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EDITOR’S NOTE
Start of a new era for Dubai
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ongratulations to Dubai on a successful bid for the 2020 world Expo! This is fantastic news for the emirate as a whole and indeed the landscaping industry as it will create much needed projects in the construction and landscaping sector for years to comes, as well as putting the UAE on the global radar once again as a center for innovation and creativity!
As always Landscape magazine showcases the best of what is happening in the industry from within the region and beyond, whether it is the announcement of new projects or the completion and handover of projects that started some time ago.
In this issue, we look at the landscaping of Thailand’s central Chiang Rai’s shopping mall complex. Something that is pretty standard in the UAE but in this part of Thailand, this project will become a focal community meeting point, as well as a recreational park for families to enjoy! (page 38) Over in the UK, a pioneering Garden Bridge project has just been announced for 2017 costing £150 million. The pedestrian bridge crosses the river and links South Bank with Aldwych, Covent Garden and the Strand. (page 24) We also have a feature on Bahrain’s most historical fort-Forte Al Fateh on page 18 and much more inside! Please enjoy the issue and send us your feedback!
John Hampton
For free subscription and to view the magazine please visit our website:
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I Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf I Copy Editor: John Hampton I Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi I Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan I Art Director: Ramon Andaya I Contributors: Jacqueline Townsend, Giulia Pellegrini, Jay Lopez, Lejla Nikšić, Shma Designs 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
December 2013 - Issue 78
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Landscaping Qatar’s Business Park and Hotel The old and new: Fort Al Fateh Landmark bridge vision moves forward for London Aldar’s Central Market opens in heart of the Capital The Chiang Rai Plaza
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Sprinklers
Moisture Sensing Central-Satellite Control Systems
Fountains
Aerators
Circulators
Suction Scan Filters
Moisture Sensing Solar Controllers Micro-Irrigation & Light Powered Control Products
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News & Events
Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Awadi
Dubai plants 30 million flower seedlings in 1.32 m2
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he Horticulture Section of Public Parks and Horticulture Department at Dubai Municipality has planted about 30 million flower seedlings in 1.32 m2 of area during the first nine months of 2013 with an increase of 2.5% comparing to the total flower planted area in 2012. This comes as part of the department’s efforts to make Dubai the city of natural colours where the horticulture section could cultivate 70% of the area allocated for the cultivation of flowers during the last five years. Mr. Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Awadi said: the concerned units have planted sustainable and seasonal seedlings of flowers in three loops throughout the year from the seedlings produced by DM nurseries or planting the beautification seeds directly from the basins/ponds allocated for flower cultivation. The 30 million flower seedlings are planted in different types of areas such as road sides, footpaths, public parks, parks attached to DM buildings, markets, abattoir and sites supervised by the Public Parks Department. Specifically, 26.6 million seedlings are planted in areas between road dividers, junctions and the remaining were distributed in other places including schools, government buildings, mosques, public associations in addition to 750,000 seedlings for patching works. Al Awadi said that the section has completed its winter plantation work which started from the first week of September where it planted 14 million seedlings mostly Mary Gold flowers in different colours. The planted seedlings are flowered within 3-4 weeks and will continue blooming until mid-December. ‘The cultivation period of flowers is divided into three stages namely early winter period which comes from September to December, premium winter period from January to May
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and summer from May to September where each period includes at least cultivation of 14 million flower seedlings with a possibility to increase with the growing green areas in the emirate of Dubai,’ he said. ‘It’s worth mentioning that each type of flowers needs a specific degree of temperature and the blooming will end by the end of its season. The flowers cultivated by DM has capability to grow and produce flowers of different colours. The nature of flowers and its lifetime on plants vary in accordance with type of plants which are divided into annual and sustainable. The annual flowers are a group of flowers that grow and bloom in one season and re-cultivated on yearly basis. The sustainable flowers are a group of plants which can be cultivated in any time of the year and it give flowers for long period from 1-2 years,’ he explained. ‘The department has been excreting its maximum efforts to classify the types of flower plants and select specific types to different areas in accordance with the best practices in the science of gardening in order to get the wonderful results in the beautification of city,’ he further said. ‘Although the flowers are planted for beautification, different flowers are also used for many other constructive purposes such as medication, production of perfumes and cosmetics, to use as strong insecticide against flies and mosquitoes, oil for protecting animals from pests and material for colouring fabrics,’ Al Awadi said. ‘The DM nurseries are considered a unique place for researchers and students to know more about a variety of plants and flowers in addition to its interesting activities and operations in the field of horticulture,’ he said. ‘It would be amazing to know that all flower plants cultivated in the emirate of Dubai are exclusively produced by the DM nurseries,’ he added.
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News & Events PolySoft Basks in the Fun at Prince Alfred Park Pool
Quarter Playground. PolySoft has become the surface of choice when comfort, safety and design quality are a priority because of its superior impact attenuation characteristics, excellent slip resistance, heat-reducing properties and extensive selection of colour combinations.
