Landscape January Issue 2016 by Allan Castro

Middle East

january 2016

USP : • Proven Expertise in Turnkey Projects • Inclusive & customized Playground Design • Site Planning and Development • Project Management & Execution • Preventive Maintenance

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Tel: +971 (4) 3846792 | Fax: +971 (4) 3846790 | Email: americaneastern@binhendi.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE et me start by wishing all of our readers a Happy New Year. We hope that 2016 is a prosperous year for you all. Our January issue kick starts the year with jam packed features and interviews including the runner up in the Gardening World Cup in Japan.

We also look in-depth at new projects in the region such as the Al Ain Aflaj Park, Al Jazeera Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah which has been dubbed ‘Oysterland’ and Qatar’s challenges with designing Q Parks that will enhance lifestyle and entertainment experiences for the public. And on the back of the historic Climate Change deal that was brokered in Paris recently by governments around the world, we look at the consequences of urban development on the environment and how landscape architects can play a role in reducing damage and increasing green living.

John Hampton

The opinions and views contained in the articles in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily of the publishers. The publishers cannot be held liable for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

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I Managing Partner: Z iad Maarouf Amine I Copy Editor: John Hampton I Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi I Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan I Art Director: Ramon Andaya I Contributors: Tijana Ilic, Samar Zarifa, Jimena Martignoni, Rick Hilario, Ross U. I Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC I Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com

Landscape is distributed free of charge in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Eqypt, and Lebanon by Emirates Post UAE

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Contents January 2016 - Issue 103

Aflaj Park

Oysterland A Case Study of Al Jazeera Al Hamra

An urban planet: How to look at the world we live in today

32 38

Decoding the g sas green rating

The Tea Garden

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News & Events Falconcity of Wonders shares Urban Planning strategies with visiting Indian students CEPT University students gain practical insights on eco-friendly megaproject development

alconcity of Wonders LLC, the developer of Falconcity of Wonders (FCW), the multipurpose mega project being built in Dubai, has welcomed today a student delegation from India’s Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University to share project management strategies being implemented at its unique ‘City of Wonders.’ Mr. Alharith bin Salem Almoosa, Vice Chairman & Deputy General Manager of Falconcity of Wonders, delivered a presentation on FCW’s phases of development to a group of postgraduate students from CEPT University, an academic institution located in Ahmedabad, India, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs on the natural and developed environments of society and other related areas. The hosted students got a deeper understanding of the key aspects of the mega project along with practical insights on how to make it as livable as possible. The group was taken on a tour around Falconcity of Wonders to introduce them to urban planning, design,

construction and community management techniques implemented for the FCW community. The visit forms part of FCW’s efforts to help students from universities gain exposure to, and knowledge from, realworld applications of their respective fields.

to their country’s own future property developments. For our part, the stimulating discussions with the students provided us with refreshing perspectives on how to go about our future developments,” added Almoosa.

Mr. Alharith bin Salem Almoosa said: “Habitat management is a crucial element of overall project management. It ensures that residents are happy and comfortable with their homes and surroundings. Even if a development is grand, beautiful, and strategically located, it holds little value if its living environment is unsatisfactory for the residents. We were able to emphasize the importance of the urban planning especially for megaprojects such as FCW, which promises distinctively pleasurable living experience.”

Occupying more than 41 million square feet, Falconcity of Wonders is a sprawling residential, tourist, entertainment and recreational megaproject shaped in the form of a Falcon, the UAE’s emblem. The mega development embraces the cultures of the world with its contemporary and unique structures that are inspired by the “Wonders of the World” – including the Leaning Tower of Dubai, the Dueiffel Tower Dubai, the Pyramids Park and the Dubai Hanging Gardens of Babylon to name a few.

“The visit also enabled us to concretize our vision of transferring our knowledge and best practices to young minds who will oversee tomorrow’s developments. Our guests from India were very eager to learn from our experiences and will hopefully translate their newly-acquired knowledge

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Villas inspired by international architectural themes will form part of Falconcity of Wonders’ over 5,500 residential apartments and villas of various designs, locations and sizes. Commercial centers, ‘Falcon Fun City,’ family centers, sports facilities and schools are also included in the project’s master plan.

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News & Events We built standard for tomorrows playgrounds and recreational facilities while ensuring safety

hildren love to play and children are entitled to play - our main aim is to make it possible for them to play, to let it be fun filled and challenging, meanwhile ensuring safety. With 40 years of experience, our consultants and representatives can draw on a wealth of skills and knowledge in the field of playground and recreation products. At Larslaj we care for every detail, from a single playground element to a wide variety of equipment for all, in almost every possible way. We offer solutions that suit you. We work to set the standard for tomorrows playgrounds. A new perspective on playgrounds: ultimate safety, significant design, inspiration to play and unparalleled durability.

Our playground system has been designed according to the European standard EN 1176. The articles have additionally been individually certified, tested and approved by TÜV in Germany, according to the norm DIN EN 1176. Lars Laj products can be delivered worldwide with or without installation assistance. Deliveries for distant areas can be installed by the client themselves or with help of local installers. Each playground, as well as each particular unit, has its own detailed installation manual, ensuring that important safety aspects will be observed during installation. We offer plans and drawings for playground propositions free of charge, with no obligation to the customer. During the design process, the Lars Laj team always uses their knowledge and experience to help our clients make the right decision. Our consultants are there to listen and come up with a solution just right for you whether you need an entirely new playground, or would like to update, renew and upgrade an existing project.

DEWA receives 21 Requests for Qualification for 800MW 3rd project of Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

ubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received 21 Requests for Qualification (RFQs) from international energy companies and consortia for the 800MW 3rd project of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. This comes shortly after His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the 2nd project of the Solar Park, which will be operational in April 2017. Last September, DEWA received 95 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from international energy companies. The project tender is expected to be released in January 2016. “The high interest demonstrated by international companies to participate in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reflects the global trust in DEWA and Dubai in general. At DEWA, we work to achieve the objectives set by the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed

bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy. The strategy also aims to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from clean sources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. “At DEWA, we work to consolidate the foundations of sustainability in Dubai to achieve our vision to become a sustainable innovative

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Lars Laj modular playground systems include a wide range of elements from small units to extensive systems in such material as larch wood, robinia wood and metal. We have included thematic collections like Dragon Square, Lars Laj Marina or Discovery Farm so the children can make the most of their imagination. For everybody, regardless of age we offer a selection of Outdoor Fitness equipment that can enrich any recreational area. There are three lines of products depending on the intensity of workout namely: • SENIOR FITNESS are wooden items designed for a mild training. • MILITARY FITNESS is inspired by a military drill course for the most demanding exercise routine. • OUTDOOR FITNESS metal, weather resistant equipment that could be found in any indoor gym.

world class utility, and draw a roadmap for a brighter and happier future in Dubai. We are steadily increasing our dependence on clean and renewable energy sources. Our resolve reflects the determination of our wise leadership who support the diversification of the energy mix to ensure its security and build a sustainable future for generations to come,” added Al Tayer. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar project in the world. It will produce 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030, with total investment of AED 50 billion. This supports Dubai Government’s green initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. The solar park includes an innovation centre that includes a number of research and development laboratories in clean energy and will oversee research and development projects, with a total investment of AED 500 million. The solar park hosts a number of world-class facilities. These include a solar testing facility to study and evaluate the performance, longterm stability and reliability of the panels under actual local weather conditions. It also collaborates with international organisations on soiling and dust mitigation on photovoltaic equipment. The tests will set a baseline for the development of specifications, tests and standards for photovoltaic equipment in the region.

