Najaf and Milton Keynes. Photographs:Jim MacMillan/AP (left) and Dan Chung/Guardian
The planning firm that brought us Milton Keynes is to reshape the Iraqi city of Najaf.
On the face of it, the appointment of Llewelyn Davies Yeang to rebuild the holy city is an odd one: the two places couldn't be more different. Milton Keynes is a purpose-built new town less than 40 years old, famous for its concrete cows and roundabouts; Najaf was founded in the eighth century and is famous for the tomb of Iman Ali, whom Shia Muslims regard as the founder of their religion.
Richard Llewelyn Davies and others designed Milton Keynes around the car, in a series of grids modelled on Los Angeles. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and still has its fans. But like the Iraq war, Milton Keynes is now regarded by many as an American-influenced mistake.
"It takes the worst of North American planning and does it even worse," commented one recent visitor. These days, those running Llewelyn Davies Yeang might agree with that - in private, at least.
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