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n a ceremony with much fanfare presided over by City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, the refurbished Prince Alfred Park Pool complex, featuring PolySoft, was declared open for the enjoyment of the public. No expense was spared to ensure the $20.5 million upgrade of the public pool, situated in the inner suburb of Surry Hills, incorporated the best in sustainable practices and efficiency.
PolySoft had already proved itself in the toddlers’ playground within the Prince Alfred Park precinct, with a colour mix of Viridian, Liquid Turquoise, Jade Breeze and Morning Sky providing a bright and well-lauded addition to the surrounding play equipment. The council turned to PolySoft to resurface the space after a previous surfacing system did not perform to expectations. The City of Sydney also utilised PolySoft in the award-winning Darling
As part of the commitment to best practice and sustainability, PolySoft’s innovative surfacing technology and strong properties in versatility, durability, safety and design, prompted its application once again in Prince Alfred Park as a landscaping material in the facelift for the pool complex. Owing to the successful resurfacing of the toddlers’ playground, the council engaged the services of PolySoft and its approved contractor from the previous project, Aussie Synthetic Grass and Rubber Surfaces, owned by Jason Day (see our website for details), to lay down the flooring for the pool’s shaded toddler splash pad and embankment slide. For the splash pad, a two-toned mix of PolySoft’s Morning Sky and Crystal Blue was applied in a dual ring pattern to enhance the water play theme. PolySoft has earned a worldwide reputation within the leisure industry for exceptional performance in wet areas – it is chlorine and chemical resistant, non-toxic, and hygienic for bare feet. As a surface based on plastic polymers, PolySoft has been shown to reduce heat underfoot, allowing for hours of
comfortable play and peace of mind for caregivers on a surface which is soft, yet tough and resilient to cracking, heavy foot traffic, UV fading and slipping.
The City of Sydney has made a long-term investment in PolySoft surfacing for its state-ofthe-art water features, recognising PolySoft’s strong safety record, imperviousness, low maintenance and minimised environmental impact, with particles 100% recyclable and 100% Australian-made. With PolySoft’s contribution to the facelift, the pool has become the perfect island of relaxation from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. For more information about PolySoft surfacing, please call our friendly team on 1300 308 037 or +61 02 96210 7231.
Saudi Build 2013 concludes attracting over 23,000 visitors
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audi Build 2013 – the 25th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition, concluded recently after attracting over 23,000 trade visitors. Organized by Riyadh Exhibitions Company at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the premier trade show saw the participation of over 850 exhibitors from more than 35 countries across an exhibition space of 20,000 sqm. Inaugurated by H.E. Eng. Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Mogbel, the Mayor of Riyadh, the four-day event served as the perfect platform to shed light on the numerous investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s construction sector. The event also highlighted the strong support that the Kingdom’s government has extended to this sector, which has been a key factor in drawing regional and international investments. Saudi
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Build is the only construction trade show in Saudi Arabia accredited by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. Saudi Build presented a leading comprehensive platform with two specialized concurrent events, namely Saudi Build: The PMV Series 2013 – The 3rd International Exhibition for Construction Equipment, Plant, Machinery and Vehicles; and Saudi Stone-Tech – The 16th International Stone and Stone Technology & Machinery Exhibition. The event gathered top distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, specifiers, agents and engineers from across Saudi Arabia and the world. Commenting on the show, Pierre Prunis, Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh, said, “Saudi Build has always been an important pillar for specialized Austrian companies planning to tap into
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the various opportunities within the lucrative Saudi construction market. Trade between Austria and Saudi Arabia is currently valued at EUR 1 billion, with Austrian exports at EUR 540 million and poised for a 40 per cent increase in the coming years. We are keen on furthering this cooperation by utilizing premier specialized platforms as Saudi Build.” Riyadh Exhibitions Company celebrated Saudi Build’s 25th anniversary this year and organized a special dinner event to honour a wide array of partners contributing to the success of the show. Full information on Saudi Build 2013 is available at http://www.saudibuild-expo.com.
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News & Events
Entries now open as the world’s top landscapers battle it out to prove the “grass is greener” in Dubai
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n a landmark event for Dubai, thirty of the best local, regional and global landscapers are converging in Dubai to give the emirate a green makeover in the very first Dubai International Garden Competition. Entries are now being invited under an open theme, and will close on January 30, 2014. The festival will be particularly beneficial to Dubai’s real estate sector, as most property investors now seek more greenery to enhance the value of their properties as part of the world-class lifestyles that Dubai has become synonymous with. The winning designs will then be replicated or adapted in properties across Dubai. The competition will not only focus on artistic excellence but also technical and scientific ingenuity. In addition to artists, landscape designers and architects, it will also bring together leading engineers and scientists, vying for prestigious Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. There will be one Best
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Dubai blossoms from a “desert city” to a “garden oasis” with first-ever Dubai International Garden Competition
of Show Award and One People Choice Award. To add expertise in eco-friendliness and eco-conservation, top botanists and horticulturists- will attend. Thousands of visitors are expected, and corporates are also welcome to participate as part of their social responsibility.