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News & Events

eam ‘Wisselspoor’ wins the tender for the transformation of the former industrial area of the NS in Utrecht. DELVA Landscape Architects, Studioninedots and Skonk present the master plan at the public presentation, commissioned by Synchroon and ERA Contour. The Royal Dutch Factory for vehicles and railway equipment, otherwise known as Werkspoor, was founded in 1828. With 5000 strong, this company was the largest employer in Utrecht. The company was internationally known for their trains of indestructible quality and proud staff. This pride is still there and the memory remains through the existing industrial buildings that remain. We will build upon the existing industrial character and ‘local heroes’ and contribute an exciting and comfortable urban community. With Wisselspoor we submit the link to the past and make a creative and surprising place where Utrecht can be proud of. Concept Cityplot People are searching for neighbourhoods that have their own character and also allow for the possibility to have a say in how their surroundings further grow and develop. Furthermore the future is unpredictable. This calls for a new kind of urban planning; or rather, an entire new way for how cities can grow into existence. Cityplot is founded without a preconceived end-product, but rather from the idea of creating a flexible and individual development. The plan is not predetermined but is dependent on the initiatives that will be set in motion at the moment that the transformation begins. From a ‘plot’ way of thinking, different building forms and functions will be possible. In this way, flexible and sustainable solutions can be created based on specific demands, and create diverse environments with unique identities. Stepped public space The urban life in Cityplot does not stop at ground level, but strives towards raised collective gardens and surrounding rooftops. Public, semi-public, and private spaces alternate with each other and contribute to the creation of a circular city. Height differences will be exploited in order to give form to transition spaces. Fences will not be seen as hard barriers, but embraced as identity-defining elements of the plan. Walls, fences, and raised elements create a dynamic contrast between the open-closed, and public-private spaces.

New future for historical NS-railway yard in Utrecht. Park spaces for the city The most important parks of Utrecht lie in a ring with a span of nearly 1.5 kilometers around the site plan. We see a unique chance to add to this existing language of parks. In the eastern-most point of the site plan it is possible to develop one of the most central lying parks in the entire city. This cultural park, together with a new-use program will be a new beautiful addition to the city. The offering of green-spaces will be finished off by the green pocket-parks devised in a linear ‘green-zone’ situated along the 2e Daalsedijk and functionally serve the neighbourhood. The southern portion of the site will have a green railway zone that has its own character and qualities. In total there will be four unique environments that will be created for living and working. Four anchoring environments ‘Wisselspoor’ will gradually transform into a mixed living-working environment. The plan is not predetermined but is dependent on the initiatives that will be set in motion at the

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moment that the transformation begins. We will build upon the existing industrial character and local quartermasters and contribute an exciting and comfortable community to the city. Four urban environments ensure a complexity and layering of the public spaces in ‘Wisselspoor’ which is what makes the area so attractive. The contrast between the urban park and intimate streets, courtyards, and inner courtyards. The inheritance and integration of the strong railway history together with a modern cultural and business lifestyle adds a fresh type of borough with a strong identity to the city. We start right away! The development should fit the needs of the users and locals in each stage of the development process. This means that before construction activities commence, during construction and after construction we pay close attention to the changing needs in functional program. After all, during the first “raw” stage the area has a different appearance than after completion of the total area. By focusing on a tailor-made program in the early stages we can both relate to the users as well as position the area with the desired brand DNA.

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News & Events

ast month saw the launch of desert INK’s new office in D3, and Landscape Middle East were there for the big event. We have come to expect something different from desert INK, and once again, they did not disappoint. The desert INK team took some time out of the revelry to discuss the office concept with us. “We’re always telling our clients that we will turn their constraints into opportunities”, enthuses Duncan Denley, Managing Director of desert INK.” So we applied the same principles when setting out to design our own office. We didn’t have experience in designing office environments and we had a limited budget. We turned these constraints on their heads and said let’s not design an office, but a landscape. We know landscape design inside out, so let’s apply the same principles. The limited budget led us to consider what inexpensive materials we could use to achieve the industrial aesthetic that we wanted. We decided on palettes, artificial turf, concrete and chipboard”. The results are striking, and visitors to the office are transplanted into a very unique, distinctly green, environment upon arriving. The reception desk is cast from polished concrete, with a wonderful backdrop of untreated palette wood. The famous desert INK drop logo is etched into the wood, giving a fantastic burnt appearance to the logo. Meanwhile, the team opted for many landscape lighting fixtures to create some unusual effects. “We used a very narrow beam spotlight on the front desk logo supplied by our friend Clive at Lihten. We also used external spike lights to illuminate our Heteropanax tree, which divides the reception area from the presentation area” commented William Bennett, the lead designer on the project.

Fresh INK 10

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The presentation area represents another departure from convention, with a tiered amphitheatre-like space constructed from wooden palette boards providing views of the screen. "We love this area, as it is just so flexible" says Kenneth Seraspi. "We present our work internally to show the other guys what we are up to and get fresh perspective and ideas. Clients also love it, as it creates a relaxed atmosphere, rather than the stuffy environments usually associated with presentations." We asked the team where the idea for applying lawn to the reception and presentation area came from; we'd seen this in a Google office, and we loved the idea of being able to sit on the lawns while someone was talking through a scheme. Since we often specify the material in our designs, it just seemed like a great idea, comments Bennett. There's a distinct

fun element to the office and it certainly feels warm and welcoming. We asked the team how this came about. "When you love what you do, you never need to work" says Denley. We think its important to be relaxed at work. Sometimes it can get a bit hectic, so on such occasions it' s great to be able to grab a colleague and play a game of table tennis or darts to let off some steam. What about the planting, we asked? the planting elements are divided into two. We have the tree in the presentation area, and a collection of Kentias and other lowlight species in the conference room. We noticed that most offices make the mistake of adding many small planting elements as an afterthought. We wanted to integrate planting into the very heart of the project from the start. We wanted quality, not quantity, so created two significant planters

to house mature plants which create a real impact says Denley. A visit to desert INK's offices at D3 is certainly an invigorating experience, and we were delighted to see a landscape practice not afraid to take risks and push the boundaries of what landscape professionals can achieve. We look forward to hearing more from desert INK as they settle into this creative environment. We love to have visitors, so please drop by if you want to come and explore concludes Denley. We urge you to do just that. Known for their amazing landscape designs, desert INK are a registered design consultancy based in the Dubai Design District. With 13 years of experience in the region, Managing Director Duncan Denley leads a creative team backed up by the 27 years’ experience held in the Desert Group and vision of CEO Michael Mascarhenas.

