Landscape October 2011 by MEMEDIA Publishing

middle east

OCT 2011

Plants-PotsFountains-Garden FurnitureLandscaping and Flower Arrangements

Email: sultangarden@zaidg.com PO Box 4756 Riyadh 11412 KSA Email: dubai@sultangarden.ae PO Box 181581 Dubai UAE Website: www.sultangardencenter.com

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KHOBAR: Coast Road Tel. No.: 00966 (3) 8590066 Amwaj Mall Opening soon

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EDITOR’S NOTE

MEMedia Publishing FZ LLC IMPZ PO Box 485005, Dubai, UAE Telephone: +971 4 4470927 Fax: +971 4 4470928 Managing Editor Nada Abdel Khalek Copy Editor John Hampton Sales Manager Boushra Dinnawi Art Director Andy Mondaya Contributors Natasha Tourish Fiona Law Elif Bonelli Rochelle Greayer Mario Pisani Jimena Martignoni Eman Kamel Printed by Al Nisr Publishing LLC 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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The Vision his month we had the opportunity to interview Mr. Rashid Al Falasi, Head of Parks and Recreation Facilities Division (PRDF) in Abu Dhabi Municipality. Together with the Urban Planning Council as a strategic partner, the division overseas the implementation of the guidelines incorporated in the Public Realm Design Manual (PRDM) issued by UPC. Mr Falasi openly shared Abu Dhabi’s vision for the emirate, which includes a superior quality of life for its residents as a result of a sustainable environment, with plans in place to expand green areas while conserving water and natural resources. We also take a closer look at the UPC’s PRDM, which is one of the pioneering initiatives to regulate and standardize the design criteria of public spaces in Abu Dhabi. The article refers also to the new Masterplan of the Baniyas area as a case study and a sample of all the efforts put into designing a sustainable and efficient environment that complies with the 2030 vision and the Estidama ratings. This initiative is a vital step to a guaranteed sustainable and balanced development of Abu Dhabi.

Nada Abdel Khalek

OCt 2011

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Contents October 2011- Issue 52

14 48

14 24 32 40 48 52

The Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan. Interview with Eng. Rashed Al Falasi

The Garden of the Museum of Primitive Arts

Mexico City offers a new park in a former industrial area

France's famed International Garden Festival blooms

Women in landscape

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Ratcheting Riser- Easily adjust your left stop position by turning the riser.

Wide Selection of Nozzles- Provides flexibility in system design to achieve matched precipitation.

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RCW

Reclaimed Water Use

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Other Options: Add to Part Number EASYARC SETTING EASY ARC SETTING

Arc Selection 40O to 360O

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P.O. Box 16781 Jebel All, United Arab Emirates • Tel.: 971-4-2221217 • Fax: I www.landscape-me.com I October 2011 I www.landscape-me.com I 971-4-2289130. May 2011 Email: fitcoind@emirates.net.ae • Website: www.fitcoirrigation.com

Who's Who

National Housing - Dubai

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Dubai Interchange Streetscape

Current position & company Senior Landscape Architect - Parsons Chairperson - Philippine Association of Landscape Architects-UAE chapter (underregistered)

stripe background.indd

Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque East Entrance

Academic qualifications Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in University of the Philippines How many years have you worked in the Middle East? 8.5 years in total

Davin Gaffud

Which major projects have you been involved with throughout your career? Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque Arabian Ranches, Dubai Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Heights, Dubai Zayed City, Abu Dhabi Streetscapes around Dubai as implemented by Road Transport Authority (RTA) Revitalization of Al Salam Street, Abu Dhabi Parks along Maaridh Street, Oman Describe your Dream Project Any water front development, ideally Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to design a surf camp resort. How do you see the future of the landscape industry in the GCC region developing? The language of the industry is rapidly evolving to face the challenges of the future in the GCC region. It has learned from its past and ready to face the future. It is indeed stepping up to include more economic sustainable designs and it seems to be much more sensitive to the surrounding environment.

7/5/11

What is your Motto in life? Ad majorem dei gloriam (All for the greater glory of God)

3:47:06 PM

Jumeirah Heights Neighborhood Park - Jumeirah Islands - Dubai

Al Rawda Palace - Abu Dhabi

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News & Events Dubai to focus on sustainable urban development: Future Cities Conference Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality has inaugurated the Future Cities Conference at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event has been hosted by Dubai Municipality and Environmental Center for Arab Towns (ECAT) in collaboration with Informa Exhibitions, the organizers of CITYSCAPE Global.

