Landscape ME February Issue 2017

middle east

February 2017

C e l e b r a t i n g 1 0 Ye a r s 2 0 0 7 - 2 0 1 7

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Visit rainbird.com/reclaimed to learn more about our Reclaimed Water Awareness initiative.

Reclaiming our tomorrow.

That’s intelligent.

Explore the possibilities of reclaimed water, with Rain Bird.

Dramatically increasing our use of reclaimed water is one of the most impactful ways we can save tomorrow’s water. As the only manufacturer that offers end-to-end solutions, Rain Bird is leading the way in reclaimed water use with a complete line of products designed to stand up to the harsh chemicals often found in recycled water. Rethink using these products today, and reclaim a better tomorrow for everyone.

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Editor’s Note In this issue of Landscape magazine, industry professionals share their thoughts on key topics in the landscape industry. On page 18, Chris Smeaton, who is the BIM Manager for a dynamic and creative team of Planners and Landscape Architects for InSite, a division within KEO International Consultants in the Middle East shares his thoughts on exploring the benefits of using BIM for planning and landscape design.

While on page 30, Steven Velegrinis, Associate Principal at Perkins+Will, voices his opinion on the connections between nature and health and how are they relevant to landscape architects. On page 36, we examine the relevance of open spaces for recreation parks and look at projects surround this.

We also discover how design firm Gustafson Porter + Bowman, created a landscape design for the public realm at New Ludgate in London and the development of fifth-floor roof terrace. See page 24 for more.

Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine Copy Editor: John Hampton Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan Art Director: Ramon Andaya Contributors: Joe Pundek, Steven Velegrinis, Joe Pundek, Steven Velegrinis, Usha Rani, Daria Grekova, Nicole Wilson Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com

Enjoy the issue

John Hampton For free subscription and to view the magazine please visit our website:

www.landscape-me.com The First Specialised Landscape magazine in the Middle East

Our magazine is available in app store and google play, search under Landscape Middle East.

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

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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MEMedia Publishing FZ LLC IMPZ PO Box 485005, Dubai, UAE Telephone: +971 4 4470927 Fax: +971 4 4470928

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contents 24 February 2017 - Issue 116 conversation with 15 In Mr. Hossam Mahmoud 18 The benefits of BIM 24 Reinventing Ludgate 30 The nature of nature 36 Urban nature and parks 40 League of their own 46 Street life 50 Urban farm at vdnkh

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I news and events events news and

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The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East

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I news and events

Baharash Architecture launches the Knowledge Hub for Sustainable Development.

As UAE prepares to become one of the world’s most sustainable countries, a new hub dedicated to providing education and insight on sustainable development has been launched.

The online hub initiated by Baharash Architecture, the Designers behind projects such as the Oasis Eco Resort and Dubai Sustainable City, will explore various topics and themes on sustainable development. Some of the topics include resilience, inclusivity, urban mobility, liveability and building sustainably without the added costs.

“Contrary to common belief, sustainable design does not require an increase in client budget or construction costs. Passive design strategies such as orientation, density and form will provide the biggest environmental gains, yet these require the least financial investment.” explains Baharash Bagherian, Design Director at Baharash Architecture.

“The key challenge however, is to provide affordable solutions that are holistic and address all the pillars of sustainability”.

As we approach Expo 2020, the push towards sustainable development is gaining momentum. In a highly competitive market, sustainable design can provide a unique selling point. It can add a competitive advantage to a client’s project, as buyers look towards properties with access to a range of desirable amenities, as well as providing minimum maintenance fees and reduced energy bills.

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Ultimately the knowledge hub will be a testbed for sustainable development; exploring new solutions & strategies to facilitate the progress on sustainable thinking in the region. The hub will provide the following: • • • •

Insight & case studies on sustainable developments.

Lessons learned from working on sustainable developments.

Research on sustainable design practices.

Educate the next generation through the transfer of knowledge.

About Baharash Architecture: Baharash Architecture is an award winning design studio based in London. We believe that great architecture is more than buildings; it’s about creating resilient destinations that make people feel healthy to live in, inspired to work in and want to visit. We strive to develop innovative and creative solutions that make a positive contribution to our current and future generations.

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I news and events

Innovative landscaping initiatives to creating sustainable and attractive cities in the UAE Advanced Conferences & Meetings (ACM) is launching Future Landscape & Public Realm UAE conference in its third successful edition, on 6-7 February 2017 in Abu Dhabi.

This focused conference will once again provide a unique platform for business professionals to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities covering the landscape and public realm industry in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, bringing together a broad spectrum of senior level delegates from across the value chain.

Key projects shaping the future of the UAE A number of large scale residential and mixed use developments will be reaching construction phase in early 2017 including Yas Acres (USD1.63 billion) and Reem Island (USD30 billion).

The phase four of Mulberry Park Heights in Dubai is in tender stage at the moment for landscaping.

World class tourist and leisure attractions are to be built including Warner Bros. theme park and Six Flags theme park.

MASDAR city is currently undergoing a major landscaping review.

The 3rd Annual Future Landscape & Public Realm UAE conference will focus on the key projects shaping the future of the UAE such as EXPO 2020 and MASDAR City, as well as an update on Abu Dhabi Municipalities’ new public realm guidelines. The conference will also feature leading developers in the region, showcasing their latest design solutions for mixed-use developments across the UAE. For further information about the conference, please visit www. futurelandscapeuae.com There are currently sponsorship opportunities available for manufacturers and solution providers to showcase their products and services. You can contact lara.makdessi@acm-events.com or call +971 4 3614001 to find out how your business can benefit from this opportunity.

Advanced Conferences & Meetings is a premium business-to-business conference company focused on the requirements of the MENA region.

Its events are highly tailored networking and learning opportunities, bringing senior decision makers together and providing up-to-the-minute information on industry trends, government initiatives, technological advances and developments in regulation. As such, they act not only as extremely effective tools for gaining business advantage, but also as high level platforms for change in the industries they serve.

Flowpoint Performs on the most Prestigious Square Kilometre in the World Instarmac’s partner in Dubai, Tanseeq LLC, have secured a 9,000m² paving project at the beautiful Dubai Opera.

Located in what is known as “the most prestigious square kilometre in the world”, the Dubai Opera is the number one destination for performing arts in the Emirates. The 2,000 seat theatre is home to world famous productions as well as a stunning rooftop restaurant and sky garden where diners can enjoy views of The Dubai Fountain and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Flowpoint rapid set flowable grout was specified and chosen to grout 9,000m² of paving surrounding the iconic Dubai Opera. Part of the UltraScape Mortar Paving System, Flowpoint has been independently tested to British Standard 7533 and has been developed over a number of years to provide a durable finish which will not crack or stain - even in the extremely high temperatures in Dubai.