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park

Aerial view of Visitors Centre and Falaj Garden

Aflaj Park L

by: Al Ain City Municipality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Urban Planning Division and ICON- Intelligent Consult

ocated in the eastern part of Al Ain City, UAE, Aflaj Park covers an area of 480ha. The area has a special cultural and historical importance with the existence of three ancient aflaj irrigation systems -

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Falaj Khalifa, Falaj Al Aini and Falaj Al Dawoodi. A falaj (pl. aflaj) is an ancient, artificial underground channel, the purpose of which is to transport groundwater from high elevations to lower areas of land intended for agriculture.

Existing falaj channel

Existing falaj well-shaft (thugba)

Al Ain City Municipality (AAM) represented by its Urban Planning Division initiated a fine government proposal to accommodate recreational and heritage activities over part of Al Ain’s network of aflaj. In collaboration with AAM, particularly its Aflaj Section, ICON has developed a concept design for Aflaj Park. Eng. Laila Al Rashedi, AAM’s project manager stated that the conservation and interpretation of Al Ain’s ancient historical sites and landscapes is a fundamental part of Al Ain City Municipality strategy and its efforts in managing the City Image. The Aflaj Park project is presented as part of these efforts and in line with the recommendations of Al Ain’s City Image Management Strategy (Roberts Day, Australia, July 2010).

Currently the site is occupied by random settlement of ezab that form a real challenge to the development of the site. Ezab are small, temporary livestock farms that, for many Emirati’s, are a key link with their Bedouin heritage. The plan for the park requires that these farms be relocated, most of them only a kilometer or so further to the east. The site will then be fenced off and access will be controlled, allowing for proper protection of sensitive areas that have been extensively degraded by misuse, poor control of litter and dumping of building waste. The main objectives were to preserve the existing aflaj and introduce it to the community and tourists in an educational and entertaining context. Knowledge

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park

Concept design plan

Visitors Centre

about aflaj will be obtained through real experience, through touching water in the channels and looking at falaj thugba (air shaft) sections in real scale. Recreational activities will mostly be provided in the form of trails for pedestrians and cyclists along falaj lines, contributing to and accomplishing a more active lifestyle for residents and occasional visitors. In order to determine the activities most sought by the community in the future park, the design team conducted an extensive community survey. This concluded that the top third of preferred activities are family and exercise focused, the middle third are educationally focused, and the lower third are entertainment and water feature focused. The park layout is designed to reflect these preferences. Additionally, all proposed facilities and activities are supportive of three essential guidelines - heritage, recreation and education. The trails proposed along the Al Aini Falaj will form the main recreation and heritage area. Al Dawoodi Falaj trails are proposed as recreational areas. Khalifa Falaj trails are proposed as the main education and heritage anchors, including a Visitors Centre and Falaj Garden, petting zoo and Wadi park. Roadside parking is proposed along adjacent car access routes. The number of people arriving on foot or by bicycle will be low in comparison, but will have all necessary facilities.

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Concept design features include the following: Visitors Centre is an information hub displaying and explaining the history and irrigation system of aflaj and the bringing of underground water to the surface. Its surrounding landscape includes an impressive falaj garden with falaj exhibits, outdoor classrooms and performance areas serving as educational and cultural nodes of the Aflaj Park. A falaj located 16m deep underneath the surface of the ground is opened to the viewing of the public by constructing a landscaped canyon. Wadi Park is located adjacent to the existing wadi (ephemeral riverbed) edge. With a water feature and water playgrounds it is a symbol of interaction and livability of a public space. Pocket parks are distributed along Al Aini and Al Dawoodi falaj lines at a walking distance of 200m. The landscape consists of native planting and shade Falaj Garden

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park

trees in accordance with the overall surrounding desert landscape. Each pocket park has a cabin with available information about the park, F&B outlets with toilets and outdoor sitting areas.

Wadi Park

Petting zoo area consists of an animal house with different farm animals. It is on an island surrounded by a haha wall and moat filled with water to prevent animals from escaping. Camping and individual picnic areas are located where the ezab were previously. Camping and picnic spots consist of a dedicated parking space and picnic table. Camping gear or consumer needs can be provided by individuals or rented in dedicated rental shops. Sports area at Al Dawoodi Falaj trails consists of three multi-use game areas, 3km cycling circuit and a 2.5km shared running and cycling loop. Also, a playground, shaded sitting areas, food and beverage cabins, bike rental and information points are provided. Pocket Park - typical

private partnership a feasible option. AAM welcomes and encourages any sponsors or investors to get in contact to discuss the many investment opportunities that this plan creates, especially related to biking, camping retailing and food and beverage activities inside the park. Based in Abu Dhabi, ICON is a multidisciplinary engineering consultant focused on creating sustainable urban identity. It’s main areas of expertise are landscape & urban design, as well as infrastructure & utilities. ICON’s professional attitude and utmost passion for URBANscape development is recognizable throughout various project phases, from concept design to tender and supervision. ICON – Intelligent Consult – Abu Dhabi Tel: 02 672 4200; Fax: 02 672 2515; email: info@i-con.ae, Website: www.i-con.ae

Outdoor Art Space is located where former ezab used to be. Some ezab walls are kept and transformed into art canvases, exhibition spaces and workshop areas. It will be an appropriate setting for school trips as well as weekend workshops. Bike and pedestrian trails are proposed along Al Aini and Al Dawoodi falaj lines. Bike trails are proposed throughout the entire site connecting all proposed design features. Every 250m along them there are resting points meant to encourage people to enjoy the site. The park is suitable for phased development enabling partial revenue to the developer before full completion. The proposed design includes several investment opportunities for the private sector which makes the construction of the whole park as a public-

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Camping and Individual Picnic Areas

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development

Samar Zarifa

Landscape Architect

Samar is currently a Landscape Architect at Cracknell, and Adjunct Instructor at the American University in Dubai. She completed her Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture at The University of Toronto, Canada, in 2012. The following proposal is the product of her Master’s thesis project. To learn more about it, please visit: http://www.alqasimifoundation.com/en/Publications/Publication/ sertDevelopmentACaseStudyofAlJazeeraAlHamra.aspx Or email zarifa.samar@gmail.com

Oysterland Sustainable Desert Development:

A Case Study of Al Jazeera Al Hamra By: Samar Zarifa Landscape Architect

he United Arab Emirates and the region have recently become infamous for the extravagant island developments lining their coasts. However, lately these have been shown to manifest various implications on our environment. By looking at the relationship between people’s perceptions of these coastal landscapes, as well as their effects, including their strenuous demands on water, a design prototype for a more holistic approach to coastal developments is proposed.

Figure 1

By profiling Al Jazeera Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah – one of the only fully standing abandoned villages in the Gulf region (Figure 1) - as a case study, this design

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prototype integrates the unique visual references of the islands’ forms and the people’s contemporary lifestyles, with water saving techniques and inspiration from the people’s traditional practices and way of life. Prior to the discovery of oil, the people of the Gulf region mainly lived along the coast, depending on the sea as an economic resource. Currently, many designs around us create a visual reference to the region’s history, such as palm trees, coral or pearl, and have received admiration from a large audience, yet these only provide a static representation of the region’s heritage, and are disconnected from the desert environment and culture in which they are located (Koolhaas et al., 2007). Furthermore, they require a significant amount of energy in maintenance.

since moved to larger homes equipped with modern facilities. They still possess ownership of their land in the village, where it continues to have a sentimental value to its people.

that was subsequently halted in 2009, blocked sea access. The village is in close proximity to the modern Al Hamra Village, an industrial port, a theme park, and RAK ceramics.