Addressing VIP guests at a special event to officially launch the competition, Nasser Khan, CEO of the completion organizers - Purelife Events, Exhibitions & Conferences - elaborated: “Dubai prides itself in achieving the impossible, and this competition is a shining example of how Dubai has defied its harsh desert location to create mesmerizing masterpieces of greenery. This is much more than a competition: it is an inspiration to the rest of the world proving that if we can rehabilitate the environment and grow stunning gardens in the desert, then we can heal Mother Earth everywhere else.”
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Nadeem Abbas of Purelife added: “Dubai currently rivals Monaco as the world’s elite destination for property investors. However this festival can elevate Dubai into the world’s undisputed Number One - blending imaginative designs and therapeutic gardens, while staying deeply rooted in eco-friendliness. Traditionally this emirate has faced challenges such as a lack of shade from the harsh sun outdoors, but this festival can encourage more people to pursue healthier and more active lifestyles outdoors in their gardens. This truly marks a new chapter in Dubai’s tourism, property and leisure success story.” It is anticipated that as the event’s reputation blooms in future editions, it will grow to rival the world’s top garden festivals in prestige, magnitude and diversity. Interested landscaping organizations, businesses, community groups, architects and other participants can register or find more information on www.digc.ae
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Protect yourself from Flooding B i o i n s p i r at i o n
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n November 2013 WT Burden supplied 530 M3 of Soakayway tanks to Mohammed Bin Rashid City. The installation was supervised by Nicola Poltronieri BEng, from Stormtech as part of the free services offered by Stormtech, including the design of the system. What is a Stormtech system? Stormtech is an underground stormwater management system designed to be installed under heavy traffic and landscape areas. Stormtech uses a plastic arch surrounded with rock to create voids underground. What are the main uses of this system? Soakaways, attenuation and water harvesting tanks for stormwater. The stormtech system can be used in many configurations to accomplish a variety of functions and therefore can be suitable for many different projects. One common application is for it to be used in combination with rain
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Interview with
Nic Poltronieri BEng Middle East Region Manager ADS - Microstrain
gardens to remove pollutants and improve water quality, before it is released into the watercourse. Another use of the system can be for water harvesting applications, for example under sportfields, where over irrigation is common and also in landscaped areas which could replace the more traditional above ground storage tanks. Why was the system used in the Mohammed Bin Rashid project? The main reason for using this type of system is to alleviate floods in the connected area within the development and due to the high profile nature of this project. The engineers concerned did not want to take any risks with an underground tank system. Stormtech was the most reliable and economical option from a structural and hydraulic prospective. These tanks were being installed next to a roundabout for the busy access road, so there was a high possibility of heavy vehicles driving over or parking in the area where the tank was installed. Were there any environmental considerations when choosing this product? Yes, Stormtech is made from 100% virgin material as this is critical for any structural plastic units buried underground, however it is overall a low embodied energy system, has an isolator row which acts as a GPT and removes various pollutants. This can also help whilst trying to obtain LEED points.
Why would you recommend a stormwater management system in the Middle East where is hardly rains? While it doesn’t rain very often in this region, when it does the rain is rather intense. Therefore the risk of flooding and related damage is high. Especially in urban areas where the natural soakaway properties of the land have been altered and therefore we need to put a stormwater management system in place to counterbalance this.
