beautiful, Somali architecture.

[Gabre]

What is Somali architecture? The only thing I can think of that is aqals, everything else is borrowed...

aqal:

[CushiticReflections]

What is Somali architecture? The only thing I can think of that is aqals, everything else is borrowed...

aqal:

There is, in fact, remains of traditional Somali architectural works as well Somali engineering works.
Most of Somalia's ancient and traditional architecture lays in ruins, mainly due to colonialism and the civil war, but it still exists.


Eyl castle:


Talex:



Talex today:



Almnara tower (a lighthouse):


Ruins of ancient city Amud:


Citadel of Gondershe, which was an important city during the Ajuuraan Empire:

[CushiticReflections]

More on Somali aesthetics in design:

17th century carved Somali window:


18th century kohl pot decorated with bells:


18th century amber necklace:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=wnt60&s=5

Old carved window frame:


I could post so many more examples of Somalia traditional design and architecture but I hope this at least shows what Somali architecture and traditional aesthetics is like. What little archaeological excavations that have been done in Somalia show that archways and courtyards were popular features. In more recent centuries, city walls were often used to protect those within the city from attacks. It's clear that stone was what was used to construct many ancient structures, which contrasts with modern Somali architecture.

[Gabre]

Of the stuff you posted that I'm familiar with, none of them are Somali. The Darwiish buildings at Taleex were designed and built by a Yemeni architect for example.

The rest seems to just be aping Arab architecture. There's nothing particularly Somali about them.

:kanyeshrug:

[CushiticReflections]

Of the stuff you posted that I'm familiar with, none of them are Somali. The Darwiish buildings at Taleex were designed and built by a Yemeni architect for example.

The rest seems to just be aping Arab architecture. There's nothing particularly Somali about them.

:kanyeshrug:

I will agree with you about Taleex, as they were the only buildings that I posted that I did not research and which were built during colonialism and are not ancient, like some of the older structures I've posted. But it is untrue that the rest imitate Arab architecture at all.

So you're basically saying that because they "seem" to be copying Arab architecture, you think there is nothing Somali about them?

Since you said that the aqal is the only traditional Somali architecture you think exists, then what makes you think that what I've posted has nothing Somali about it? Because that would indicate that there is something that is more Somali yet you think no such thing exists. That makes no sense.

Also, to say that something "seems ___" would indicate that your statement is based on an assumption. Since you've provided no evidence whatsoever that there are Arab structures that those other buildings were modelled after, this establishes that your statement is not factual and thus invalid.

[Gabre]

Well yeah, because you can find the same types of buildings all down the Swahili coast and other places of coastal Arab settlement. What are the features of the Ajuuraan ruins that separate them from the rest of Arab architecture that say "Somali"? I can drop some doric columns in Mogadishu, but that doesn't make them any less Greek.

[GeoSeven]

I like when people day dream! no body talks wether these settlements r economically viable and can support them selves.

This isn't a daydream. But will be put into action inshallah.
Keep it moving hater.


Geo
That's amazing what area was it?


Why invest in cities it's better to start a new town clean fresh ? It's too much work and too much money for big cities.

In Janta Kundisha. It's on the highway on the outskirts of Beledweyne. The same thing can be done anywhere similar in Somalia.