The village underwent a slow gentrification process. At the time of the first survey in 2012, the abandoned buildings were dilapidated, and some expatriate workers occupied structures at the edge of the site due to their low rental costs. In 2008, the base infrastructure of an island development

The first step was to look at the various methods through which historic sites are typically approached. These include: 1. Preserve it as it is; 2. Renovate the site according to modern standards; or 3. Equip the site for adaptive reuse. By choosing adaptive reuse, people, culture, local biological diversity and

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One highly significant consequence of these developments involves the misuse of one of the region’s scarcest resources: water. Only a few years after their construction, many of these developments have resulted in poor seawater circulation along the coast, causing algal blooms, silty water, continuous shoreline maintenance and damaging existing populations of native species (Van Lavieren et al., 2011). However, research conducted by Burt et. al in 2010, showed an emergence of a few new species and an increase in diversity of coral reefs on the newlybuilt breakwaters.

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It is therefore vital to consider the ultimate purpose of the proposed designs and their future response to natural surroundings post-construction, at the planning and early design stages of a project. This will ensure both long-term positive environmental and economic outcomes. Al Jazeera Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah has a rich history tied to its once strategic location. At approximately 1.25km2 the village was an island until 1957, when through construction and filling the isle joined its adjacent mainland (Parker and Al-Farraj, 2000). The main sources of income were the pearl trade and fishing industries. During the hot summer months, its local tribes would travel to cooler areas inland, where they owned date palm farms, irrigated by local spring water. The families who previously inhabited the village have

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development

Figure 2

The proposed name for the development is Oysterland (Figure 3). Due to the high calibre of form in the region, the proposed design for the village is inspired from biomimicry, by studying the organic form of the regionally highly regarded oyster. However, rather than being a mere static representation of an oyster, the designs will respond to the surrounding ecology and proposed program. In doing so, the site can become an educational and recreational attraction where people can participate and learn about the region. To make the most efficient use of water around the revitalized village, the process of water circulation and treatment on site is necessary. Currently, the average amount of wastewater created per person in the UAE is approximately 550 liters per day, which is more than double the global national average (Szabo, 2011). After hypothesizing the number of visitors, structures as well as the various

design approaches proposed, and utlising water-saving strategies, the daily water requirements per person can decrease to 124 litres per day, less than 25% of the current amount. The water used will be segregated into greywater and blackwater for separate treatment.

current development trends are all considered. This approach also builds on the â&#x20AC;&#x153; UNESCO Biosphere Reserveâ&#x20AC;? introduced by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (Biosphere Reserves, n.d.) (Figure 2). For the purposes of this proposal, the site will take a landscape precedent, and existing buildings shall be preserved and maintained.

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Oysterland is divided into 5 zones:

Figure 3

Figure 5

The first is the Village Zone, where existing abandoned structures shall be renovated, and consist of a local shopping area, restaurants, research and educational facilities, and a water services and maintenance area (Figure 4). Here, greywater is collected and treated in an underground tank located in each household courtyard, and will be used to irrigate the surrounding plants, and for flushing toilets in adjacent buildings. Any excess greywater shall be transported to the blackwater treatment system (Figure 5). Blackwater is collected and treated separately at the edge of the site. The treated water is taken to an aquaponics system, where fish and aquatic plants

further purify the water. This doubles up as an educational attraction to visitors, and the treated effluent is reused in the Oasis and Lagoon Zones. An oasis, a traditional source of food, water and shelter, is cultivated on site,

Figure 4

Figure 6

creating lush vegetation and shaded areas up to 6â&#x201E;&#x192; cooler for people to enjoy. (Okeil, n.d.). Visitors can participate in planting, maintenance, and irrigation activities, learning how oases typically function and how well-shaded areas can drastically improve the outdoor conditions.

Since the site has been devoid of diverse species for decades, this proposal allows for the reintroduction of species that were once present in the region. Introducing a lagoon connected to the sea, where the treated blackwater effluent is released,

creates a brackish water system, which allows for native aquatic fauna and flora and birds to thrive. Here, visitors will be able to observe birds, kayak, and learn about the various species that thrive in this type of environment (Figure 6).

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development

Figure 7

The pier, which was initially the infrastructure of the halted island development, is now redesigned such that it is used productively, avoiding demolition costs. Ropes made of palm fronds are placed horizontally in the closed portion of the pier and used to grow algae. The ropes are then transferred to the farther end of the pier and attached vertically to wooden platforms. Water currents would circulate the algae, which serves as food for oysters. Over time, the cultivated oysters and other marine species shall thrive in a region that has seen much of its natural habitat sacrificed to developments. A marina and low-impact activities like scuba diving and snorkeling attract visitors (Figure 7). In order to promote efficient water circulation through the pier, recessions can be dug into the breakwater where water can continuously flow through and avoid still, clouded water. Along the Coast, since the net direction of flow of water around the village is from south-west to north-east – an important factor to research in coastal design –

Figure 8

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the proposed coastline is deliberately designed to be undulating such that it allows the water to flow continuously along the coast causing no shoreline buildup or erosion. Besides a beach area, locally-based restaurants enable visitors to taste the local seafood that was once a staple at the village of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. The sea will also provide an interesting backdrop for a proposed theater. Additionally, adding steps along the water enables visitors to understand tidal fluctuations based on the number of steps visible (Figure 8). Oysterland is a proposal that bridges the gap between the region’s past and present, increasing people’s connectedness to their surroundings and makes use of current advances in technology. Implementing the strategies proposed permits design to be in sync with people’s contemporary lifestyles as well as enhances the character and experience of the surrounding landscape while making productive use of local resources.

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urban danger

An urban planet:

How to look at the world we live in today Global issues derived from urbanisation

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ometimes we wonder how landscape architects really can help to make something good of the built environment where we live, something better and better and more empathetic with the conditions of the present time. The role of the landscape architect is related to and complements that of city planners and architects in general. Today, no architect thinks of a building without incorporating or improving or taking into account the conditions of the environment (soils, hydrology, climate conditions, land); and no city planner thinks of urban spaces without taking into account man (human scale) and landscape (this only if we assume city planners still survive, because urbanism is something that is more and more replaced by solutions for the city, mainly based on sites conversions instead of what used to be a few decades ago, when cities still had real vacant land and less population, etc).

