Diamond in the rough

What should be done with a dilapidated and mostly unloved example of 1970s Abu Dhabi?

Should we keep a few examples of older buildings – even decrepit ones like this – to tell the architectural history of Abu Dhabi? Lee Hoagland/The National

As structures go, the ageing two-storey building in Abu Dhabi featured in The Review yesterday is unlikely to receive praise for its beauty or architectural merit. But in its own way, this kind of modest mixed-use building tells a story about the capital's development that ought not be lost to future generations.

Like many similar buildings, this one is due for demolition within a few months and will be replaced by a development that will be far more energy efficient, comfortable, safe and in keeping with the shiny buildings that surround it. Few will mourn its passing.

But in 20 years time, will there be any remnant left from this phase of Abu Dhabi’s development? This individual building might have little merit but it illustrates how the capital evolved from arish and coral-stone huts 50 years ago. This in turn raises the conundrum of how do we balance aesthetics against heritage, so we can tell the story of how we made the leap from rags to riches.