Flowpoint is a flowable grout which allows for large areas of paving

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to be grouted quickly. It can be used to grout joints from 3-5mm to 50mm and as deep as 200mm in one application. What’s more, Flowpoint can receive foot traffic in 1 hour and vehicular traffic in 4 hours - ideal for projects where minimal disruption and early trafficking is essential, such as this one.

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Work is due to be completed over the coming months with Dubai Opera set to open to the public in late summer.

The Dubai Opera is the latest in a long line of prestigious projects for Flowpoint in Dubai. UltraScape’s Mortar Paving System has also been specified and used to grout 9,000m² of paving at MBR City and 40,000m² of paving at City Walk.

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I news and events

Akar completes Dh14 million Al Wadi Park Project in Hatta 2.8 Hectare park is set to welcome visitors from March 2017 Leading landscaping contractor Akar has successfully completed work at Al Wadi Park Project valued at Dh14 million in Dubai, UAE- positively contributing to the country’s ever-expanding portfolio of increasing ecological footprint. The project is a part of Dh1.3 billion comprehensive development plan for Hatta, launched in November last year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance the social and economic capabilities of Hatta, and boost its attractiveness as a tourism destination, particularly as a first class eco-tourism destination in the region.

The Wadi-themed Park, which is situated near the Oman border i.e., a 120 km drive from Dubai, is now home to more than 900 trees, surreal waterbeds filled with rolling stones of varying sizes, dozens of barbecue pits with sheltered picnic tables, endless stretches of grassy lawns, 1000 metre jogging track, shaded pergolas, making it a great option for family holidays set in the tweeting birdlife backdrop of Hatta’s mountainous terrain. Launched in Q4 of 2015, the 2.8 hectare site is all set to welcome visitors in March 2017, offering colourful, state-of-the-art play and climbing equipment suitable for children of all ages, a shaded parking lot with solar panels to increase power efficiency and an 820 metre gabion wall to protect against storm surges.

Adnan Nalwala, executive director, Akar Technical Services Co, said: “The Al Wadi Park is an ambitious project that will enable us to showcase Akar’s exceptional engineering expertise and help augment Dubai’s over-arching goal of boosting tourism, cultural heritage and attractiveness of Hatta as a destination. It is, in fact, an honour to be bestowed with the responsibility of bringing such a magnificent and culturally important project to life.

We would like to thank all the consultants, the main contractor and our partners for their assistance in delivering the project in a timely manner

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and to the highest standards of quality, safety, and sustainability. Once the park opens, the hard-work and commitment of Akar’s workforce will certainly impress visitors, making it in all possibility a must-visit family recreational destination in Hatta.”

In addition, Rajaram Subedi, Director of Landscaping, Akar, stated, “The Al Wadi Project complements our diversified portfolio of landmark developments across UAE and Oman. Despite the complex design, our integrated engineering solutions and dedication of our talented workforce helped in timely delivery of the project-taking into account every specification and goal of the client. Moving forward, we are committed to contribute to UAE’s landmark development agenda, combining our landscaping and engineering expertise with a proven record of delivering timely and state-of-the-art construction and maintenance solutions.”

About Akar: Akar offers high quality expertise in the fields of Electromechanical Works, Landscaping (Soft & Hard), Irrigation, Swimming Pools, Fountains, Water Features and Theming and Artificial Rockwork. Akar is backed by its parent company, Al Ansari Trading Enterprises LLC Muscat, an excellent grade contracting company in Oman, established since 1975. Over the last two decades, Akar has made rapid strides and established itself as a leading player in the fields of Electro mechanical works, Landscaping, Irrigation and Installation of high quality Swimming Pools, Fountains and Water Features.

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I news and events

International Garden Festival / Reford Gardens

International Garden Festival 2017 - Announcement of the Designers for its 18th Edition The International Garden Festival is pleased to announce the names of the designers selected for the 18th edition presented at the Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens from June 23, 2017.

The international call for proposals invited designers to create “Playsages” in order to inspire today’s young that outdoor play is just as interesting, if not more fun, than on-screen amusement. The 6 projects selected from among the 162 proposals received from designers from 30 countries responded to the invitation to re-think play and take part in the global discussion over nature-deficit disorder.

The new gardens selected for the 2017 edition are: L’Escale by Collectif Escargo [Pierre-Yves Diehl, designer, Karyna StPierre, landscape architect & Julie Parenteau, art teacher], Montréal (Québec) Canada. Small plots of land on wheels, wagons for children, are made available to be chosen, adopted and brought along for our visit of the Festival site. www.collectifescargo.com The Woodstock by Atelier Yok-Yok [Steven Fuhrman, Samson Lacoste & Luc Pinsard, architects, Laure Qarémy, teacher & Pauline Lazareff, architect engineer], Paris (France). An unusual playground grows in the shade of trees and forms a play space where the children become giants,

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perched at the top of the wooden causeway. www.atelieryokyok.com La Chrysalide by landscape architects Gabriel Lacombe & Virginie Roy-Mazoyer, Vancouver (British Columbia) & Montréal (Québec) Canada. An invitation to take a break in time, between childhood and adulthood, to climb into the tree, make a nest and lay there to dream.

Paysage euphonique by MANI [Claudia Campeau, architect & Maud Benech, designer], Montréal (Québec) Canada. A set of giant play facilities creates a tension in our rapport with the landscape and forces us to see and hear nature differently.

Soundcloud by Johanna Ballhaus, landscape architect & Helen Wyss, architect, Montréal (Québec) Canada & Fribourg (Switzerland).

Bells attached to the ends of metal rods create the illusion of mist and clouds where a dialogue with nature begins and where stories can be told.

HAIKU by architects Francisco A. Garcia Pérez & Alessandra Vignotto, Granada (Spain). A lonely swing in the forest, a flooded path, a motionless stone. Everything is in place to appreciate the cycle of the forest life.

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I news and events

Reclaimed Water Awareness Dramatically increasing our use of reclaimed water is one of the most impactful ways we can save tomorrow’s water. That’s why Rain Bird is leading the effort to increase its use with Reclaimed Water Awareness. By educating public agencies, specifiers, contractors and homeowners about the possibilities of reclaimed water, we’re working to prove the water-saving possibilities of this underutilized resource. Visit rainbird.com/reclaimed to learn more about the innovations that offer endless potential for reclaimed water use.

What is Reclaimed Water?

Reclaimed water is basically “cleaned” wastewater. It’s the final product of a multi-stage, advanced water treatment process.