Each time, man and landscape are key elements in the process of place-making. Currently, we are witnessing the largest process of urbanisation on a global scale. Cities conquer the planet, requiring an ever larger use of natural resources, generating changes in the conditions of air, soils and water and establishing diverse social differences on the community scale and worldwide. Official studies show that the planetÂ´s urbanisation has rocketed over the

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urban danger

last 100 years, with a rate of urban growth three times larger than the total growth of the planet´s population. Today, more than 60% of the world´s population is urban. In Latin America the figure is 80%, and in two of its most representative cities –São Paulo and México City– live more than 20 million people each; keeping in mind that in 1800, coinciding with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the total world urban population was 24 million, it is clearly shown the disproportion between the two figures and, consequently, the explosive growth of cities. At present, we inhabit a planet which is mostly urban. The city is the largest and most complex “living organism” that appears to exist today. Without necessarily panicking in response to this information very briefly expressed, and whose ultimate goal is to set a general realistic state of the situation, the urban inhabitant must become aware and take responsibility of the results of these processes. Even if we aren´t consciously aware of this, these results start to be reflected in our everyday life and in the life of our planet, every time more visibly. The concept of “climate change”, or at least the use of this expression and the partial comprehension of it, is more and more internalized worldwide; even when uncertainty remains as one of its mayor components –as far as to the causes and consequences being absolutely demonstrated– the sustained process of modifications to the climate appears as a main issue on international scientific agendas and in regional and local economic and political agendas. In the first it´s been a subject under study for more than twenty years (first appearing

in the Stockholm World Summit, 1972, and definitively taken in the Rio World Summit, 1992, and of course in the Kyoto Protocol in1997); the economic-political agendas, on the other hand, have started to treat the matters related to climate change, or at least to disseminate them extensively, very recently, approximately in the last five years.

the era of communication and information and whatever happens on one side of the planet it is known instantaneously on the other. This information, and mainly the handling of it, could also lead to confusion; however, the point is: currently, without being experts or professionals in the field, we all can relate, for instance, the problem of floods to the urban dynamic.

This closeness with the concept of climate change relates to the fact that, as urban inhabitants and users, we all start to experience diverse signs of the process of modification of climatic conditions which, in turn, is the result –at least in a high proportion- of cities putting pressure on nature and its cycles. Changes in the statistics of rains, slight increases in the oceans level, minor but basically constant and gradual increases of temperatures are the factors we know exist and explain the process, but yet come to us only as figures and theoretical data. Conversely, floods, droughts, lack of drinking water and heat waves are perhaps the facts that appear, tangible, and then make us aware; always in concordance with levels of education and interest of people and societies. We live in

We hear about too many impervious surfaces, we hear about the greenhouse effect and we hear about excessive amounts of construction. This is a sign of how something is perceived, something that is there, something different happening around us and, therefore, new thoughts and new perspectives must arise and settle. Looking far into the future The new points of view on a global scale, which are a necessity and a commitment, start to outline themselves with an anticipatory character. This is to say: the attempt of a long-term thought and the action that is not only reaction, even when the latter is unquestionably necessary for the city under certain circumstances of urgency. An action that looks far into the future without leaving out the present, thus seeking the warranty of sustainability over time and thus gaining a larger degree of responsibility, sensitivity and understanding of the whole. With this new perspective the past becomes very significant, meaning “the origin” of the urban system which undoubtedly refers to the landscape and its basic conditions (topography, hydrography, vegetation). Currently, most of the urban projects try to solve all those problems that come from the results of the urban overgrowth and the consequent loss of green surface; they want –paradoxically– to re-naturalize the city. Additionally, and looking at the bigger picture, there´s also the resiliency of the city as the capacity to face with flexibility the problems which arise, without losing

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urban danger

certain of its intrinsic characteristic. This is directly related to the possibility of adaptation and acceptance of the current conditions, with a perspective that, yet, doesn´t deny the need for transformation and progress. In the present, we must accept certain changes and situations whose scale goes beyond the possibility a “close solution” and a “solved problem”. The idea of a perspective that looks into the future understands any possible solutions as open and flexible processes. However, to look further into the future requires at least a retrospective knowledge. The search for a mark founded in a not very distant past gives this perspective a new direction towards what is coming, trying to assure a quality place for future generations: this is what is described as sustainability, a concept which –like climate change– is still full of uncertainties. Global trends and new lines of thinking Cities are “heat islands”. This means that cities act as large heat sinks during the day, because of the big mass of absorbent surfaces and the kinds of materials (walls and pavements) which prevail in its structure and which, with its shapes (angles between walls, roofs and floors) also create reflective labyrinths of the already stored heat. Therefore, the center of cities always has a higher temperature than the natural surroundings and in turn this temperature decreases towards the edges, where the urban mass becomes less.

The heat island effect is related to the modification of the cycles of rain, the retention of the atmospheric greenhouse gases and, of course, the increase of impervious surfaces. Studies carried out by governmental organisms and by specialist consultants in different parts of the world point out the clear relationship between the growth of urban population – and the consequent loss of natural soil surfaces- and the risks of flooding. On the other hand, different organizations outline diverse “adaptation plans”; in Latin America, in May 2013, the CEPAL (Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean) prepared a detailed report for the adaptation of Latin

American “megacities” to climate change. This report takes six cities –Bogotá, Buenos Aires, México City, Lima, Santiago de Chile and São Paulo– and evaluates their current situations and particular vulnerabilities and the initial governmental programs for the related decision making processes. New problems imply new perspectives and new lines of thinking. In New York, USA, the new projects (still in very initial stages) that seek to resolve the big problems of floods caused by the increase of sea levels (dramatically represented by the events which occurred in 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy) are aimed at the re-naturalization of the city. The current actions are no longer only related to large engineering projects, but to specific works that can mitigate the effects of the new natural phenomena, part of the process of climate change. In the most vulnerable parts of the city –sea coast and landfill areas– the proposal is to create large wetlands and green areas all combined with any surfaces more pervious than the current ones. Rotterdam, Holland, and Copenhagen, Denmark, define large programs to control, manage and turn into something positive the presence of water, which has been an essential natural component for the planning and development of both cities. The objective, when facing the possibilities of floods, is the “collection and storage” of rainwater, either in large low surfaces, in water plazas or as part of new residential plans. The city “receives” water to “return” and “recycle”. Particularly in Copenhagen the climate change adaptation plan speaks

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urban danger

of generating more “blue and green spaces”, incorporating and increasing the value of the natural structure of the city which presents relevant areas of water; in this way, they put into practice the most appropriate solutions and with less economic impact. The city adapts and tries to become more resilient and flexible. In São Paulo, over the last five years, the city´s government has been focusing on the reutilization and creation of new lineal parks which act as corridors with diverse environmental functions. The beds of channeled streams, or part of the open streams, are treated as mitigation spaces, in some cases as “drainage machines” that also offer recreational spaces: functional landscapes. All these cases try to relate to the original landscape and its natural functions, lost under layers and layers of urban sprawl. Today, landscape conversion is the only real option for city development. Urban landscape is converted and so is the manner in which it´s seen, thought of and lived in. Local projects and global hope The adaptation of the city to new global realities, however, can only be implemented on a local scale, through specific urban projects which together model a new system of spaces and a new system of thinking. The truth is that, at the same time urban projects are completed in every city (those necessary and possible to be realized), global networks grow at a spectacular pace.

Today we speak about megacities, metropolis, regions of polycentric megalopolis (these last ones interconnecting many cities mainly understood as financial centers and cultural nodes); in all these new expressions, which refer to new urban structures of major proportions, the dominant concept is that of the functional interconnection through transportation and information networks. The physical connection is no longer a fundamental feature or an essential condition to define the original city which refers to the “polis”; we now speak about regions, networks and metropolitan corridors, only connected by flows of people, goods, services and information. This concepts leads to a differentiation between places as tangible spaces and flows as intangible spaces of exchange. It is in the tangible space, or “place”, where people meet, live and suffer the real urban problems. Therefore, this is the scale or the context in which appears the real necessity of new ideas and new thoughts that are able to respond to the new problems we face as a global society.