“Water Filtration Tanks & sustainable Urban Drainage can avoid this: Jumeirah Nov 2013”
Is Stormtech used in other countries outside of the UAE? Yes, it’s used in the USA, Europe and many other countries. It’s a very common part of the design for architects and engineers. Stormtech has over 15,000 installations around the world therefore we can offer a great service and deal to our clients. PROJECT SPECIFICS Total Land Area: Over 47 Million Sq. Feet. ( over 1,100 Acres) Total No of Villas: 1500 Villa Styles: Modern Arabic, Mediterranean, Contemporary Villa Types: 4 to 8 bedrooms Crystal Lagoons: 7 kms Over 600 Acres of Open Spaces Attractions: Beaches, Crystal Water Lagoon, Water park, Multisport facilities, Promenades, Retail, Waterfront Dining, Jogging, Cycling and Horse Trails. Client: Sobha Developments Project Name: Mohammed Bin Rashid City Contractor: Dar ALWD Consultant: AE7 Supplier: WT Burden Middle East FZCO Manufacturer: ADS Stormtech
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Business Park complex
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ocated in a prime location along the Airport Road, this recently completed mixed-use project is one of a kind in the State of Qatar. The Business Park project was designed and supervised by the Arab Engineering Bureau (AEB). Encompassing a plot area of 23 771m2, it has a total built-up area of 116 420m2. The complex was officially opened in late November 2012, with HH The Father Emir and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani jointly cutting the ribbon. “This project has been a number of years in the making and is one that I am very proud of,� stated HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Thani, the owner of the project. The complex consists of a hotel, service apartments and six office buildings, all centrally located around an oval conference and exhibition centre. Each of the buildings is cladded in aluminum and glass with accents of stainless steel. The buildings are of varied heights to achieve harmony within the complex itself and its surroundings. The Architectural design incorporates curves and organic shapes to create a dynamic composition, while at the same time offering a fluid pedestrian network between the buildings. The perambulator network is carefully designed to offer maximum safety and convenience, while numerous vehicular access points and parking zones are integrated into the design in order to avoid overcrowding. The overall landscape concept developed by AEB for The Business Park complements the simplicity and contemporary modern features of its architecture, while using matching patterns and elements linking the interior and exterior.
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The Business Park
The complex designed by Arab Engineering Bureau consists of a hotel, service apartments and six office buildings, all centrally located around an oval conference and exhibition centre.
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Business Park complex
The landscaping project starts with the terrace garden at the main entrance signage with a mixture of Agave, Yucca, Euphorbia and Vinca creating an exciting combination of textures and colours. As the journey continues, a glittering red pool with splashes of gold shimmer and a Corten steel sculpture with wording The Business
Park cut outs surrounded by bubbling jets, creates a bold entrance statement. The lighting effect that streams through the cut outs gives a surreal ambience at nighttime. Stepping into the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Apartments, the colour scheme for the decorative pots and plants reflects the hotel’s corporate colours, uniting the hotel and its
external spaces as a single unifying element. Maroon coloured pots standing at one meter tall filled with Cycas are lined up the driveway as guests enter the hotel leaving a grand first impression. Maroon coloured pots standing at one meter tall filled with Cycas are lined up the driveway as guests enter the hotel leaving a grand first impression.
Secret gardens of Green Walls can be found in the hotel vicinity creating a very private and cozy garden for the guests. In the outdoor dining area, the green walls and boldly coloured tensile structures create a warm and inviting experience that can only be found in the Crowne Plaza. This is a favourite spot for guests to unwind especially during winter, while sipping a hot cup of chocolate and enjoying the lush greeneries of the green wall and sounds of bamboo shuffling with the wind. The indoor green terrace at the all day dining minimises the indoor-outdoor feel with broken tiles and vertical palms giving a courtyard atmosphere to the dining area. While the indoor garden in the all-day dining
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area creates a lush outdoor ambience, the garden in the apartment atrium creates a majestic aura with steel wall sculptures represented as raindrops falling from above lining the 30meter high wall. A surreal sense of space with the different heights of planter boxes and palms in the background makes the whole space very quiet and soothing. The swimming pool and jacuzzi are located on the top floor with strips of different blue tensiles creating a very light and open ambiance. A mushroom water play area at the wading pool provides an interactive feature for the kids play area. With soft lighting, the whole place sparkles and glows at night making it one of the busiest outlets in the hotel.
WT Burden Middle East FZCO Jebel Ali Free Zone, FZS1 AE07 P.O. Box 261378, Dubai UAE t +971 4 886 0700, f +971 4 886 0701 streetfurniture@wtburden.ae
seat unit Landscape with Wave Shelter
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Business Park complex
The 3 150m2 event centre, set in a glass globe sitting at the centre of The Business Park like a hidden gem is the main attraction with a surrounding shallow water pool that creates a floating effect. The water wall cascade creates splashing sounds while rows of mature Cycads greet the guests of the event centre.
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As one enters the office towers block, the decorative pots change colour from maroon to crispy white. The huge white pots housing palms and Bucida are scattered around the Blue Plaza softening the whole plaza outlook. The Blue Plaza surrounds the office towers with linear lines directing and inviting pedestrian movements into the
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external space. Timber benches painted electric blue are located strategically along the paving strips as statements. Ball lights are scattered along the driveway giving a sense of playfulness to the whole plaza. While a vertical Japanese lawn green box next to the showroom invites office workers to enjoy the greenery during wintertime.
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Transition
Built in the 17th Century, Al Fateh Fort is one of Bahrain’s most historical sites. It is characterized by its strategic position, as it was built over a cliff in order to have control over the flat desert between the two cities of eastern and western Riffa.
