Rizzoli Publishes 'The Anatomy of Sabkhas' on UAE Salt Flats

Rizzoli has released 'The Anatomy of Sabkhas,' a book by architect brothers Rashid and Ahmed Bin Shabib that explores the UAE's sabkhas—natural salt flats covering five percent of the landscape. Co-edited by Wael Al Awar and Kenichi Teramoto, curators of the UAE national pavilion, the publication complements the 'Wetland' exhibition at the 2021 Venice Biennale of Architecture. The book examines sabkha structure, history, geography, and their role in ecosystems and economies, divided into rural and urban sections. It highlights architectural projects using salt in construction and other global applications. Concluding with five personal stories from UAE residents recalling memories from the late 1960s and early 1970s, the book emphasizes conservation amid climate change. Priced at $35, it includes aerial photographs and archival records.