This processed water is typically subject to strict standards and is rigorously monitored by local, state and federal agencies to ensure it continuously meets those standards. While processes may vary depending on location, sewage is typically first treated to separate water from any large particles. Then, it’s transferred to sedimentation tanks where chemicals cause sludge to settle to the bottom and scum to float to the surface. In a secondary treatment, bacteria that has been added to the wastewater begin to ingest any organic solids. This produces a secondary sludge which, again, settles to the bottom of the tanks. From there, tertiary treatment filters remove whatever solids may remain, chlorine disinfects the water and salt is removed. Certainly, water can be purified to a very high degree. However, higher levels of purification can be quite costly to achieve. In short, the more purified the water, the more expensive it is. Consequently, the challenge for reclaimed water suppliers and their customers has been to match the level of water reclamation to the water requirements of a given application.

While most reclaimed water today is not considered potable, it has a number of other uses including industrial cooling, street sweeping, dust mitigation, manufacturing and, of course, landscape irrigation.

Rain Bird’s Reclaimed Water Solutions Rain Bird is the only irrigation systems manufacturer to offer an end-to-end reclaimed water irrigation solution. This is particularly important for public agencies, corporate accounts, landscape architects, irrigation system designers and irrigation consultants, as it’s much easier to specify a system from a single manufacturer.

Our components are built to perform better and last longer in the harsher, tougher conditions brought about by reclaimed water use.

Pump Stations — Rain Bird is the only irrigation manufacturer to offer pump stations, providing a totally integrated approach to reclaimed water irrigation with one trusted partner. By ensuring correct water pressure and delivering the right flow of water, our pump stations allow reclaimed water users to maximize system efficiency.

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Central Control — With features like ET-based scheduling, flow management and Cycle+Soak™, Rain Bird central control products help eliminate overwatering and runoff, reducing reclaimed water waste. When local water authorities require water use reporting, these systems allow users to report by water type to save you time and effort.

Valves — Constructed from heavy-duty, glass-filled nylon and designed with chlorine and chemical-resistant diaphragms and components, these Rain Bird valves will perform effectively year after year. Valve boxes with purple lids ensure everyone is aware of reclaimed water use.

Emitters — These emitters are designed to handle the challenging conditions associated with reclaimed water use. Some feature internal components that flush or filter debris from your system, while others, like the RD1800™, can easily withstand high levels of chlorine and other chemicals that would reduce a regular spray’s lifespan. All of these products feature visible purple indicators so everyone knows reclaimed water is being used at the site.

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I Interview

In conversation with Mr. Hossam Mahmoud General Manager, Ventana

Ventana

What experience do you have in the GCC? I have a BSC in Modern Irrigation Systems and over 34 years of experience in the Middle East with modern irrigation systems such as landscaping, golf and agriculture projects. I worked in KSA in the 1990s and have spent 15 years employed as a GCC Regional Manager for Rain Bird International and two years with Ventana General Trading LLC as a manager.

What are the main challenges of doing business in the current Middle East market?

There are a lot of irrigation products available in this market but we are trying to offer and provide state-of-the-art new irrigation technology and solutions for water conservation. This will help to reduce the use of water and increase the efficiency of modern irrigation systems by offering design and supply, complete irrigation system solutions along with central control systems for irrigation projects.

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What projects has Ventana been involved in?

We have been involved with Dubai Parks and Dubai Parks Nursery, Bulgari Hotels Resorts, Abu Dhabi Memorial Park, Nad Al Sheba Complex, Nashama Town Square Development, Villa Development for Tecom Investment.

What are the special features of each of your products?

We provide complete design and supply of irrigation systems from the filters, sub-surface dripline, drip tube, solenoid valves and central control systems from Toro USA (Rescom).

Tell us about some exciting new services in your company?

We have complete dedicated design, sales, technology and maintenance teams looking after Toro - both residential and commercial products - in order to make sure that the use of the right products can perform well in this environment.

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I digital tools

The

benefits of BIM By: Chris Smeaton

BIM Manager, InSite (division of KEO) Following on from a presentation I made to the Leaders in Landscape conference, as part of the Big 5 Outdoor Show in Dubai, I thought I’d share my thoughts on exploring the benefits of using BIM for planning and landscape design.

I’ll start with the basic question of, “What is BIM?” There is no simple one-line explanation, due in part to the double acronym of “Building Information Modelling” and “Building Information Management” both of which, while related, carry different implications. One of the best short explanations is that BIM is simply the means by which everyone can use a process of working, to coordinate and understand an existing or proposed built environment through the use of digital models.

Modelling an asset in digital form enables those who interact with the built environment to optimise their requirements, resulting in a greater whole life value for the asset.

BIM has become a requirement on an increasing number of projects within the engineering and design industry across the Middle East and will soon be the way all projects are run. Up-skilling our industry is a priority for all, as BIM is a process that is here to stay.

We all hear how great BIM is and all the benefits that it can bring to the design, construction, and asset management industries. However, as companies and industries transition into BIM it comes as no surprise

However, BIM adoption within the landscape industry is not easy as there simply isn’t the number of off-the-shelf software options enjoyed by architects and engineers. In fact, there is a lack of interest and understanding among large software developers to provide the necessary tools for landscape architecture, which has left a void in the market. This void is being filled, partially, through mix and match use of existing software packages, practitioners developing their own work arounds and small companies developing plug-ins, all of which are effective but not comprehensive solutions.

So, what are the some of the options for a landscape architect who wants to embrace 3D modelling or BIM?

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that they experience certain challenges with the adoption of the new way of managing projects and with the tools which help this process.

Landscape architecture is no exception.

One of the principle challenges we see in adopting BIM within the landscape industry is the practitioners’ general lack of interest and awareness of the advantages that a BIM process provides. People readily see the inconvenience of change, but less so the advantages of adoption. This is slowly changing, due both to a general increase in awareness and driving influences from architects, clients and government mandates.

As the overall design industry is now focusing on BIM adoption, what happens if you, as a landscape practitioner, don’t follow suit? In short: isolation and inefficiency. Without adopting similar processes and tools, you will lose the ability to actively collaborate with colleagues across disciplines, and at a time when collaboration is becoming increasing sophisticated and critical to project success. Furthermore, according to a study by TheB1M, in not adopting BIM you stand to lose out on a potential efficiency saving of 20-25%. In a market driven by aggressive pricing, a one day week efficiency saving can easily be the difference between success and failure.

AutoCAD + Sketchup​(with various plug-ins, e.g: ​LandFX​) Sketchup + Modular Planning Rhino​ (with ​Land Design​plug-in) Vectorworks Landmark AutoCAD Civil 3D Revit + Dynamo + CS ArtisanRV These are all workable options with their pros and cons, but the truth of the matter is that landscape falls in-between a lot of the software capabilities as, for example, we need the grading flexibility and calculations of Civil3D but combined with the 3D geometry and documentation power of Revit or ArchiCAD.

So, what is a Building Information Model?