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It is, literally, global thinking and local action. The idea of the re-naturalization of cities, which from a general point of view can be understood as a process of remodeling and revalorization of the formal and functional characteristics of the original landscape where the city is enclosed – either plains or undulating land, hills and valleys, systems of streams, rivers, channels and deltas –bring us in some way a frame of hope and positivism. The landscape of the city attempts a different adaptation from the one shaped in response to a selfish need of a growing and pushing structure; the current adaptation, which comes from a need to solve recurrent and global problems, is one more humble and more holistic. The new transformation of the city brings with it the transformation of the life of man, who then starts to accept new realities with new conditions. Then, hope remains. We, landscape architects, definitely play a leading role in this process.

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green ratings

Decoding the G sas green ratings Ways to score on the q parks paradigm By: Rick A Hilario II MSc / MPIEP / FPALA

n rolling out its new generation of parks, Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public Parks Department (PPD) faces key challenges in park design. One is finding its place in the biodiversity debate raging in professional circles. The other is emergent leisure and lifestyle trends in the GCC region. It is against these headwinds that park design seeks to find its fit and relevance. Park design also must meet Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GSAS green ratings. In doing so, can design still keep its creative drive beyond the mechanistic quest for scores.

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Primary Influences on the Design of Qatar’s Public Parks The biodiversity debate includes arguments on biodiversity between equally passionate advocates on both sides of the debate and raises questions on how Qatar’s park design can claim sustainability. Often at contention among consultants and authorities are the list of plants, both native and adapted, in the 2014 Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS)—related to this is the use of soil amendments which are supposed to significantly reduce irrigation water demand. Understanding the Biodiversity Paradox of Urbanization Biodiversity behaves in a curious way in cities. The same phenomenon likely operates in Doha. From a study (McKinney, 2008) of 105 cities worldwide, data compiled was transposed onto an urbanization model of the city having three parts, as shown in the diagram across. The least developed fringe has less than 20% of its surface area paved. This transitions into the suburbs, roughly but not quite the equivalent of Doha’s fereejs, in which 20-50% of its surface area is paved. The densest core, the central business district has more than 50% of its surface area paved. Moving towards the suburbs, biodiversity dramatically peaks. And as we move towards the urban core where nature gets fragmented and vegetation is simplified, biodiversity expectedly drops as dramatically. But even at this drop, it makes for a second peak compared to where biodiversity stood at the fringe. Here lies biodiversity’s urban paradox. Why does this happen? Where two contrasting environments meet, at the thin edge is the zone of highest biological productivity. Territorial imperatives, breeding and feeding opportunities are at their greatest here, usually expressed in increased biodiversity. This is the 'edge effect'.

Emerging Leisure Trends in the Regions The ideal ratio between indoors to outdoor recreation would be 1:1. It’s a work- life balance that is as yin-andyang. Studies (TNC, 2013) In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region for children aged 2-12 reveal that out of the total leisure time children have, an overwhelming share of that at 88% is spent indoors using digital devices. Only a bit over 11% is spent for outdoor leisure, while only 0.5% in reading.

Is Reading Dead? It is as if reading had been severely desensitized in this very graphic world. By age 7-8, most children would have seen other exotic worlds. They have seen the universe from their iPhones. The challenge for park signage and wayfinding would perhaps be just how to grab their attention on things as everyday as ‘entry’ and ‘exit’. Compelling Indoor Entertainment. Developers have been sharp on this trend. Dubai malls offer manufactured

realities of spectacular 4D-7D holographic shows. Could park entertainment now measure up to these? In the Pearl in Qatar, being built is what could be the GCC’s largest indoor entertainment hub at 7,000 sqm.

The reason behind this trend, as the 2013 TNC study reveals, is that parents gladly give children gadgets to distract them.

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green ratings

As if anticipating parenting behaviour, 2014 was a watershed year for gadget makers as they put out, for the first time, the most number of waterproof gadgets in the market, acknowledging the impact of the digital space on outdoor leisure. The new normal for recreation in outdoor entertainment no longer needs to be self-immersing, and tolerant of intermittent interruptions in how leisure is compulsively tethered to our remote urban environments, our homes, workplaces, stocks exchanges and supply chains. Qatar’s Tourism Masterplan 2030. The long-term vision for Qatar’s tourism is quite revealing for its distinctly urban focus. Departing from the traditional 3Ss of nature-based recreation: sun, sea and sand, the plan seeks to pursue an additional 5Ss on the back Qatar’s rising built-assets wealth. The new opportunities cover sports, shopping, skyscrapers, spas and surgery. A 6th S, safari, is nature oriented, but most of the new plan strategies aspire for a bright future in urban leisure. (Giampiccoli + Mtapuri, 2015).

Reckoning with the GSAS Framework In the design process, parks need to meet mandatory sustainability rating in Qatar’s Global Sustainability Assessment System (Gsas), administered by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD) as a formal process. Hierarchy of Parks. GSAS recognizes an hierarchy in Qatar’s park system. This falls into the small, medium and large categories as in the chart accross.

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A large proportion of PPD’s parks built or under design are at the neighborhood level scale, scattered in a wide patchwork across Qatar’s seven (7) municipalities. There too are some medium sized parks at the community level. Rating required. The minimum required for parks is to achieve two (2) stars, with a cumulative score of +1.0. Nothing in the book requires stopping at 2 stars, and the quest for the higher bar comes with obvious reasons of prestige.

Rating Criteria. Based on the GSAS 2014 v2, there are a total of 37 criteria, accordingly clustered and weighted into 7 categories, as illustrated in the chart in the next page. Going for the gold, or the quest for scores would hinge on first meeting those criteria having the most percentage weights, and those are in the categories tagged in the bright blue buttons: Site (S) having total of 25% and Water at 20%. Urban connectivity and Cultural and Economic Value each offering 10% weights, and Energy with a potential maximum of 15%.

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green ratings 7 categories

No UC UC.1 UC.3 UC.5 UC.8 UC10 S S.1 S.2 S.3 S.4 S.5 S.6 S.7 S.9 S.10 S.12 S.13 S.14 S.15 S.17 E E.2 E.3 E.4 E.5 W

Category / Criteria Urban Connectivity Proximity to infrastructure Public Transportaion Sewer & Waterway Contamination Accessibility Solid Waste Load Site Land Preservation Water Body Preservation Habitat Preservation Vegetation Desertification Rainwater Runoff Heat Island Effect Noise Pollution Light Pollution Parking Footprint Shading Illumination Pathways Crime Prevention Energy Energy Delivery Performance Fossil Fuel Conservation CO2 Emissions NOx. SOx & Particulate Matter Water

Weights 10.00% 2.13% 1.91% 1.60% 1.70% 2.66% 25.00% 2.85% 3.79% 2.85% 2.28% 2.28% 1.90% 0.95% 0.95% 1.27% 1.90% 0.85% 1.14% 1.14% 0.85% 15.00% 4.15% 2.90% 3.63% 4.32% 20.00%

W.1

Water Consumption

M M.1

Materials Regional Materials

8.00% 2.86%

M.2 M.3 M.4 M.7 CE CE.1

Responsible Sourcing of Materials Recycled Materials Materials Reuse Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Cultural & Economic Value Heritage & Cultural Identity

3.33% 1.43% 2.38% N/A 10.00% 2.94%

CE.2 CE.3 MO MO.1 MO.2 MO.3 MO.4

Support of National Economy Green Partnerships Management & Operations Commissioning Plan Organic Waste Management Recycling Management Leak Detection

1.76% 5.30% 8.00% 0.74% 2.47% 3.09% 0.49%

20.00%

37 criteria

Goals

Medicago sativa, Alfalfa

The park's planning shall incorporate urban considerations

The parks development in relation to existing site conditions shall be controlled.