MESA Landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm promotes leaders in each of its Dallas and Abu Dhabi offices. Dallas based landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm MESA announced that they have promoted five individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the firm’s clients and leadership within the firm.

As two-thirds of world’s population is expected to be living in urban locations, the cities must learn to quickly develop sustainable infrastructure that does not take away from its culture and heritage. The Future Cities event will see many of the challenges and possible solutions debated at its conference. Internationally acclaimed experts are participating in the two-day conference and one day of post conference workshops, taking place alongside Cityscape Global at DICEC. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah has delivered the keynote speech in the conference. The executives from Masdar, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change from Switzerland, Birmingham City Council UK, Sao Paulo City Hall Brazil and the United States House of Representatives also are attending. Lootah said the current cities of 21st-century must evolve from their existing form into centres of

progress that will serve as the force for national and global advancement. No single entity can do this alone; it will take individuals, businesses and all levels of government working together to achieve these goals. Leaders of the future have the responsibility to make this transition happen and must have the courage to lead. Jon C. Porter, Former Congressman, United States House of Representatives; president & CEO, Porter Group USA delivered a presentation on strategies for tourism and events. “The next generation cities must provide abundant cost-effective transportation options, promote economic growth leveraging each city’s unique competitive advantages, build safe and affordable housing that increases citizen mobility, and encourage the livelihood of unique and diverse neighbourhoods,” Jon said.

Left to right: Mary Ellen Cowan, Susan Hubenthal, Wes Cegelski, Mark Thomas and Kyle LaFerney

Orlando, Florida. Cegelski’s responsibilities will be to oversee Middle East operations including business development, client relations and project design and construction administration for landscape architecture clients.

Wes Cegelski has been promoted to Associate at MESA’s Abu Dhabi office. During his six years with MESA, Cegelski has been instrumental in the start-up and operation of MESA’s office in the Middle East. He has been involved in a number of high-profile projects including Jawaher Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., Jumeriah Golf Estates Norman Clubhouse in Dubai, U.A.E., Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley in Manteca, California, and Lee Vista Mall in

Additional MESA Dallas headquarters promotions: Kyle LaFerney, Mark Thomas, and Susan Hubenthal, LEED AP have been promoted to Project Managers for landscape architecture projects. Each of these individuals has demonstrated the ability to manage complex design projects and maintain excellent client relations. LaFerney will continue to provide project design and management services for the firm’s clients as well as assist with business development in the Healthcare industry. Thomas will be responsible for project design and management for residential clients. Hubenthal will continue to design and manage projects for the firm’s retail clients as well as being a LEED resource on MESA’s sustainable projects.

ary Ellen Cowan has been promoted to Principal at MESA’s corporate office in Dallas. Cowan has been with the firm for fifteen years and was instrumental as an Associate in forming the firm’s residential design studio. She brings with her 11 state and national awards, experience as a juror for the National American Society of Landscape Architects’ annual awards in 2008, speaker and moderator at the 2010 National ASLA Conference in Washington D.C.

I www.landscape-me.com I October 2011

GHESA LUMAT awarded the ITCC water features project in Riyadh GHESA LUMAT has been awarded the design and construction of the main package of water features at the new Information Technology Communication Complex (ITCC) in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), by Al-Rajhi Projects & Construction LLC. “This contract reinforces GHESA LUMAT position as a leading water features specialist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our water features will contribute to create a friendly atmosphere, enhancing visitors’ experience” says Mr. Issa Abu Ayyash, Executive President of GHESA LUMAT. “Among the spectacular group of 187 water features at Princess Nora University, this project brings another esteemed institution to our client portfolio” concludes Carlos Gomes, Managing Director of the company. GHESA LUMAT has design a magnificent complex, notable for its harmony, where the water features have been distributed in deferent’s areas: 1. An amphitheatre fountain with a central geyser of 12 meters height and a central palm tree composed by 8 parabolic jets. The fountain will be light up by 94 stainless steel underwater projectors.