A Building Information Model is a collection of three main areas of information; 3D Information: masses, objects Non–graphical information: specifications, schedules, costs plans Graphical information: drawings

Building information models provide a great opportunity for process change, bringing us to a place where everyone is working from one source of information, or “one truth�.

If your 3D information is not linked or supported by non-graphical data, you are left with simply a 3D model and not a BIM model.

How does transition of data improve with the introduction of BIM Model?

The traditional project planning process is unidirectional, wherein information is passed from team to team and further developed based on information given (blue arrows). This process has been used for many years and, when managed correctly, can work well enough, but studies have shown that at each stage of transfer there is a drop in information and understanding which results in a corresponding loss of precision, ultimately leading to lost time and rework.

Furthermore, in my experience, what often happens is that the information exchange does not follow a sequential pattern because as a designer becomes excited about their project coming to life in 3D, they jump the process and start talking directly to the 3D team, making changes which are not then communicated to all teams for their incorporation (red arrows).

The traditional process may look superficially like there is a harmonized team working together toward the same vision, but as soon as you start integrating the various project elements it becomes apparent that, while the vision may be common, the details consist of disjointed and uncoordinated information.

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Using BIM models allows not only a clearer view across teams but also closer collaboration with clients and sub-consultants. One of the greatest benefits for InSite has been the accuracy of information, the below example shows one aspect of this where the model is directly linked to Excel, information inputted manipulates the model without any direct model input. This means the master-planner, concentrating on achieving land use quotas and GFAs has no need to be modelling as the data is automatically updating the model. This also works in reverse if the model is changed then the Excel data sheet is then in turn updated.

When we engage the whole team in using Building Information Models from the offset, we really facilitate the downstream of information with no data loss, allowing other disciplines to take this data to aid design changes and develop the scheme with accurate representation of the project at specific milestones.

I digital tools

This process means that all our teams are using live information with directly linked data. This is not without it’s own problems, such as managing design and data freezes to make sure there is no abortive work, but is a great step forward for collaborative working and data exchange.

How does this help InSite - KEO achieve time saving within our offices day to day work?

If we take a normal section and look at how we would produce this information within a traditional way; to create the final drawing we need four different DWG’s to accurately develop the sections to the level of detail we need. This means mulitple files, in multiple locations, across your server which can reduce productivity when trying to locate file and if a change is required, multiple files need to be adjusted. With the software not allowing multiple people to edit the same file at the same time is the reason for the many files that need to be created.

Using a BIM model to produce this information, as below,shown in Autodesk Revit you can reduce time wasted looking for drawings as all of your project information is saved within the model and accessed quickly. This information is driven from the model not stand alone drawings resulting in upto date information, as the information is within a single file the process of creating a section is reduced to just a few steps. Software like this also allows multiple users to work on the same project at the same time, resulting in changes being respresented across all views, increasing efficiency and coordination, not only for your design but also with simple documentation errors like sheet naming and tagging.

Another area of great time savings is reliability of embeded information, e.g. product specifications. As more manufacturers come online with better libraries it will not only help us, but also give them the power to control the data we use.

The embeded information can be controlled by the development of Project Data Templates which outline the information that is to be added to the elements ensuring a consistent approach to data management.

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I digital tools

We can even embed planting information into our model, Landscape in Revit is no longer an aim, and it’s a reality. CS ArtisanRV focuses on topography enabling placement of components on, above and below the surface. Specialist tools include top-to-floor conversion, detailed shadow analysis and customised system, in-place and loadable families to define, visualise and schedule both soft and hard landscape components. Planting is created via integrated web libraries fully searchable by region (e.g. Middle East) and planting class (e.g. Palms).

Once a project is up and running the long term time savings from using a BIM model focus on clash avoidance.

Many BIM professionals emphasise clash detection as the key benefit of BIM modelling, however I believe the aim of a truly coordinated project should be clash avoidance as this is where the biggest savings can be found. Having all the information from each sub-consultant should facilitate an easy process where issues are identified and rectified before they are considered a clash.

Author Profile: Chris Smeaton is the BIM Manager for a dynamic and creative team of Planners and Landscape Architects for InSite, a division within KEO International Consultants in the Middle East. KEO is an interdisciplinary design, engineering, and project management firm providing world-class professional services to wide range of prominent private and public sector clients.

Even though BIM benefits are clear, implementing these procedures and processes in your practice can be costly and time consuming if done illogically.

The best route to BIM adoption is to clearly define your goals and expectations before you create a transition plan. Arm yourself with an enthusiastic team and choose a simple pilot project to implement first. Ensure you have a good mix of education and training with someone available to provide ongoing adhoc support or mentoring. Most importantly, constantly evaluate as your knowledge of BIM increases and adjust your plans accordingly.

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Chris is part of a multi-disciplinary team of BIM managers tasked to develop KEO’s BIM capabilities and to find new ways to leverage BIM benefits not only for Landscape Architecture but for every discipline within KEO. He currently works on projects throughout the Middle East ranging from master planned communities to sports stadiums, parks, and other large and small scale landscape projects.

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I urban development

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Reinventing Ludgate By: Gustafson Porter + Bowman At ground level, Gustafson Porter + Bowman’s landscape design for the public realm at New Ludgate seeks to tie the new development seamlessly into the surrounding urban fabric and character. This is achieved by fine landscape details and finishes which reinforce the smooth transition and facilitate the use of this new public space in a tight urban site.

A small piazzetta on Old Bailey marks the entrance to a WestEast passageway which links Old Bailey to Limeburner Lane.

This new route recalls similar hidden passageways throughout the City of London which create unexpected shortcuts. It marks a transition from the traditional pavement of Yorkstone to a dark granite in the piazza and passageway. This change is made with a bold geometric paving pattern which takes inspiration from fashion designer Alexander McQueen and the 20th century artist M. C. Escher. The design and development of this paving pattern required close contact and collaboration with the wider construction team.

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I urban development

Additionally, on the development’s fifth floor, Gustafson Porter + Bowman developed a large south-facing roof terrace which benefits from day-long sunlight. A dense planting scheme varies in height and corresponds to an understated colour scheme for pockets of the raised flower bed, which is wrapped in a sinuous white Corian bench. Both inconspicuous and sculptural, its form continues to wrap around the very edges of the terrace whilst its varied height creates ample soil depth. The design of the planting bed allows for two channels which aid spectacular views for the building’s users to St Paul’s and the City of London beyond.

The planting on New Ludgate’s fifth-floor terrace is comprised of colourful bands of perennial plants mixed with ornamental grasses in loose, natural arrangements. Plants are grouped together according to colour and form. Bands of yellow flowering evergreen Euphorbias contrast with the tall blue flowering spikes of Erynginum, Echinopsis and Aster, while low hummocks of flowering Thyme are seen against the towering purple balls of Alliums. All are framed by the plumes of tall ornamental grasses. Using a mix of low and taller perennials and grasses provides a permeable boundary between the natural oasis of the roof terrace and its immediate urban context.

