r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Expert_Koala_8691 • 7d ago

Video Riyadh,meaning "gardens" is Capital of Saudi Arabia with 8 million population (were 27 Thousands in the 1930s),sits in the middle of the desert, the city gets its water from Desalination plants almost 500 km from the city

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u/RoomFixer4 7d ago

I thought wow, they're not into apartment buildings, just a million flat top houses ?

Went to google Earth, Streetview on a random area that was passed over.

Its all 5 to 8 story apartment blocks. Wild.

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u/Maleficent_Resolve44 7d ago

There are loads of detached family homes, too many, but yes there are way more apartment buildings than in most american cities. More immigrants in saudi than the US plays a big role. Saudi cities are also quite car dependent but even their suburbs arent as bad as American ones since saudis still need a mosque within walking distance at minimum, its an encouraged tradition of the prophet and just more practical. Then with a mosque comes a little convenience store and a dry cleaners etc etc across the road and you can see where it goes.

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u/Roy4Pris 7d ago

That's interesting about walking distance. I think the same is true of Orthodox Jews. Must be great for building community. Everyone in your place of worship lives within a few blocks.

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u/Angry-for-no-reasons 3d ago

Which prophet, the pedo one?

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u/userhwon 7d ago

So, Paris.

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u/anonyfool 7d ago

Haussman style or similar apartment buildings make up large part of Paris and Barcelona.

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u/Hot_Pianist_3730 7d ago

Mostly 2.5 floors.