The old and new:
Fort Al Fateh by Alberto Ferraresi
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Transitions between old and new
n essential key to understanding this project is the use of stone for building within an established historical setting: the choice of sandstone, created by layers of sand compressed and solidified over thousands of years, for use in an urban landscape rising from the Middle Eastern desert, is particularly significant. The colours of the existing and pre-existing setting represent an additional element of continuity, in terms of the relationship between the tones of the stone chosen for the work and those of the traditional mud and stone walling, plastered using a mix of the same materials.
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Desert River Final Half.indd 1
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Transition
The use of natural materials, specially treated to reduce the perceived difference between them, further enhances the toneon-tone effect. Other dialogues and relations are intentionally drawn by the project to create
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a dynamic play of contrast. Inside the precise, crystal setting of the permanent exhibition centre in Forte Al Fateh, the royal residence dating back to between the 17th and 18th centuries, the curved stone creates a clearly defined series of spaces carved out along
Members of:
the obligatory indoor pathway. The stone’s use as an ultra-modern technical covering, rather than a thick stone wall, shows through at the summit, where a series of slim rectangular elements are laid out in a chequer pattern. Some of these are precisely carved
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SERVICES PR OVID ED Annual m ai n t e n a n c e p a c k a g e s Leak det ec t i o n & r e c t i f i c a t i o n M i c r obi ol ogi c al anal y s i s & c h e m i c a l r e p o r t s Ol d t o n e w r e s t o r a t i o n s C hl or i ne t o N on- C h l o r i n e c o n v e r s i o n s Aut om at i c pool c l e a n e r i n s t a l l a t i o n s C hem i c a l s a l e s & d e l i v e r y Spec i al i z ed M E P c o n s u l t a n c y Saf et y c o v e r s & f e n c e s Gener al s up p l i e s f o r a l l p o o l s
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Landscape November'12.indd
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transition
using a water-jet technique to replicate traditional geometric patterns. The result is a metaphor of typical archaic architecture and the route that leads us to discover examples of it in nature, acting as ancient witnesses to past civilisations, with stone decorations carved out of the rock.
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An even more delicate layer of glass creates a double link between the fort and the new installation: on one hand, its transparency closing the physical and conceptual gap between history and innovation, and on the other the reflective capacities of glass, multiplying the architecture of the fort in a play of mirrors.
PAD Architecture Il Casone: Stone supplier
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LANDMARK BRIDGE VISION MOVES FORWARD FOR LONDON
THE GARDEN BRIDGE
Photo courtesy of Arup
garden bridge
The UK’s first ever garden bridge will be built in London by 2017 at a cost of £150 million.
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he Garden Bridge, inspired by Joanna Lumley and designed by London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic cauldron designer, Thomas Heatherwick, will be a major pedestrian crossing above the River Thames and a stunning new public space for London. The Garden Bridge Trust, chaired by Lord Mervyn Davies, will oversee the creation of the Bridge that would provide a vital connection and new route between South Bank and Temple station – creating a direct link between vibrant South Bank and Covent Garden and Soho on the north bank.
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As well as serving as an important new walkway, and landmark for the city, the Bridge will help to breathe new life into an area of the north bank that is currently undergoing a renaissance. Featuring shrubs, trees and plants, benches and intimate walkways – the Bridge will also become a major new green space for the city, like no other. The project now moves a crucial step closer with the launch of the Trust and the opening of a public consultation, before seeking planning approval early next year. It is estimated that construction of the Bridge would begin in 2015, with its completion
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scheduled for the end of 2017. Lord Mervyn Davies, Chairman of The Garden Bridge Trust, said: “This is the first major milestone for the project and marks a very clear intent to create a new landmark for London. The scheme has been shaped and developed into a proposal that will contribute significantly to the future of London’s development and we are committed to ensuring The Garden Bridge will be something that London can be proud of. Our role is to take this project forward and to raise the necessary funds to build the bridge by the end of 2017.”
Joanna Lumley said: “This garden will be sensational in every way; a place with no noise or traffic where the only sounds will be birdsong and bees buzzing and the wind in the trees, and below the steady rush of water. It will also be a safe and swift way for the weary commuter to make his way back over the Thames. There will be grasses, trees, wild flowers, Hepworth.pdf
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and plants, unique to London's natural riverside habitat. I believe it will bring to Londoners and visitors alike peace and beauty and magic." Thomas Heatherwick, designer, said: “London is where it is because of the river Thames. But over many years the human experience of this amazing piece of
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garden bridge nature has been marginalised by successive transport moves. The city on the north bank and the historic district of Temple is almost completely isolated from the river by the dual carriageway of the Victoria Embankment that slices it's way along the north bank and other than its wonderful view, Waterloo Bridge is surprisingly unfriendly for pedestrians. There is now an opportunity to connect London together better, to give Londoners a huge improvement in the quality of pedestrian river crossing in this area, to allow us all to get closer to the river and at the same time to stimulate new regeneration possibilities at both ends where it lands. I believe that the combination of Transport for London's brief for a new river crossing and Joanna Lumley's inspiration for a new kind of garden will offer Londoners an extraordinary new experience in the heart of this incredible city."