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Location: London, United Kingdom Size: 7,000sqm Outline brief: Development of public realm and surrounding streetscape around 1&2 New Ludgate development. Also, design and development of fifthfloor roof terrace.

Completion date: March 2015

“Both spaces seek to normalise the hectic energy of central London, and embody a belief that a smallscale space with high-quality materials and refined detailing can enhance the public realm, thus creating an intimate space within the heart of the city that everybody can use.�

- Donncha O Shea, Partner

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I human ecologies Healthy Communities and Hybridised Landscapes

The

nature of nature

By Steven Velegrinis, Associate Principal, Perkins+Will

Nature, natural, natural healing, health, healthy landscape. There are strong perceived connections between nature and health. But what are the connections and how are they relevant to landscape architects? And more importantly what is the nature of the ‘Nature’ we so often associate with health?

Little n, BIG N – The nature of Nature Let us begin with nature. More specifically, what exactly is Nature?

The ‘nature of Nature’ provocation is nature’s existential question. It could be argued that nature is simply a human construct that helps us frame something that is very difficult to define. Many indigenous cultures don’t even have a word for nature calling into question the definition of the term. Nature is defined as a derivation from the Latin terms natus or nascere – meaning to be born. So then, is everything that is born, natural?

Most people (Landscape Architects included) treat ‘nature’ as a place or a thing that can be identified, be it a tree or a river or a mountain.

Popular culture deals with nature in the form of the nature vs culture dichotomy where the ‘built’ is diametrically opposed to the ‘natural’.

As humans we name nature so that we might understand it and our brains, being symmetrical and capable of understanding three physical dimensions and the dimension of time use those names to orient us to an uncertain world. But as the Ecologist Stephen Read has outlined: “The city is no longer something we can understand as architecture, as a mass of formed material that we can distinguish from a non-material void which can be characterised as countryside or periphery – or as in any event ‘not-city’. We have unleashed a creature of its own volition – an order of another nature constructing its own form” The above passage declares that nature is in actual fact, a process of which humans (and cities) are just a part. Nature in this scenario is the transitional change of states that all matter experiences. It is the conversion of lime to concrete or limestone through the application of heat. It is the degradation of reinforcement bars that become exposed to water and air. It is the absorption of radioactivity by Sunflowers on nuclear test sites. In this scenario, nature is everywhere. We are nature, cities are nature and the ficus plant growing out of a crack in the sidewalk in midtown New York is also nature.

If nature is an ongoing process and if it is actually everything, what then do we mean when we talk about nature? How should landscape architects invoke nature in their work? Consequently how does that relate to health and the way we should design cities?

These are fundamental questions that lie at the core of contemporary landscape architectural practice and they are essential questions in the Gulf where urbanization is occurring at breakneck speed.

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Little h, BIG H - health and Human Ecologies Why does health matter? And how does that relate to Human Ecologies?

By definition ‘health’is “the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental or social challenges” .

I would argue that cities must be regarded as living organisms and in doing so we must see urban health as an absolute responsibility of urbanists. This is of course an extension of the increased global interest in health and wellness generally. Steadily the interest in health has pervaded most discourses about the city in direct or indirect ways and the environmental design professions should feel compelled to respond.

But why is health and wellness important in urbanism? Research suggests that approximately 70percent of what defines human health are environmental factors – what we eat, what we drink, what we breathe, how we move and what toxins we are exposed to. Only 10 percent of human health is related to what is regarded as clinical healthcare. What this means is that the rapidly increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are mirrored in all of the developed economies are a consequence of the environments we are designing.

Nature? This Reclaimed Resort Island in the Maldives was ‘born’ of design but it is just as ‘constructed’ as a city

So very simply, the cheapest way to address the rising costs of healthcare is to design cities for health, not for treating sickness.

Traditionally the spectrum of healthcare is heavily weighted towards the clinical care typologies but increasingly we need to be conscious of our impact on the health of our cities.

Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative has been studying the adverse effects of our increasingly sedentary lifestyles for years. He is credited with inventing the idea that ‘Sitting is the new smoking’. He sums up his findings in two sentences.

“Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.”

The question of sedentary lifestyles deserves deep attention by those who are involved in the creation of cities and sites. In the UAE and the Gulf sedentary lifestyles and contemporary eating habits have led us to a situation where diabetes is more than twice as prevalent as the global averages. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have diabetes rates of almost four times the rate prevalent in continental Europe and double that of the United States . By 2035 the UAE will see a 245 percent increase in the number of cases of diabetes . If nothing else that should underscore the importance of how urban design responds to the impending crisis.

This moral imperative has coincided with greater interest in the health of our urban and non-urban landscapes. Climate change has necessitated a different approach to city building that does not simply accept city as one thing and landscape as another but rather conceives of the city as a hybridized landscape – a human ecology. This has found its expression in the discourses of landscape urbanism and ecological urbanism which seek to ensure the health of urban landscapes.

Little l, BIG L–landscaping vs Landscape Urbanism Overwhelmingly landscape architecture is perceived through the verb ‘landscaping’- something which simplifies the breadth of the discipline to the equivalent of painting a surface green. We as a profession are equally guilty of casting ourselves as ‘exterior decorators’ – something I would argue that we must actively work against. We must move beyond landscaping to landscape urbanism as that realizes cities as organisms with a high level of ‘functional or metabolic efficiency’.

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I would argue that landscape architects play a fundamental role in the resolution of our health crises. As the professionals charged with the custodianship of landscape as their medium we must treat urban development as human ecologies. As with all ecologies our role should be at least to ensure continued health of those human ecologies.

Landscapes as functioning metabolisms - The Mount Wellness District, Muscat, Oman – Topography, Hydrology, Slope and Aspect as the basis of Masterplanning(Perkins+Will)

The discourse of landscape urbanism and various other discourses including ecological urbanism and metabolic urbanisation have reinforced these concepts and all in essence extrapolate the logic of urban metabolisms that move towards a more sensitive and healthoriented urban landscape.

Our research into health is partly driven by our experience designing hospitals and research facilities but increasingly is it being driven by how we envisage cities. While the idea of ‘sick buildings’ and ‘sick buildings syndrome’ are widely understood relatively little is understood of the concept of ‘sick cities’ or the ways that cities promote poor health.

At Perkins+Will we have developed the concept of ‘Health Improvement Districts’ which look to surgically diagnose the urban causes of health issues and provide practical design solutions to revolutionize the health of future urban populations. One of the most fundamental facts that all urban designers must be aware of is the fact that we have a far greater influence on population health than any hospital or government agency.

