Kabul Urban Survey - Groupe URD

2 IMPACT OF A SYMBOLIC IMAGE
The attacks of 11 September 2001 on New York had a symbolic impact on Kabul and these
events must not be overlooked when studying current urban issues in Afghanistan as a
whole: “The aftermath of September 11, 2001 precipitated major changes in the political and
military situation in Afghanistan” 4 . The cause and effect link between the specific destruction
in New York and global reconstruction in Kabul can be assessed by its symbolic impact and
lessons in urban development can be learnt.
2.1 The urban theatre becomes the theatre of war
The sudden destruction of the Twin Towers in Manhattan, New York, as two commercial
airplanes crashed into them provoked highly emotional reactions throughout the world. If the
deaths of many innocent people was seen as a painful and terrible act of violence, it is
interesting to study the symbolic impact of the destruction of the building itself. What was the
point of this violent and total destruction of the highest and most famous buildings in New
York? They lay at the core of the city and were symbols of Western society, of national
pride and the symbolic core of international cities. Cities are an urban theatre, with the
symbolic expression of culturally, financially and technically remarkable buildings. This
terrorist act used the city as a theatre of war, causing a dual impact on society: firstly,
physical death and destruction and secondly the symbolic destruction of a “civil pride of the
city”.
2.2 Urban war, war of images
Another observation is that the same sophisticated strategy of destruction traditionally
reserved for official, political or military buildings was used for a famous civilian office
building. This spectacular event produced shock waves that were merely heightened with the
repeated television broadcasts. Television programmes presented on loop images of the
astonishing and terrifying destructive power and the symbol of high technical performance,
financial power and proud building construction. The values of urban environment and urban
society are as much about urban images as they are the physical situation.
2.3 Urban image, urban identity
As mentioned above, urban images contribute considerably to how an urban society
identifies itself. Urban reconstruction, with its multidimensional needs (social, economic,
technical) and multi-sector needs (roads, networks, housing, engineering, management) also
have to deal with importance of image. Those involved in urban reconstruction need to find a
cultural balance between the image of Afghan identity, basic material needs and
modernisation. Urban images produce a sense of coherence for the rebuilding of urban
society.
Needs at a symbolic level
A society can be affected by physical destruction but also by symbolic destruction. In
the same way, a city’s (re)construction has to take in consideration both the symbolic
reconstruction as well as physical rebuilding.
Need for multidimensional urban fabric
The notion of urban theatre is also important and implies that urban planning and
(re)construction must necessarily be the product of a sophisticated urbanisation at
different levels, including economic, social, technical and symbolic levels.
Image and urban appropriation
The events in New York illustrate to what extent image and city are linked in collective
representation and collective urban appropriation.
4 IDA, (International Development Association of the World Bank) Afghanistan: Kabul Reconstruction
Project; Technical Annex, July 2004
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