More than just a walkway, the bridge has also been designed to be a destination, allowing visitors to take in the views of some of London’s most famous landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and the Gherkin and sit and relax amongst the garden’s woodlands. The Garden Bridge Trust will oversee the delivery of the project, including navigating it through planning, and its construction. The Garden Bridge Trust, currently a registered company, is in the process of obtaining charitable status and will begin an active fundraising campaign. The project has already won considerable interest and support from private donors. www.gardenbridgetrust.org
Photo courtesy of Arup
The Garden Bridge, which was designed in conjunction with Arup, will be a garden featuring an abundance of plants, trees and shrubs indigenous to the UK and London. The landscape will be designed by leading
UK designer and horticulturalist, Dan Pearson. Along with walkways, benches and plants that will change with the seasons, the bridge will provide a new route across the river and join an unresolved curve by linking South Bank with Aldwych, Covent Garden and the Strand.
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THE GARDEN BRIDGE AT A GLANCE Name of scheme: Garden Bridge Type of scheme: A garden and pedestrian river crossing Location: River Thames from the South Bank (London Television Studios) to the north bank (Temple Station). Waterloo Bridge to the west and Blackfriars Bridge to the east. Purpose *To create a beautiful new garden for London *To provide a crossing between the South Bank and the Strand, Covent Garden and Aldwych, joining an unresolved curve Inspired by: Joanna Lumley Led by: The Garden Bridge Trust Designed by: Thomas Heatherwick, Heatherwick Studio and Arup Landscape by: Dan Pearson Studio Local authorities: Westminster City Council / Lambeth Council Project stage: Public consultation/preplanning Estimated date of construction: 2015 Estimated completion: End of 2017 Length of bridge: 367m Width of bridge: North and South Bank: 6m Each pier: 30m Mid-river point: 6m Pier points: Temple station and South Bank Pedestrian route: A walkway that parts in two over each pier, combining into one at both ends and at the mid-river point Planting type: Indigenous British and London plants, trees and shrubs
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Reliance with peace of mind for Quality Landscape Solutions.. Tanseeq a leading landscaping solutions provider based in the UAE, offers a comprehensive range of landscaping products for commercial, residential & leisure applications. With our extensive knowledge, experience and resources, we provide solutions pertaining to the following broad categories in landscaping.
Soft Landscaping Hard Landscaping Irrigation Systems Swimming Pools Water Features Street Furniture
B U S I N E S S PA R T N E R S
PE landscape Edging
Planters
Decking & Railing Systems
Aluminum landscape edging
Artificial Grass
Moisture Retention Soil Additive
Stone Sealant
Reconstituted Stone Elements
Swimming Pool and Spa
Street Furniture
Garden Furniture
Pattern Imprinted Concrete
Tactile Solutions
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Tanseeq LLC, P.O. Box: 28665, Dubai, UAE , Tel: +971 4 3415005, Fax: +971 4 3414909 I www.landscape-me.com I December 2013 E-mail: info@tanseeqllc.com, www.tanseeqllc.com
Create a greener world
AUSDRAIN drainage cell products and modular tank systems provide innovative solutions that are assisting us in creating a greener world to live in. The AUSDRAIN EnviroModule2 tank is a cost-effective and low carbon footprint underground water storage system used to harvest rainwater or store desalinated water for irrigation and non-potable purposes. EnviroModule2 tanks are also used to create infiltration systems that effectively manage stormwater run-off. AUSDRAIN 30mm & 50mm drainage cell provides an efficient drainage layer for planter boxes, green roofs and podiums and has been extensively used throughout the UAE and GCC including iconic projects such as The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa.
www.ausdrain.com
Distubuted by : Tanseeq LLC, P.O. Box: 28665, Dubai, UAE , Tel: +971 4 3415005, Fax: +971 4 3414909, E-mail: info@tanseeqllc.com, www.tanseeqllc.com
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Central Market
Aldar’s Central Market opens in heart of the Capital
MORROCAN TOUCH aims to reinvent the market place, giving the city a new civic heart. 30
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Abu Dhabi’s Central Market is one of the oldest sites in the city. Inspired by the traditional architecture of the Gulf, the market is expected to become a new meeting place for families giving the city a new civic heart. As a shopping experience it combines luxury boutiques with food markets and craft-based trades and by offering an alternative to the globalised onesize-fits-all shopping mall it offers a distinctive modern interpretation
Compost ECOSoil is a high quality organic fertilizer suitable for soil improvement, increases plant grow and reduced the water consumption. Customized mixtures of sand/compost can be provided. It comes in a 25kg bags, jumbo bags or in bulk.