I human ecologies

If indeed more than 70 percent of public health is actually related to environment and healthy behaviors we must accept that both are key areas in which the cities we design have a primary impact. This underscores the fundamental importance of our social responsibility to design cities and sites that fundamentally support healthy living. Quite simply, if we will eliminate the environments that promote poor health the symptoms go away.

If we remain ignorant of our role in public health then we simply doom populations to further health degradation.

HEALTH DISTRICT MODEL

walkshed

walkshed

mob

H

mob

H

H

P

mob

P

H

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TRADITIONAL MODEL

P

mob

car-oriented discourages walking degrades community health

supports all modes encourages walking promotes community health

If we are to accept that ‘sitting is the new smoking’ we cannot continue to design cities that are only navigable by cars. We cannot continue to design inert urban environments with no ecological health and no connection to surrounding developments. Moral responsibility requires us to start with urban planning because if we don’t get the basic structure of our cities right then everything else urbanistic is compromised.

The Mount Wellness District Oman – Turning Theory into Practice What follows is one example of our recent Masterplanning work that aims to create urban development as an organism with a high level of ‘functional or metabolic efficiency’. Something that is a healthy Human Ecology, something that makes healthy choices the easy choice and something that overall creates greater metabolic efficiency than what existed before.

The Mount Wellness District– Cities are now the locus of Health and Wellness efforts (Perkins+Will)

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The Mount Wellness District – An urban quarter planned for negating vehicles and promoting health (Perkins+Will)

The Mount Wellness District is a recent Masterplan for an 80 hectare site at Jebel Bausher in Muscat Oman was fundamentally based on the concepts of health improvement districts. At its core were a series of wellness and medical facilities for traditional preventative medicines and a series of landscape frameworks that aimed to stimulate a healthy environment where people would choose to walk within their neighbourhoods and engage in socially meaningful contact.

The entire development was planned from the landscape up with the landscape dynamics of topography, hydrology, geology, soils, sitegenerated hydroelectric power from an on-site dam, photovoltaic energy, and water recycling structuring the entire development. In terms of energy and water the project is designed for self-sufficiency. The landscape is designed as a productive food-producing landscape.

cycle track

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I human ecologies

The Mount Wellness District – An urban quarter planned for negating vehicles and promoting health (Perkins+Will)

Importantly the districts within the masterplan are designed to make pedestrian connections more convenient than vehicular connections and are anchored with a set of landscape spaces designed around a parametrically derived movement network. Roads are intentionally circuitous with major park spines providing much more direct access to the key civic spaces.

Clustering is based on the walksheds of a Health Improvement District and includes efficient public transportation systems.

It is also designed as an exceedingly attractive lifestyle community where those seeking a healthy community lifestyle can life above but within a contemporary city.

Our client in this project – Jebel Bauscher Heights - has been equally ambitious and committed to the idea of a community that realizes a greater good while remaining profitable and equitable.

The Mount Wellness District is about to commence development of the early infrastructure for the site and is undergoing design development to ensure that our ambitious goals can be achieved.

We recognize that there can be much to criticize about developing a mountainous site from a conventional ecology point of view but we see it as an example of a justifiable project that can provide a healthier metabolic outcome, a richer ecology and a better example of healthy urban communities in the Gulf.

We remain committed to the idea that cities must be regarded as living organisms where urban health is our absolute responsibility. We remain hopeful that this interest in health will pervade most discourses about the city in direct ways and that the profession feels the compulsion to respond.

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I urban development

Relevance of open spaces for recreation parks

URBAN NATURE AND PARKS By: Usha Rani

Landscape Architect and teaches Architectural and Landscape Design

Urban open spaces in the 21st century offer more than what meets the eye. New lifestyles and hectic work schedules leading to a sedentary life demand more value addition from open spaces. The future city models with greater sustainable features will surely cater to the evolving urban lifestyles. The urban park has been an expression of diversity and the democratic access to all which makes it more versatile. One aspect continues to be clearly evident that visits to open spaces suggest an attitude towards nature and a desire to get closer to it.

In the same spirit, the concept of urban street as an open space can bring in a whole new set of attributes that could serve the needs of transportation as well as green corridors to enhance its usage.

More streets and wider ones challenge the efforts to preserve the natural environment. And empirical evidence from studies conducted by various bodies suggests that the presence of nature intensive environments closer to human societies has immense psychological and important social benefits in enriching human lifestyles. The significance of parks to physical health and public health ‘published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2005, clearly establishes that park based activity promises to satisfy the physical activity requirements of people.

With climatic advantages Singapore has networked the urban parks with the streets to continue building a green corridor across several parts of the country. In spite of climatic disadvantages and aridity posing challenges to the park usages in the UAE, a great number of the population have expressed the demand to have well established parks for recreation.

The UAE has gone through progressive changes in the last decade with urbanisation spreading faster than anticipated; the streets, built environment and open spaces have embraced growth. The role of open spaces as parks is now more significant than a few years ago. A change in societal life is an imperative reflection on the development of outdoor spaces.

Historically there has been evidence of large gardens serving as small parks since the 4th century BC, in ancient Egypt, and the Hanging gardens in Babylon dating earlier. The later Persian gardens brought in shading elements and pavilions, water for cooling, and even integrated the outdoors with the indoor built environment.

But the park as a meaningful open space has evolved over time with the influence of similar developments around the world. Not withstanding the need to just provide landscaped open space for the public to stroll, educational and recreational purposes were built into it to have art parks displaying exquisite outdoor art, community parks with natural features or lakes, heritage parks with monuments and ceremonial parks for commemoration, to name a few.

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There are times when an open space plays a pivotal role in the upgradation of comfort levels for outdoor recreation. Hence, the urban park. Today, it is the reimagined public park in the urban setting with state of the art recreation facilities.

The UAE has been successfully promoting the development of Parks and many have gained popularity like the Zabeel Park or the Miracle Garden in Dubai, to name a couple of them, but all of the others have great foot falls for a large part of the year.

Having gained an understanding of Sharjah, located adjacent to Dubai, it was astonishing to realise that the same sentiment prevails within the visitors of the Sharjah National Park.

The total area of public green spaces in the Emirate of Sharjah is concentrated in and around the areas of Rolla and the heart of Sharjah.

This calls for an interesting study on the perception of the role of green spaces for residents, and the pattern of usage. A study was conducted to a) gain an insight into the perception of public preen spaces by residents, b) understanding of their behaviour during visits to the parks and c) what kind of provisions could make a difference.

T he responses reveal that the residents perceive the green open spaces as an enhancement of outdoor experiences. Except in peak hot weather, it serves as a community interactive space to increase social contacts. Activities vary with age groups; gender and marital status.