2. A linear fountain with more than 180 meters long and made out 81 cybernetic jets of 2 meters height. All the elements will be illuminated in colour by 81 stainless steel underwater projectors. 3. A main fountain with a central Geyser in different heights and with slow water movements. Surrounding the central geyser multiple rows of cybernetic jets in different heights and dynamic star composed by 112 cybernetic jets and 16 leaping Jets, 3 meters height. The Main fountain will be illuminated in color by 198 stainless steel underwater projectors. 4. A 32 meters long reflecting/Bubbler fountain made up of 18 bubbling jets disposed in a line and 16 stainless steel underwater projectors. “GHESA LUMAT will use the latest technologies for the development of ITCC project including turbulence-free and self cleaning elements. All the water features has been design to minimize water and energy consumption, such us optimize flow elements or LED illumination, following GHESA LUMAT’s green policy” adds Wissam Barakat, Business Development Manager. The group of fountains will complete a 776,000m2 space developed by Rayadah Investment Company will be dedicated to increase the global competitive strengths of IT companies in Saudi Arabia, offering research and development facilities and providing a centre for corporate IT company headquarters.

WPC protects primeval forests. Our first objective was to develop the technology to create a composite wood superior to natural wood in order to combat the thoughtless lumbering of forest trees.

www.einwood.com I www.landscape-me.com I October 2011

New products

Alfresco fires are hot right now!

EcoSmart Fire launches exciting new models for outdoor living. Visit our stand at INDEX 22-25 October 2011

EcoSmart Fire is much more than a flicker of an ingenious idea. It’s a compelling reality. EcoSmart Fireplaces are environmentally friendly vent free open fireplaces that produce a wonderfully warm dancing flame. From hand crafted freestanding pieces of “fire” furniture, to grates for traditional fireplace conversion, through to firebox inserts for built-in custom designs and burner kits for bespoke settings - EcoSmart Fire offers a complete collection of versatile and award winning fireplace solutions that make having an open flame incredibly easy - whatever the setting - at the same time as being good for the environment. They’ve been installed in houses, apartments, condominiums, offices, restaurants, bars, palaces, resorts and luxury cruisers – and now the world-leading EcoSmart Fire is set to make its mark on outdoor living spaces with the official launch of EcoSmart Fire’s versatile alfresco models. The newest models – Lantern, Cyl and Mini T – come hot on the heels of the hugely successful EcoSmart Fire Tower, which has been gracing outdoor living spaces since it was launched in 2008. “We’ve had huge demand for outdoor EcoSmart Fire models, and have been

working with our R&D team to develop specific models ideal for alfresco living,” says Stephane Thomas, director of The Fire Company, creator of EcoSmart Fire. “The new models are testament to the versatility of EcoSmart Fires. They’re tough, weather resistant and portable, making them ideal for any outdoor and indoor space. The focus is on bringing the inside out and enjoying alfresco living all year round.” The Lantern, Cyl and Mini T are all ideal for garden and swimming pool areas, outdoor dining settings and commercial bars and restaurants. And as with all EcoSmart Fires, the new alfresco models run on Denatured Ethanol, a renewable energy. Smartly designed and intelligently engineered, the three models each incorporate EcoSmart Fire’s new Around Burner, which is at their core. The Around Burner is a

sleek, stainless steel chamber, which has been designed for outdoor use, but is also ideal for indoor fireplaces. And not only is the Around Burner integrated into the new models, it can also be used for bespoke settings. New EcoSmart Fire Outdoor Range models Around Burner is at the heart of the new models in the EcoSmart Fire Outdoor Range and is the first burner specifically created by The Fire Company for outdoor use. Available as a standalone product, the Around Burner offers the ultimate flexibility due to its modular design – allowing you to create an open fire just about anywhere! It features baffles for fuel efficiency, three drafters for flame stability, and four clip-on baffles which enable users to control the amount of heat being generated and the amount of fuel used.

BULB

Stylish and unique, the EcoSmart Fire Bulb combines the raw element of fire with organic-inspired design, brought to life within a contemporary steel wire frame. The EcoSmart Fire Bulb is fully portable and illuminates and inspires any indoor or outdoor space.

LANTERN

Constructed from mild steel with a bronze patina, the Lantern stands a bold 792mm high. Each side is decorated with an abstract cut-out pattern so that when the Lantern is lit, the pattern is enhanced by the flame, creating a visually dramatic fireplace.

CYL

Acclaimed, Barcelona-based designer Hiroshi Tsunoda has created a fireplace with a contemporary twist on the traditional campfire. Known for exploring the possibilities of geometric figures, Hiroshi’s unique EcoSmart Fire is both visually striking and practical – particularly in an outdoor environment.