The parks depletion of fossil energy over its service life shall be controlled. The parks impact on the water consumption and its associated burden on municipal supply and treatment systems shall be controlled. The park's ecological impact shall be controlled with regard to factors associated with material extraction, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use/reuse and disposal for the development of infrastructure, public spaces, and

GSAS Category GSAS Criteria GSAS Category GSAS Criteria

: Site [S] : S.1 Land Preservation S.3 Habitat Preservation : Water [W] : W.1 Water Consumption

Another underrated perennial, alfalfa, is consigned to just a fodder crop for livestock. Yet its nitrogen-fixing properties enriches soil and profuse blooming attracts insect pollinators, which in turn, attract urban wildlife. Its permanent cover also protects the soil from sunbaking, reducing water use. Apart from being edible, alfalfa is able to meet multiple GSAS criteria. GSAS Category : Site [S] GSAS Criteria : S.3 Habitat Preservation

The park shall enhance cultural values and boost national and local economies.

The park's management and operations plans shall be defined.

The quest for an engaging and sustainable site design, through softscape, hinges on a sensitive selection of plants, which fulfill the nuances of esthetics and environmental services. A well thought-out plant palette can avoid the need to stress the arguments for ways to score within the GSAS framework. Ways to Score with Planting. The planting strategies here are illustrative by which to score sustainability points, and are among several angles open to landscape architects to buttress sustainability arguments. Much also depends on the context and scale of sites which hint at a project- appropriate plant palette. GSAS Category : Site [S] GSAS Criteria

: S.1 Land Preservation

Plant stratification

Putting the edge effect principle to good use, a vertical articulation of stratified planting layers creates a vertical stratification of contrasting environments that can support urban biodiversity for flora and fauna while enhancing the microclimate. This enriched layering of vegetation compensates for the simplified landscapes typical of Qatar’s public realm. Does Planting Matter?

GSAS Category : Site [S] GSAS Criteria : S.2 Water Body Preservation S.3 Habitat Prese

Chrysopogon zizanoides, Vetiver grass, not invasive in habit, is one of the few versatile materials unknown in Qatar for its potential in meeting multiple sustainability criteria. Key to this is its deep-rooting habit up to 3m in depth, which can be in lieu of stone armoring at highway embankments to stabilize steep slopes. Moreover, it allows for a number of environmental and engineering services, which includes biofiltration in wastewater lagoons, as sediment control in bioswales and beach sand stabilization in the costal zone against storm surge.

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Beyond covering up architectural or engineering mistakes, plants perform important environmental services. When designed right and sustainable, this green: infrastructure creates value-added to projects and sites. There is a big biological basis for wanting green: big because it is universal and touches us in unconscious ways. Hard-Wired to Green’s Spectral Signature. In the spectrum of visible light, the color green and its closely associated yellow green is right at the middle. It is the same green at the heart of rainbow. Green has its special spectral signature, it vibrates at 7.83Hz. When transmuted to the audio scale, 7.83Hz. is an extra-low frequency (ELF) as the diagram across shows. It is barely audible, but it is cosmic constant by which the earth naturally vibrates. We call it the Schumann Resonance.

of moods and emotions, this balancing effect makes for its restorative powers. It is perhaps no coincidence that green occupies that special middle sweet spot in the visible spectrum. The Schumann Resonance, transmuted into the octaves of the audio Solfeggio musical scale, correspond to 528Hz. This frequency has been demonstrated to heal and repair damaged DNA in laboratory experiments.

Chlorophyll, what makes the world green and the basis for all the earth’s natural primary productivity, vibrates to this same frequency. The fringe fields of harmonics, cymatics and biophilia point to accumulating evidence in science. Green Effects on Human Perception. People estimate the temperature of a space, indoors or out, with the colors blue or green to be cooler than actual ambient temperature. This has been measured to be 6-10F degrees cooler than actual. While this may not be much in peak summer outdoors in Doha, it does not change the fact how positively hardwired we are to respond to a green bias.

Green’s Impact on Human Physiology. Findings in industrial psychology, from which corporate branding draws inspiration from, point to real positive effects of the color green on human physiology. Measured as statistically significant in replicable experiments, the effects are in three (3) major ways; Calms and balances. Because green calms and centers us from the extremes

Improved Performance and Efficiency. Exposure to natural green surroundings prior to starting tasks improves proficiency, particularly in tasks that involve cognition and memory. Enhances Creativity. The good news for those engaged in the creative economy, is that green has real impact on enhancing creativity. This biological basis for wanting green is the deep, powerful imperative reason for parks or green site infrastructure. This provides the connection to nature which indoor leisure sorely lacks.

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Gardens

ustralian Ross Uebergang was working in childcare when he discovered his love of gardening through a vegetable garden that he created for a school project. In 2012, Uebergang won the Don Fleming Award at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show projecting him onto the international gardening stage. “I still feel very lucky. I have an ultrasmall business that designs and constructs boutique gardens around the world with a portable office in Melbourne,” Uebergang told Landscape ME.

The

“I try to complete no more than a handful of gardens in a year for clients who wish to have a considered garden created with love and understanding while having some fun. My practice is about people and place:

Tea Garden Designer Ross Uebergang tells Landscape about his success in this year’s World Garden and Flower Show in Japan

by: Corkery Consulting

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I strive to make a meaningful connection with the client and their land, their past, present and future creating a sustainable, evocative garden that captures the emotions we want to feel in the space. “ For much of the year, Uebergang lectures at universities and teaches design and constructing to students. “I then move around completing all of the projects that I would not get the chance to do otherwise, honing my skills and learning from other cultures.” Uebergang said: “I believe that plants are the most important and rewarding part of any garden, and that gardens can be beautiful, functional yet also sustainable. Plants aren’t just a garnish. They are the givers of our breath, and the source of our food. They are the gatekeepers of life.”

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Gardens

What do you take away from your winning experience in Japan? I think it reinforced a few things for me. The first thing was that initial form is critical but you must nail the details. There is no substitute for actually touching the materials. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever want to stop being part of the construction. The second was that making something beautiful is one thing, but you need to make it work for the people that are going to use it. After the awards and the Karaoke, my garden became the place that the designers hung out. This really made me feel good about the space.