Users have a positive opinion about enhancement of facilities for greater attraction leading to a more healthier community.

As the society of Sharjah moves to embrace an urbanised lifestyle, urban parks and open spaces play a strategic role in the quality of life and community.

The components of landscape as vegetation, water and landscaping contribute significantly in air purification, cooler environment and even as dust and noise filters.

A healthy sustainable community is not just about improved biotic factors but an increased satisfaction in the experiences and perception of the daily aspects of the immediate built environment.

Surveys conducted by the students of the University of Sharjah at the Parks in Sharjah had mixed opinions. A greater percentage of people expressed that parks are essential to connect socially and relax during non working days. It offers them the opportunity to ‘escape from the daily worries’, breathe fresh air, to see things other than the regular cars, buildings and concrete developments.

However, people expressed the need to have a more beautiful and fascinating environment to experience with relaxation in the park and opportunities for activities that can enhance healthy living. A perception of peace and freedom in a park is endearing.

Illustration 1: Visits to the Park

Happiness, freedom and unity with nature were the vital factors for urban parks to gain relevance in the urbanised society.

An attempt was made to understand the existing and available facilities of the Sharjah National Park as the notable example.

The park over an area of nearly 36 hectares of large expanses of flat lawns, offered scope for more facilities.

Two students of the University conducted a study, to redesign the existing open spaces for relaxation, reflection, and recreation as an impetus to motivate users to frequent the park more often. They analysed the daily and annual activities.

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I urban development The study and analysis of active and passive recreation was translated to be embedded in the design of the park.

That included a series of experiences on a winding yet linear path. The new version of the park would recapture the soul of the existing one, yet creating signature new viewing places for the daily visitor. As a centre piece, sculpted landforms and the ‘Story of Sharjah’, would be the compelling pause spaces. Every aspect of the park was meticulously planned out to offer a variety of spatial experiences for the user. The organic landforms well articulated with the built form visually camouflage the boundaries of the park creating an illusion of larger spaces. On the other hand the bountiful vegetation serves as a noise barrier thus enhancing the visitor experience with an enclave of intimacy and proximity to nature.

Some of the criteria for the new proposal included • lively and welcoming activities well integrated in a creative approach • scale and proportion of open spaces more appropriate and functional • shading devices play a significant role yet openness is profound • constructability being a priority, simplicity in design and economical methods chosen • low maintenance too was very important even though local materials like palm fronds found important uses • existing vegetation retained as far as possible and additional shrubs to define circulation and boundaries etc.

• Use of texture, artworks and planting to create diverse sensory experiences.

Taking a leaf from the history of art and calligraphy of the UAE, the modern sentiment of joy and entertainment was expressed using the Arabic script and calligraphy to design the shading elements.

Conclusion: The above study and conceptual development of the park based on the feedback and public responses is an indication of the need to develop open spaces with a stimulus for greater recreation.

Acknowledgement: The writer would like to thank the students Asma Ayoub Alblooshi and Fatima Dahi Alktebi for the valuable contribution in the documentation.

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Visualisation of the Park with renewed lighting.

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I infinity Green wall centre

The Infinity Centre, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar Senior School Melbourne, Australia McBride Charles Ryan Institutional Architecture, Competition, Culture, Institutional Interior Design, Landscape Architecture MCR has won the Best Interior Design of the Year in the first internationally recognised American Architecture Prize.

League

of their

own

McBride Charles Ryan of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia has been named a winner in the first annual American Architecture Prize (AAP), which recognizes the most outstanding architecture worldwide.

The AAP American Architecture Prize honours exceptional designs in 41 categories across three disciplines: architectural design, interior design, and landscape architecture. McBride Charles Ryan won the Best Interior Design of the Year for their Infinity Centre, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (PEGS) Senior School.

This project also won the Platinum Prize for Interior Design/Public Spaces and the Gold Prize for Architectural Design/Educational Buildings.

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The Infinity Centre, the new campus for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School senior students, is derived from the initial idea that the library is central to the school. The building reflects the ethos of the school in delivering spaces for heightened educational outcomes with an image that strongly reflects its identity.

At a practical level, the Infinity Centre provides all the structured areas required of such a facility: arts, sciences, mathematics, languages, a library, a formal lecture theatre, administration and staff facilities.

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I infinity centre

Beyond this, the building is developed as an abstraction of the infinity symbol; an emblem that appears on the school’s logo. The symbol represents the school’s approach to continued learning, as well as the interconnectedness of activities within its organisation. Importantly, the key quality of the symbol is its connectivity; a recognisable topology that allows its meaning to withstand formal deformation. At the centre of the infinity plan, where all the wings cross over, is the library: it is itself an infinite

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resource, a place to which one continually arrives and returns.

Concepts of fluidity and connectivity are evident in the building’s exterior form. Clad in gloss-black-and-silver-banded brickwork, the Infinity Centre rises like a medieval walled city.

Sweeping ‘gateways’ maintain the continuity of this form and provide access into the school’s sheltered inner courtyards; one for formal and the other for informal gathering.

The consistency of this external architectural treatment is

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in direct contrast to the richly expressive variety of internal spaces. Internal materials and colours provide the disciplineprecincts with identity and diversity within the continuous form of the building.

The coexistence of these contrasts is emblematic of the school’s pedagogical approach. With the Infinity Centre, PEGS has a tangible manifestation of their unique identity in which structure and individuality work in concert and optimism is the product.” - Debbie Ryan, Owner

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About McBride Charles Ryan MCR has one passion - providing exceptional design for their clients. MCR’s commitment to provide their clients with innovative solutions, technical excellence and personal and professionalism has generated a steady growth in the reputation of the architecture firm since 1988.

MCR has successfully managed projects with budgets of up to $1B, combining complex architectural form with the finest construction technique and the most demanding programs.

MCR has experience in many areas, having undertaken and realised work in all sectors, and this has been recognised by a variety of awards.

McBride Charles Ryan prides itself in its hands-on approach to its projects and believes that its buildings are bespoke manifestations of the clients’ vision and it is due to this approach that MCR’s designs are truly singular.

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I transformation

Street life By: Turf Landscape

Kensington Street is the vision of Greencliff Executive Chairman Dr Stanley Quek and Frasers Property Australia, first defined in Central Park’s 2007 public domain plan and further advanced by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and Turf Design Studio in collaboration with Jeppe Aagaard Andersen.

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Photo by: Giselle Morris Kensington Street’s public realm demonstrates leadership through the following key areas: Placemaking, Landscape Architects are a key contributor in the making of cities. Our blended knowledge of urban design, environment, community and infrastructure makes our profession

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Photo by: Mitch Lui

Photo by: Ana Ouriques

Photo by:Kiera Zhy

The street offered immense possibilities – a built fabric comprised of some of Sydney’s oldest workers cottages, terraces and warehouses.