A cylindrical shaped ‘tea light’-inspired fireplace. Cyl is constructed from weatherresistant materials, including a round stainless steel base that encases a five litre stainless steel Around Burner. The cylindrical glass surround is made of crystal glass which embraces the flame and is elevated above the base by three stainless steel spigots. The Cyl can be turned on and off as desired using the accompanying lid. Standing 533mm high, the Cyl is a stylish addition to an alfresco party or event – at any time of the year.

DISH

With its authentic rust finish, stylish contours and portable construction, the EcoSmart Fire Dish is the perfect drawcard for entertaining outdoors. Specifically designed to use on your balcony deck, patio, courtyard or pool pavers, Dish captures the warmth and ambiance of a campfire without dangerous sparks and messy soot. Constructed of durable, all-weather black steel, the circular design revives the long-forgotten tradition of sitting around an open fire on a starry night.

STIX

MINI T

Like its ‘big brother’ The Tower, the design of the striking Mini T is inspired by the ‘Padella Romana’ – a distinctive lighting feature used at the entrances of wealthy families during the Roman Empire. A stunning addition to any outdoor space, the Mini T features a brushed stainless steel base and a solid plinth, made from four toughened glass panels, which encloses the central, elevated flame. The glass surround not only enhances the drama of the fire, but also ensures safety. The Mini T, which stands 620mm high, can be turned on and off as desired, using the accompanying lid, which extinguishes the flame once put into position.

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Transform your ouTdoor space

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New products

Ligman lights illuminate Dubai Sports Complex

Founded in Thailand by Sakchai Manawongsakul in 1995, Ligman lights are the professional lighting design provider who transformed the Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum sports complex from an ordinary building into a visionary masterpiece with the use of outdoor lighting. The multi-purpose stadium, which hosted the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships in December 2010, is situated off Dubai Bypass Road at a sprawling 61 acres of land. The aquatic centre, said to be the world’s best indoor aquatic facility, hosted 130 countries during the swimming championships and is the key element of the arena. The centre is a two-tier golden teardrop-shaped facility with an Olympic standard 50-metre pool known as a ‘long course’ along with another 50-metre pool with a moveable floor. The project is unique in its architectural designs that are in line with highest international standards and specifications. While undertaking the project the Municipality took into consideration the characteristics of the area, the easiness to enter and exit as well as link to major roads. The complex is only enhanced further by the environmental friendly outdoor lights, which work on a stand-alone solar system provided by Ligman lights. “We are using latest simulation software to design and generate photo-realistic models to meet the lighting requirements. We concentrate on the luminance from our photometric data

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to show the actual lighting atmosphere whilst balancing the lighting requirement needs. “By utilizing the most sophisticated technology, the highest levels of technical expertise and the latest designs, a comprehensive range of outdoor luminary products has been produced for industrial, commercial and domestic markets for export to countries around the world. LIGMAN also has the ability to manufacture solar products to meet the specific requirements of customers,” said Manawongsakul. Why do we need to rely on solar energy? The abundance of Solar Energy. The sun is the hidden asset for energy in the Middle East region. The Middle East has availability of more than 3,500 sunny hours per annum. Isn’t it a good reason to use the unused energy of the deserts? You don’t pay for sunlight. Sunlight is totally free. There is of course the initial investment for the equipment. After the initial capital outlay you won’t be receiving a bill every month for the rest of your life from the electric utility.

Solar energy is getting more cost effective. The technology for solar energy is evolving at an increasing rate. At present photovoltaic technology is still relatively expensive but the technology is improving and production is increasing. The result of this is to drive costs down. Payback times for the equipment are getting shorter Solar energy is non-polluting. Solar energy is an excellent alternative for fossil fuels like coal and petroleum because solar energy is practically emission free while generating electricity. With solar energy the danger of further damage to the environment is minimized. Accessibility of solar power in remote locations. Solar power can generate electricity no matter how remote the area as long as the sun shines there. Even in areas that are inaccessible to power cables solar power can produce electricity. Solar energy systems are virtually maintenance free. Once a photovoltaic array is setup it can last for decades. Once they are installed and setup there are practically zero recurring costs. The only challenge is regular cleanliness of photovoltaic panels due to dust accumulation on the panel surface. LIGMAN’s architectural lighting main showroom and sales and customer service office are in Thailand with a staff of 280 and a total of 350 staff worldwide. It has a branch office in UAE. Facts about Ligman Solar at Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex - Total energy saving 210.21Kw/day - 75.7Mw p.a. energy saving. - Cost of electricity saved 22,702 p.a. (calculated as 0.3AED/- per ) - Saves Co2 emission 235kg p.a - Minimum maintenance - Advantage of local climatic condition. - Dust accumulation on solar panels is a challenge hence time to time maintenance is done by Ligman - Automatic on-off lights help in energy saving. - Recyclable components. - Saves cost of Cables and reduces labor charges.