What is next for you? I just really want to do a good job. I have been trying to find a niche where I am able to spend an appropriate amount of time on projects to do a job that I am proud of. I have only completed two gardens so far this year and we only have a couple of months left. But I had an amazing time on both of them. I want to keep doing a low volume and surround myself with other people doing amazing things. I am quite interested in function and lifestyles at the moment. How do we incorporate nature into our lives that are moving completely in the

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Gardens

opposite direction? The majority of our population spends 8 hours per day in an office or similar. This doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. So this is where I want to start to focus my attention next. Imagine working somewhere that felt more like a forest than a box, or being able to go outside to a hot-seat in a garden for part of your day. If you own a business that wants to do something exciting and new to make your workplace the place to be, get in touch; I have a lot of ideas!! Is your life now very different that you imagined it to be 10 years ago? Well, my background is in childcare – Outside School Hours Care (OSHC). I started accessing grants to put in health programs tackling obesity in the school age care setting. I then started using part of the money to create a kitchen garden with the children. From there I realised how much I loved plants and I started studying horticulture on the

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side. I spent many nights recruiting my housemates to use flash cards to help me learn the names of hundreds of plants. I then moved to Melbourne and took on a landscape design course and half way through I landed a job with Paal Grant Designs in Landscape. They were coincidentally Australia’s other entrant in the Gardening World Cup (now known as the World Garden and Flower Show) and got a design award for innovation. I worked for Paal in the office and on the tools and got a really rounded introduction to the landscape field. I did a lot of 3D modeling which was a great way of communicating his designs. This experience allowed me to gain some great opportunities including this Japan Gardening World Cup entry. I am an incredibly lucky man and I feel guilty that so many opportunities have come my way. I am eager to help out others starting in the industry if anyone needs some work experience. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Gardens

What do you love about Garden Design and Construction? The variability of tasks is really important to me. I get bored quickly when I am not learning. In one week I might be designing, presenting, building a deck, installing lighting and making a sculpture. There aren’t many industries where you get that. I love to be in touch with nature, something bigger than myself. Like many industries, I believe people really determine how your days go. We are lucky the horticulture and garden industries are filled with people who are happy to be here. We had many challenges during the eight days of construction at the gardening world cup, but the people involved made it possible to churn through the challenges with minimal scathing and a great sense of achievement … and humour; this is important.

How does second place sit with you? Very well! There is still room for improvement but second place definitely exceeded my expectations. As construction started I didn’t even dare dream of being in the top ten because we were so far behind, without tools and machinery. I’ll forever remember the awards ceremony. We sat at our table drinking and eating merrily feeling stoked that we had made it. As the awards started to be read out I turned to the English designer next to me and said “What is going on? If I had just got 3rd prize I would have been jumping out of my seat screaming. Hell I would be doing that for coming 8th”. How many Gardens were you up against? I couldn’t tell you exactly but there were approximately 40 gardens with designers from 30 different countries. A few of them were just show gardens not as part of the competition.

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i Company Listings Landscape Contractor

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Abu Dhabi

8 - 9 February, 2016 Abu Dhabi, UAE Exploring the opportunities and challenges in developing Abu Dhabi’s public realm to create an appealing, sustainable city

ADvisory BoArD MEMBErs • Benjamin Heydon, Landscape Consultant, Sustainable Infrastructure, Standards & Specifications (SISS) Section, Abu Dhabi City Municipality • Geoffrey sanderson, Principal Landscape Architect, AECOM

• Dr. robert Cooke, Associate Director, BuroHappold Engineering • rudayna Abdo, Director Business Strategy, OTAK International • steven velegrinis, Director of Urban Design, Perkins+Will

• ian rose, Associate, Cracknell

5 EAsy WAys To rEGisTEr +971 4 361 4001

opportunities@acm-events.com

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Advanced Conferences and Meetings FZ-LLC T: +971 4 361 4001 I E: opportunities@acm-events.com I www.futurelandscapeabudhabi.com

New & Ongoing Projects

middleeasttenders.com

Your Selected Search Criteria: Status : New Tender Trade Category : Agricultural, Landscaping and Irrigation

+971 2 634 8495

NEW & CURRENT PROJECTS Tender Name

Description

Client

Region

Tender Cost (USD)

Post Date

Closing Date

Gardens, Yards and Pedestrian Passageways Construction

Construction of Gardens, Yards and Pedestrian Passageways in Al Nabhaneya and Its Villages

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

267

11/1/15

2/8/16

Gardens and Parks Construction

Construction of Gardens and Parks

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

800

12/9/15

2/7/16

Irrigation Network, Digging Wells and Water Tanks

Construction of Irrigation Network, Digging Wells and Water Tanks

Al Baha Municipality (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

267

12/21/15

2/3/16

Gardens, Trees & Irrigation Systems Maintenance

Maintenance of Gardens, Trees and Irrigation Systems.

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

2667

12/15/15

2/2/16

Gardens Equipping Services

Equipping of Gardens

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

800

12/9/15

1/27/16

Entries Improving and Beautifying Works

Improving and Beautifying of Entries

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

1067

12/9/15

1/27/16

Gardens Maintenance

Maintenance of Gardens

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

533

12/21/15

1/24/16

Agriculture Nurseries Maintenance

Maintenance of the Agriculture Nurseries.

Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs & Fish Resources - PAAFR (Kuwait)

Kuwait

536

12/8/15

1/24/16

Date Palm Trees

Supply of Date Palm Trees

Muscat Municipality (Oman)

Oman

577

12/6/15

1/24/16

Aesthetic Agriculture & Irrigation Development

Execution, Development and Maintenance of Aesthetic Agriculture and Irrigation.

Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs & Fish Resources - PAAFR (Kuwait)

Kuwait

3300

11/29/15

1/24/16

Entries Improvement and Beautification Works

Improving and Beautifying of Entries in Al Qaleeba

Tabuk Municipality (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

267

12/21/15

1/20/16

Cleaning, Insect Control and Gardening Works

Provision of Cleaning, Insect Control and Gardening Works

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

533

12/17/15

1/17/16

Park Dividing Works

Dividing of a National Park

Ministry of Agriculture (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

267

12/9/15

1/17/16

Gardens, Lawns & Trees Maintenance

Maintaining (Part) Gardens, Lawns & Trees

Public Authority for Radio & Television (Oman)

Oman

12/15/15

1/12/16

Trees Maintenance & Irrigation

Carrying out Maintenance and Irrigation of Trees.

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

533

12/6/15

1/12/16

Gardens, Pedestrian Passageways and Yards Construction

Construction of Gardens, Pedestrian Passageways and Yards

Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

1333

12/16/15

1/11/16

Landscaping & Irrigation Works

Landscaping & Irrigation Works for a Main Building, Social Center and Workshop

The Research Council (Oman)

Oman

256

12/1/15

1/10/16

Aesthetic Agriculture, Afforestation and Irrigation Works

Prequalify Contractors for Aesthetic Agriculture, Afforestation and Irrigation Works

Kuwait University

Kuwait

179

12/21/15

1/7/16

Landscaping & Maintenance Services

Provision of landscaping and maintenance services for a Hospital.

Al Gharbia Hospitals (Abu Dhabi)

Abu Dhabi

272

12/13/15

1/7/16

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