As landscape architects and urbanists how could we reimagine the street? How could we build on the street’s unique story and in so doing make a new Sydney place?

The first imperative was its physical connection – a series of thru-site links to the emerging Central Park precinct were vital in stitching the street back into the fabric of Chippendale, in Sydney’s downtown CBD. In parallel, a process of boiling down - carefully understanding the history and many heritage qualities of the street.

Then came stripping back - removing those elements not intrinsic to its spirit of place.

Finally, carefully adding in - lighting, trees, seats and ground plane – the public domain infrastructure required as fit for purpose. We aimed to touch lightly but decisively in forging something new from old.

Greencliff had a definitive vision for Kensington Street.

“When Greencliff purchased Kensington Street’s historic worker’s cottages and warehouses, our vision was to reactivate the heritage buildings along the street and redevelop them for contemporary food, lifestyle, artistic and commercial endeavours,” Dr Quek said.

Photo by: Natalie Hayllar

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unique in connecting people and place. In Kensington Street our role was to make a robust and authentic street for living, where the hand of the designer remains largely unseen.

Creating a shared zone, The design team developed a ‘shared street’ approach, integrating cars within a pedestrian-focused environment. The street presents motorists with a succession of subtle physical and visual restraints designed to encourage slow driving. A central, granite dish drain, loose avenue of trees, bollards (mandated by RMS) and paving all combine to constrain vehicular movement and parking.

Collaboration with architects, The design team worked with Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and heritage architects to carefully blend the language of the public realm with the heritage of the built form. Working class terrace facades have been retained and restored; a significant initiative in retaining heritage value in the street. The Old Clare Hotel has undergone a major overhaul and through careful adaptive reuse, has joined with the former Carlton United Administration Building to transform into a 5-star hotel by Unlisted Collection.

Retaining the site’s heritage qualities Original trachyte kerbing has been preserved and reinstated on its original alignment - a subtle palimpsest within the new brick ground plane of bespoke Bowral brick that pays homage to its local heritage.

Kensington Street’s highly innovative design and carefully executed heritage adaptive reuse strategy has revitalised one of Sydney’s oldest streets into a vibrant new public place that contributes to the evolving street typology of the city. The place is a hive of activity, buzzing from the early morning until late at night with people of all ages and backgrounds exploring the street’s creative spaces, dining and cultural offerings.

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I urban park

By: Daria Grekova

URBAN FARM AT VDNKH

The farm offers a new type of leisure activity for children and parents in Moscow, educating children about the natural world through direct contact with nature. The Urban Farm is set to be a major step in the development of VDNKh – including a completely new building (rather than a remodelling of an existing one), connecting the contemporary city-dweller with his needs and the history of the exhibition park.

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Tasks set before the Bureau were to make an interesting destination that would be attractive for VDNKH visitors on a plot beside the Kamenskiye Ponds - 40 minutes’ walk from VDNKh’s Main Entrance, in the most distant corner of the park, bordering on the Botanical Gardens.

The solution that was found - to create a children’s educational complex around Kamensky Pond– “a farm in the city”, where children will be able to familiarize themselves with nature, find out what various animals look like, and where their milk, vegetables and fruit come from.

The northern areas bordering on the Botanical Gardens have a historical connection with the theme of agriculture. Here were located the Pig Rearing, Sheep Rearing and Poultry Farming pavilions. The site of the present farm was that of the Hunting

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pavilion and the so called Hunting Track, with its enclosures for wild animals. The pavilion burnt down long ago, and only two statues remain – the Hunter and the Fox Breeder, which now stand to greet visitors to the farm. The farm itself thus represents a logical continuation of the site’s history.

The Urban Farm at VDNKh is the first project of its kind in Moscow, though this form of children’s educational and family leisure attraction is popular worldwide. On the farm, children come into contact with animals under the guidance of their keepers: they prepare food for them, feed them and look after them. The project is based upon a socio-economic investigation, carried out by ourselves in company with KB23.

Its result is a complex of open air and covered areas devoted to particular themes.

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The complex consists of three main educational blocks: the first is dedicated to animals – including a barn, poultry sheds and areas of pasture (the Farm will be home to goats, donkeys, sheep, cows, rabbits, chickens, geese and ducks), while the second involves yearround workshops and the “Children’s Construction Site” area, and the third is made up of an orangery, orchard and vegetable garden.

Apart from this, there is a restaurant in operation at the Farm, with its own children’s school of cooking, kiosk and summer picnic area, a young naturalists’ hut with a woodland library, a children’s fishing zone and an inclusive children’s play area.

The site relief divides it into an upper and a lower zone.

In the upper part, on a hill, stand the covered pavilions: the entrance, farmers’ café, workshops and orangery.

In the lower zone by the pond are located the barn and poultry sheds, the rabbit pens and dovecote, summer kiosk and riverside picnic area, orchard and garden, and the inclusive children’s play area.

The angling zone stretches along the river. The eastern part of the site, over the hill, hosts the young naturalists’ pavilion and woodland library.

The northern part of the site holds the “Children’s Construction Site”, as well as a large lawn for grazing livestock, administrative buildings and the Farm’s technical zone.

In the barn, children can learn about the lives of goats, cows, sheep and donkeys. The combination of massive wooden beams of complex geometry and the stained glass of the facades lend the building a special expressive quality. The animals are kept in open stalls.

The workshops are a space for the teaching of pottery, woodworking and artistic crafts. Two large parabolic-shaped spaces with mezzanines are provided for classes, with service facilities located in the block uniting them. The countryside and crafts theme is continued here with the wooden shingle roof.

The orangery is divided into three zones, corresponding to the specifics of the plants and agricultural technologies employed. One zone contains racks for hydroponic cultivation of herbs and vegetables. Another is for the growing of flowers in soil. The third has exotic plants in tubs. These spaces can also be used for holding lectures. In structure, the coverings of the facades resemble the skin of a pineapple.

52

Team: Studio heads: Dmitry Likin and Oleg Shapiro Chief architect of the project: Alyona Zaitseva Architects: Gleb Galkin, Darya Listopad, Anastasia Izmakova, Yevgeny Reshetov, Margarita Leonova, Maria Khokholova, Alexandra Kim, Maria Khokhlova, Denis Manshilin and Ivan Korenkov Master Plan: Nina Smirnova Chief Structural Engineer: Dmitry Belostotskiy Preliminary research: KB23 (Konstantin Palivoda and Maxim Lyubavin) and consultant Yekaterina Sysa Dendrologist: Lyubov Mozgunova Structural engineer: Sergei Belugin Address: VDNKh, Kamenskiy pond 5 Photogtaphs: Mitya Chebanenko

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