Human- "Kind" City

Human-“Kind” City

SITE ANALYSIS

The site is located Al Mudheef Block, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. It is located in the eastern region of United Arab Emirates. The block is near Al Ain Central District, which is a strategical place that connects Alain residents. The site is also close to Oman borders which could be an attraction site for tourists from Oman. The site currently is out of use. However, in Alain Municipality Plan for 2030, the site is to be turned to a residential and commercial area.

Alain Central Bank

Al Mudheef Ladies and Children Park

Globe Roundabout

Al Ain City Center

Farmland

Kuwaitat Graveyard Mediclinic Hospital

CURRENT SITE CONDITIONS

The site is currently unused and is enclosed from all sides. The only building that could be restored is the Previously used as Sheikh Zayed Majlis for his visitors. However, the roads surrounding the building are old and require renovation to be used again.

CURRENT SITE CONDITIONS

VEGETATION

The site is currently unused and is enclosed from all sides. The only building that could be restored is the Previously used as Sheikh Zayed Majlis for his visitors. However, the roads surrounding the building are old and require renovation to be used again.

SHADE AND SHADOW

Summer

Morning Noon Evening

Winter

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

The site is a rich area that is well facilitated as well as it has interesting elements such as the plantations around it, alongside with the historical buildings and the diversity of the residents.

The site is in the middle of the city where it is a crowded area, if the area gets revitalized it will have a strong potential of becoming an attraction to visitors and tourists.

OPPORTUNITIES

WEAKNESSES

The site is abandoned, the streets are old and the buildings inside may not have the potential to be reused, there must be lots of demolishing to revitalize the area.

The site being in the center of the city could also be a threat as it will create huge noise and traffic.

THREATS

The traffic analysis shows that the roads get busier from noon to night. We also see that the there is no much difference in the traffic between weekend and weekdays.During weekday the road gets busy at evening. This also shows that surrounding area of the site gets noisy during the night.

Noise

CONCEPT

INITIAL SKETCHES

WALKABILITY AND ACTIVE LIVING

Making the transition from a car focused city, to one that emphasizes walking and biking is not as difficult as you would think. Having a city where everything could be reached within a walking distance could have a great positive impact on the residents. Social barriers will be removed if there is a walkable and active living environment where you get to come across people wherever, whenever.

AERIAL CONNECTION BRIDGE

Bridge connecting to landmarks and encouraging the usage of bikes and walking

Vanke Community A1-B2 and Bus Station / UV Architecture /Huayi Design

Shenzhen – China

Rotterdam Rooftop Walk

MVRDV Architecture

PLAZAS

Plazas are paved public space for citizens to gather for civic, religious, or commercial reasons. Plazas often have significant buildings surrounding them such as courthouses, city halls, churches, performing arts centers, and markets. Thus, the concept of the design is to make all functional buildings enclose plazas. Where people coming from every side, or working in every area, could gather, socialize, and civilize.

ZONING PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED DESIGN

Alain Plan 2030

Legend

Hotels

Business Incubator

Community Center

Sports/ Recreational Buildings

Public Library

Improved outdoor spaces

Underground Parking

Alain Plan 2030

Legend

Pedestrian and Bikes

pathways

Main Roads

Tram Station

Pedestrian and bikes pathway

ANCHORS

The anchors in this project are the museum, the skate park, the hotel and the auditorium. These spaces attracts the people from all sides. They are located on the edges of the site and are important attracting locations for tourists and residents.

hat – auditorium ho – community hy – outdoor events

hat – museum ho – tourist hy – landmark W

hat – hotel ho – visitors hy – near to the tram

hat – skate park

ho – youth

hy – attracts the youth

AERIAL BRIDGE DESIGN

PROPOSAL

The bridge connects from the tram station in Alain city to the most important landmarks in Al Mudheef Area. The bridge stops on the building rooftops and downwards to the plaza. The bridge ends in Al Mudheef Park which is on the opposite side of the site.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

The proposed social activities are the outdoor auditorium and the skate park. These two functions could host events and activities for residents of different ages and families as well. The social activities are to be placed on the anchors of the proposed design.

Rendered view of the outdoor auditorium

CONSERVING THE PAST

To keep the identity of the area, there has to be kept a part preserved. Thus, The Sheikh Zayed Majlis is to be conserved as is. The area around it will be a historical area conserving the heritage of Alain City by having traditional settings and events monuments around it.

CONSERVING THE PAST

Rendered shots of the conserved Sheikh Zayed Majlis Area

TECHNIQUES USED

AUTOMATIC RISING BOLLARDS

This is technology which helps in separation of spaces. In our project this helps in avoiding the cars from entering the pedestrian zone. Meanwhile when the emergency and maintenance vehicle can pass through the area by shutting down the bollards with their access.

SOLAR-POWERED PATHWAY

Poland builds a solar-powered bike path that glows a ghostly blue. The bike path in a town is Located in Pruszków. The path is made of a light-emitting material that charges in the sun and can glow for up to 10 hours in the dark, bathing cyclists in a calming blue glow.

VEGETATION MAPS

The site was covered some bushes and shrubs. Then date palms, neem tree, flame tree, frangipani, acacia arabica, petunia, dried trees and shrubs, etc.

Which where not well maintained. In the proposed plan we relocate the trees and add some of the plants that are found in the surrounding landscape like cactus and aloe vera

Current existing vegetation

Urban Parks to be developed

Rendered

view of the urban park

Rendered shots between the buildings viewing the bridge and the plaza

Rendered elevation shot