Enhances Growth of Plants Water Retaining Reduces the Percolation Rate Input of Organic Matter into Soil
Emirates Environmental Technology LLC T: +971 6 5569663, +971 3 7838033 F: +971 6 5569668, +971 3 7838102 M: +971 55 5465097, +971 56 1189515 Email: sales-alain@theiutgroup.com Homepage: www.eet-uae.com
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Central Market
of the regional vernacular. Like the traditional souk, these different experiences are brought together in an interior architecture of dappled sunlight, bright colours and fountains, with a changing rhythm of squares, courtyards and alleyways.
For up to six months of the year the climate is really pleasant so it’s comfortable enough to stroll and sit outside. That has inspired a sequence of public routes and squares in which the barriers between inside and outside are dissolved.
Open both during the day and in the evening, these new spaces provide an important central venue in the city
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PICS WALLCRETE is a very advanced lightweight render, designed and manufactured to recreate the natural products used in walling and construction. PICS WALLCRETE can be used to create stone walls, fireplace surrounds, sculptures, large rocks, water features or monuments and is an excellent choice for stone restoration projects. It gives the impression of beautifully hand carved stone, stacked sandstone, flint, slate or brick. PICS WALLCRETE takes decorative walling to new heights. Tanseeq LLC P.O. Box: 28665, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tel:+971 4 3415005 Fax:+971 4 3414909 Email: info@tanseeqllc.com Web: www.tanseeqllc.com
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Central Market
during festivals and celebrations and are cooled naturally when conditions allow. For the remainder of the year, roof panels that slide into place will enclose the space allowing the internal environment to be controlled more closely.
“The perforations in the roof and interior panels – a pattern developed with a scholar of Islamic arts – continue outside, wrapping the podium building in a textured facade. The design of the panels is based on octagonal forms, which reference both traditional zellij tilework and more recent research into mathematical geometry. Continuing Abu Dhabi’s strong theme for greenery, the site has been
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C r e d its Central Market Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2006Client: ALDAR Properties PJSC Architect: Foster + Partners. Project Manager: WS Atkins Structural Engineer: Halvorson and Partners MEP Engineer: BDSP Partnership Collaborating Architect: Planar Cost Consultant: EC Harris International Vertical Transportation: Lerch Bates and Associates Fire Engineering Consultant: Exova Warrington Fire Faรงade Consultant: Arup Traffic Consultant: ETC European Transportation Consultancy Facts and Figures
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central market
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landscaped generously throughout; the roofs of the podium buildings forming a series of terraced gardens.
“Rising above this dense, closegrained ‘mat’ is a cluster of tall buildings, which vary in height and massing depending on whether they contain offices, apartments or a combination of a hotel and serviced apartments. Visually they form a family, with smooth, reflective facades designed to need little maintenance in this dusty desert environment. Layers of internal shading on the towers control glare and solar gain.
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c u lt u r a l P l a z a
Embraces native culture, ecology, and identity
ChiangRai Plaza B
Project Statement eing the first mega shopping mall in a suburban town in the northern mountainous region of Thailand, Central Plaza’s landscape engages with the local people of Chiang Rai by evoking a sense of belonging. The result is a ‘Cultural Plaza’ that embraces native culture, ecology, and identity of ‘Chiang Rai’ expressed through unique space formation coupled with holistic detailing of various landscape components, such as long seats, steps, paving pattern, lighting, and planting palette. Project Background The mall is one of the most important urban spaces of the community but often the outdoor space surrounding the building itself such as the parking areas has a “utilitarian look” that can alienate shoppers. Hence, the landscape architecture must deliver a space that
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The Curve Building, Showroom 12, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al, Quoz 3, Dubai, UAE UAE OFFICE Tel: 04-3408626 Website: www.nahar.ae Fax: 04-3408636 Email: dxb@einwood.ae www.einwood.ae
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c u lt u r a l P l a z a
satisfies the mall’s functional requirement while at the same time creates a memorable urban experience within a limited budget. For Chiang Rai, the scale of this mega mall at first can seem a bit daunting to visitors but at the same time majestic. Therefore, the plan was to have the front landscape serve as a transitional space for visitors at ground level and helps to mitigate the visual impact to the surrounding when view from afar. Mountainous Scape The landscape design encapsulates the mountainous scene of Chiang Rai into an illustrious sculptural space. The unique characteristic of contour line pattern representing the local mountainous territory was the inspiration for the design formation of not only the spaces but of every landscape detail. At the center of the landscape area is the ‘Event Plaza,’ occupying 1,500 sqm. To offset the hardness of this massive paved area, architects introduced the stark pavement pattern that reflects the
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contour line. The long seats, as an integral part of the contour, wave around the plaza and even crawl down the steps to provide a rest area sufficient for large crowds during peak times. More individual planter seats in irregular oval shapes are arranged at the ‘lower promenade’ to allow for smaller group gatherings. Strip lighting is integrated under all the seats to reveal a curvy line of light at night. Interconnecting levels from the upper tier to the lower promenade is used to further express the undulated terrain concept and provide better access to the mall’s interior
at multiple levels ensuring maximum exposure for all shops. At times, the level is split from the upper plaza to allow fresh air to the parking area below. Intertwining flower mound and contouring water cascade compliment hardscape detailing and help soften the atmosphere of this eventful ‘Cultural Plaza’. During off peak time, the plaza becomes a quiet park providing a place for respite. Planting Palette and Ecology A selection of native plants further enhances the northern atmosphere as well as
corresponding to the regional dry ecology. Unlike the lower regions of Thailand, seasonal flowering plants in these parts bloom with ease and even become a tourist attraction during winter months. ‘Red Silk Cotton Tree’ – locally known as ‘Ngiew Tree’ – is the main feature. The thorny husk is famous for being an ingredient in traditional delicacies. The columnar and layering form of the tree also has views to the shop front, which is a major requirement for the commercial property. During January to March, Ngiew’s bright orange flower blooms in profusion and is accompanied by
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orange flowers of Trumpet Vine which covering the wall on the façade and also other flowering shrubs on ground.