www.ligmanme.com I www.landscape-me.com I October 2011

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Masterplan

The Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan. The Abu Dhabi Public Realm Design Manual (PRDM) is part of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s (UPC). With the development of the PRDM, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is actively planning for the public realm and building a world-class community. The manual is an essential planning tool that will help the Emirate achieve its vision for the future. The public realm includes all exterior places, linkages and built form elements that are physically and/or visually accessible regardless of ownership. These elements can include, but are not limited to streets, pedestrian ways, bikeways, bridges, plazas, nodes, squares, transportation hubs, gateways, parks, waterfronts, natural features, view corridors, landmarks and building interfaces. In an interview with Mr. Yousif Al Fahim, Planning Manager, at UPC we take a closer look at the Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan.

his manual constitutes one of many related design initiatives in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It shall be used in conjunction with other adopted standards and guidelines as applicable. The PRDM integrates the needs of different agencies and shall be undertaken by multiple professionals, including urban planners and designers, and landscape architects. The PRDM builds on other planning documents in a continued effort to shape the future development of Abu Dhabi. Central to the planning efforts in Abu Dhabi are the 2030 Plans which establish a vision for future development of the Emirate. The 2030 Plans include the Plan Capital 2030, Plan Al Ain 2030, and Plan Al Gharbia. The 2030 Plans regulate the pattern of urban expansion to balance economic, social and environmental priorities in a sustainable manner. The PRDM also maintains the principles

of one the fundamental concepts of planning in Abu Dhabi: Estidama which is an initiative to incorporate sustainable principles into every aspect of planning in the Emirate. The manual will be updated regularly as new data and experience with best practices become available. To simplify and plan for the Emirate, the public realm is organized into four categories defined by: • Parks; Public spaces with community for recreational use. Parks may include natural areas such as mountain ridges and wadi systems. • Streetscapes; The visual elements of a street including the road, sidewalk, street furniture, trees and open spaces that combine to form the street’s character.

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• Waterfronts; All land areas along the water’s edge. • Public Places; All open areas within a community visible to the public or for public gathering or assembly. The public realm in Abu Dhabi expresses traditional Arab culture while serving the diverse, multicultural population. It is a fully accessible and engaging experience that includes diverse public parks and civic spaces; an interconnected system of public walkways, bicycle trails and public transit; a vibrant and active waterfront; and active mixed-use areas that are all enhanced through high-quality architecture, streetscape design and public art. It safe, comfortable and responds to the climate and environment of Abu Dhabi. Furthering this vision, nine principles expand on how the public realm addresses the following key themes:

Developed by the UPC, in close coordination with Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) and key stakeholders, the Baniyas-South Wathba Master Plan covers the areas of Baniyas, South Wathba and Al Nahda, one of the oldest Emirati communities in the UAE. The Master Plan is aligned with the principles of both Vision 2030 and the Capital 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan and aims to revitalise Baniyas-South Wathba to create a sustainable, vibrant and complete community. Currently, 69,000 residents live in BaniyasSouth Wathba, with over 7,000 existing homes across an area spanning 6,500 hectares.

Liveability; The public realm is a safe and comfortable space, where diverse activities can be experienced by all, contributing to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical and mental wellness, and providing a high quality of life. Identity; The public realm will be a unique expression of Arab culture, heritage, values and traditions expressed throughout Abu Dhabi. Access; The public realm ensures full access to Parks, Streetscapes, Waterfronts and Public Spaces. Connectivity; The public realm is interconnected and enhances the mobility of people by providing continuous land and water access for pedestrians, cyclists and other modes of transport. Placemaking & Design Excellence; the public realm is made up pf high-quality, human-scaled and visually interesting places. The public realm includes multi-

functional, flexible and climate responsive design solutions using high-quality sustainably sources materials. Environmental stewardship; The public realm is responsibly designed to achieve water and energy efficiency, and will respect important natural assets and native flora and fauna. Inclusivity; the public realm will provide a safe and comfortable array of diverse places and activities for all people to enjoy. Activation; the public realm will immediately be improved by ensuring activities and functions are appropriately integrated and programmed while also defining a clear operations and maintenance programme that ensures continued contribution to the identity of Abu Dhabi.

