10 minute read
Project Profile
ZāZen Gardens
PROJECT NAME:
ZāZen Gardens
PROJECT DEVELOPER:
ZāZen Properties
MAIN CONTRACTOR:
Aroma International Building Contracting
TOTAL BUILT-UP AREA:
310,000sqft
TOTAL LANDSCAPED AREA:
35,000sqft
SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE:
April 2024
Green is Gold
BIG PROJECT ME SPEAKS TO MADHAV DHAR, CO-FOUNDER AND COO OF ZAZEN PROPERTIES, ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY-FOCUSED DEVELOPER’S ZAZEN GARDENS PROJECT IN AL FURJAN, DUBAI, WHICH WILL BE A LEED GOLD RATED RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT THE VIABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS LIVING
an you provide some background on the project and share some details on its scale and scope of development? ZāZEN Gardens is ZāZEN Properties’ newest project. It will be the only certified LEED Gold residential project in Al Furjan. With Well-Being integrated at its core, and through a variety of sustainable practices, the development is aligned with key UAE initiatives such as the Dubai 2040 Urban Masterplan, UAE Net Zero 2050. Furthermore, the project will support the upcoming COP28, which HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has called the most important event to be hosted by the nation in 2023.
Upon completion, the project will reduce around 470 metric tons of carbon emissions annually– equivalent to the planting of 12,147 trees. ZāZEN Gardens is a six-story high midrise development, consisting of 159 apartments that span from 824 to 1,612 square feet. It also has two retail outlets on the ground floor that will cater to the Al Furjan community.
Building at a LEED standard within a single plot is not typical; such efforts are often reserved for master developments as larger areas of space make for easier integration, but we are leading the way to show private developers that it is possible, and it is the future.
The entire development will cover approximately 310,000 square feet of built-up area and will boast 35,000 square feet of landscaping, multiple recycling stations, EV charging stations and solar panels on the rooftop to help generate on-site solar energy, reducing common area service charges for owners.
Also, integrative Well-Being Design is a unique concept that we are bringing into the residential realm in Al Furjan. It is the overarching practice of unlocking the natural frequencies around us that transform physical environments, enhancing the optimal health and well-being of our residents.
This includes Land Energy Optimisation, Classical Feng Shui, EMF Mitigation and Building Biology. These practices are essential to creating healthy buildings that prioritise human health, and preserve the Qi, or life force. With the increasing incidence of autoimmune diseases, allergies, and airborne viruses and bacteria, there is a growing need for healthy and restorative environments.
At ZāZEN Gardens we have created a harmonious environment where energy flow creates spaces that truly nourish the mind and body.
Harmonious Environment
ZaZEN Garden has been built to reflect the growing need for healthy and restorative environments, says Madhav Dhar.
159
Total number of residential units
the COVID lockdown in 2021. We are confident we will complete all relevant work, including approvals, to start welcoming owners to take handover after 30th April 2024.
Who is the contractor on the project, and why were they chosen as a partner on this project? The main contractor on the project is Aroma International Building Contracting (Aroma). They are one of the leading main contractors in the UAE., with branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and a commercial license to build `unlimited’ floors. Their core strength is their highly experienced staff, flexibility and willingness to go the extra mile to help us achieve our targets.
They recently handed over the Dubai CommerCity project, which is the first free zone dedicated to e-commerce in the MENA region, for the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) with a contract value of US$196 million. They also completed our first project, ZāZEN One in JVT, on time, within budget and with the highest level of quality and safety. There were zero accidents over the 24 months construction period. We are happy to be working with them again and continuing our excellent partnership with Aroma and all our other subcontractors and stakeholders.
Have there been any major challenges along the way? How have
What is the current rate of project on the project – how much is completed and what needs to be done? The construction is at about 7.5%, having just begun broken ground in mid-October 2022. The ground floor and first floor concrete slab casting is complete with the rest of the major structure works on schedule for an April 2024 completion.
The construction schedule is for 18 months, with an April 2024 handover. Currently progress is on track with subcontractors appointed and major structure work underway.
ZāZEN Properties prides itself on timely delivery. Our first project, ZāZEN One in JVT, was handed over as promised in January 2022, despite
you worked to overcome them? As with all under construction projects, there have been challenges to begin with: • Space constraints: Since the building footprint covers the entire plot, till the boundary, construction activity and material storage have to be pre-planned in phases. Our scheduling and coordination for this has been top notch and must continue to be, to complete the project as planned. For material delivery we at site. This included all finishing works, appliances, lighting, furniture etc, so that customers can see the actual finished product they will receive.