c u lt u r a l P l a z a
Collaboration with Local Artist Shma’s collaboration with world-renowned local earth artist, Master Somluk Pantiboon, resulted in a series of (5-piece) sculptures floating over a cascading water feature. Placed as a focal point of the landscape, the ceramic sculpture is depicting the life cycle of the ‘Ngiew flower’ from budding to blooming to withering. Cultural Plaza Central Plaza Chiang Rai’s ‘Cultural Plaza’ is an artistic celebration of local identity that welcomes local residents to use the outlet as a commercial hub or as a community park.
Project Information Name of Project: Central Plaza Chiang Rai (Shortlisted in WAF 2013) Landscape Architect : Shma Company Limited Project Team : Design Director - Prapan Napawongdee Senior Landscape Architect - Chanon Wangkachonkiat Client& Developer: Central Pattana Public Company Limited. Project Type: Retail Site Area: 70,000 sqm. Completion Year: 2011 Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand Photograph Credit: Mr. Wison Tungthanya
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New & Ongoing Projects
middleeasttenders.com
+971 2 634 8495
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Description
Client
Country
Consultant
Contractor
Budget (USD)
Status
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Development of a resort hotel comprising (435) rooms with (400) parking bays, three specialty restaurants, lounges, bars, business centre, swimming pools and a turtle lagoon.
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The Address Residence Fountain Views Tower Project - Downtown Dubai
Construction of 60-storey, 220-metretall luxury residential tower comprising (280) apartments.
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Construction of Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District comprising a modern art museum, an opera house, cultural facilities, including two hotels, studios and leisure facilities.
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Construction of a new high-rise tower comprising (77) floors with a height of 369 metres, consisting a mix of offices, retail, a hotel and apartments.
Private Investor (Dubai)
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Atkins & Partners Overseas (Dubai)
Arabtec Construction L.L.C (Dubai)
500000000
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Hilton International (Dubai)
Qatar
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Kempinski Hotel Project - The Wave Development
Design and construction of five-star Kempinski Hotel comprising (309) rooms and (77) hotel apartments.
The Wave Muscat S.A.O.C (Oman)
Oman
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Carillion Alawi L.L.C (Oman)
300000000
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Carrying out refurbishment of a ship into a luxury floating hotel.
QE2 Holdings (Singapore)
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Construction of a new Zoo, covering an area of 750,000 square metres.
Public Works Authority - ASHGHAL (Qatar)
Qatar
Mace International (Qatar)
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New Project
Dragon City Retail Project - Diyar Al Muharraq Development
Construction of Dragon City shopping mall with initial capacity for up to (100 Nos.) Chinese companies and businesses.
China Middle East Investment & Trade Promotion Centre (Chinamex)
Bahrain
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New Project
Doha Festival City Development Project
Development of Doha Festival City comprising a retail centre, an entertainment park, two hotels and an auto park made up of car showrooms.
Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (Dubai)
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Mace International (Qatar)
Arabian Construction Company - ACC (Qatar)
1600000000
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Construction of new Qatar National Museum, which will provide 86,000 square feet of permanent gallery space, 21,500 square feet of temporary gallery space, a 220-seat auditorium, a 70-seat food forum / TV studio, two cafes, a restaurant and a museum shop.
Qatar Museums Authority (Qatar)
Qatar
Hill International Middle East Ltd. (Qatar)
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company (Qatar)
500000000
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Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel Refurbishment Project
Carrying out refurbishment/ modernising of the existing 13-storey Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Misr Hotels Company (Egypt)
Egypt
Hill International Ltd. (Egypt)
Orascom Construction Industries (Egypt)
N/A
Current Project
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