This work was completed in just over one month, in time for the off-plan sales launch in December and required preplanning and confirmation of all materials and drawings. additional manpower, coordination with suppliers, testing and commissioning and authority approvals.
Benchmark for building
The LEED certification system has been the benchmark for the entire development.
Work underway
Construction work is about 7.5% underway, and the project aims to be completed by April 2024.
used the Just-In-Time philosophy, to avoid storage issues at site. • Lack of water discharge point:
There was no water discharge point available near the project to connect the dewatering system. For this we used water tankers to shift the groundwater, which required additional planning and approvals. • Sales Centre and Show
Apartment: The contracting team and sub-contractors were tasked with completing a full sales centre and show apartment
Why have you decided to go for the LEED-Gold rating on this project? Has that ambition caused any challenges during the construction process? As one of the leading private sustainable developers in Dubai, our goal is always to help people live better. We believe that sustainable development is one of the ways in achieving this and the LEED certification system has been the benchmark for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining environmentally responsible buildings for decades.
As the most widely used green building rating system in the world for rating the health, efficiency, and cost-saving of developments, we are confident our customer base would appreciate
a globally recognised solution that adds value to how they live.
However, pursuing the LEED Gold certification comes with its challenges. It requires us to rethink not only design, but material selection, equipment efficiency and selection, construction practices and many other processes. Fortunately, our goal from conception has been to have the first LEED Gold residential development in the area, so we went in understanding the challenges from the start had to incorporate LEED Gold standards into all items, which had a cost implication on the overall project. This involved a lot of coordination with our partners and some studying to understand the specifications and its implications.
Fortunately, with our first project, ZāZEN One, in JVT, we had partially encountered these requirements. Even though we had not pursued a LEED rating there, the project was built with sustainability at its core.
and had solutions in place. Being one of the first LEED Gold certified residential developments in Dubai, we will face more hurdles as we reach completion and learn along the way.
How did chasing the LEED Gold rating alter your procurement strategies? Adhering to LEED standards has made our team go back to the drawing board for all major components, with our main and sub-contractors. Our BOQ
First in Al Furjan
The development will be the first LEED Gold residential development in the Al Furjan area.
Back to the drawing board
Adhering to LEED standards forced the project team to rethink their plans and designs for all major components.
What sort of sustainabilityfocused design and engineering solutions have you implemented in the project? With regards to Sustainability in Architectural Design: • Vast areas of green landscape have been introduced to decrease the number of hard surfaces exposed to the sun, which limits the urban island heat effect, reducing the overall surrounding temperature and improving air quality. • The orientation and shape of the building was specifically designed to allow part of the building to shade the other parts at all times, lowering sun exposure. • Light colours of the elevation and glass with low U value, will be used
to slow and limit heat absorption. • Efficient equipment and fixtures have been selected to reduce energy and water waste, resulting in a 24% reduction in annual electrical energy costs and over 33% reduction in annual water usage. • Solar panels have been added on the roof to generate on-site solar energy. This will be passed onto owners in the form of lower service charges for the common area. • Specific Recycling bins/facilities are provided to help separate waste material for easy disposal. • Electric car charging stations will be provided within the development.
Overall, the project concept promotes a sustainable community lifestyle, with Well-Being design being added in to really help create the best environment for you to grow in. We are always pushing the boundaries of how to create healthy, wholesome and high-quality residences that promote community living.
Pushing boundaries
The development aims to promote a sustainable community lifestyle and spearhead a new wave of sustainable real estate developments, says Dhar.
470
Metric tons of carbon emissions reduced annually
Finally, what sort of impact do you expect this project to have in terms of perceptions about sustainability in projects? ZāZEN Gardens is truly a first-of-itskind development in the Al Furjan area, if not in Dubai. With the integration of Sustainability and Well-Being, we are aiming to deliver a space that goes beyond just four walls.
We have meticulously crafted each element with your health and prosperity as a priority, ensuring that you feel nurtured and energised. With our world class amenities, high quality finishes and spacious homes, you can truly live holistically.
Our projects can help highlight the benefits of investing in sustainable developments from an end-user or investors point of view.
Once customers see that the cost implication to them is minimal, and that the benefits outweigh the misconceptions, there will be a lot more demand for similar types of projects. And with Dubai being a truly global hub, with investments in real estate driving growth, the requirement to match European and International living standards will be at the forefront.
Moreover, we are hopeful that developments like ours, will spearhead a new wave of sustainable real estate projects that contribute to reducing the 40% of annual global CO2 emissions which construction is responsible for, and align with the strategic goals of the UAE and Dubai.