Shared ownership & implementation; the public realm will be developed through a cooperative effort of government and/or private entities to ensure a highquality resource that all stakeholders will contribute to and enjoy. Parks Art Park; areas programmed primarily to display public art for interactive educational and recreational uses. They provide opportunities for artistic expression within the community. Baraha; Barahaat are spaces between homes that are located in small number of key positions throughout the fareej. There are usually a small number of Barah to create focal points for residents to come and interact with one another, ensure maximum use and provide a focus for a larger number of people. In urban areas

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these could also be referred to as pocket parks. Ceremonial Park; are large areas programmed primarily for public assembly and commemoration. They are the focal point of the community and support the identity of the place. Community Garden; support and encourage local food security and production in local communities. They contribute to community awareness, positive social interaction, community education and the ecological biodiversity in urban areas. Community Park; range in size and are programmed for passive and active use. They are located near urban and rural areas to support the community environment.

for sport and active uses. They provide the recreational facilities for a variety of activities and are integral to all communities. Streetscapes Streetscapes play a central role in the formation of the public realm. They function both as important public space and as the network of pedestrian linkages and crossing points, connecting all public and private space throughout the Emirate. The typology includes; Ceremonial Route, to link residents and visitors to significant landmarks and serve as a processional space for the ceremonial events. Gateway, to define major intersections and provide visual identification and sense of arrival

Conservation Park; are areas primarily for the preservation, rehabilitation or creation of natural features or areas.

Mushtarak, to offer shared-use streets primarily for pedestrians that can accommodate vehicles at low speeds.

Desert Park; showcase the unique diversity of the desert climate of the Emirate. Desert Parks also serve to preserve and enhance key natural areas and environments that act as a buffer between the natural desert or cultivated agricultural areas and developed urban and rural settlement areas.

Pedestrian first corridor, to serve as public open space and provide walkable communities.

Family Park; are small areas programmed for active and passive recreation. They are located near residential developments to provide the local population with typical park amenities. Heritage Park; is primarily for the preservation and enhancement of historic landmarks, sites or places. Linear Parks; are corridors for passive and active recreation. They are located along natural corridors, utility easements and other linear open spaces. Meyadeen; are the larger neighborhood level gathering spaces that tie together various community uses and are programmed primarily as central meeting areas. Oasis Park; are historic sites for farming. An Oasis Park includes areas that surround the Emirateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic oases for the preservation and enhancement of these unique places. Sports Park; are large areas programmed primarily

Pedestrian crossing, to provide safe and convenient pedestrian connections to the surrounding open space network Scenic Route, to frame views, vistas and scenic resources along corridors recognized for cultural, historic, natural and/or scenic Sikka, to provide pedestrian access to nearby homes, gathering areas and community facilities. Themed Corridor, to connects heritage and cultural destinations and provide routes which contain features of a particular theme. Transit Corridor, to prioritise multimodal transit options over vehicular use. Waterfronts There are four different Waterfront typologies that provide a variety of waterfront access and recreation opportunities. Waterfront access, is programmed primarily for passive recreational use and environmental conservation. These areas are located around undeveloped or redeveloped waterfronts to support the natural Abu Dhabi Waterfront.

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Preservation area, for the preservation and enhancement of ecologically significant waterfronts. Recreation Area, programmed primarily for water or beach-based active and passive recreational uses. Urban area, are programmed primarily for public access to the waterfront and as waterfront activity centers. Public Places Public places are the most diverse category of the public realm. They define the public space around important destinations and features of the Emirate. Public Spaces are categorized into the public realm hierarchy according to their role and importance as space in the Emirate. The Public Placesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; typologies and their purpose include: Cultural Destination, to enhance the character and scale of the area surrounding a cultural attraction Heritage feature, to preserve the heritage site and provide authentic interpretive and educational experiences. Landmark destination, to reflect and enhance the character of the surrounding landmark venue Mosque, to improve the accessibility and pedestrian character between the street and the mosque. Plaza, to provide a transitional open space between streets and prominent buildings, such as hotels and government offices. Souq, to enhance the pedestrian environment around these shopping areas. The PRDM also includes a detailed list of the plants. Each plant identified for use in the public realm is listed in the matrix which provides the following information: botanical name, common name, locally occurring species, exposure group, irrigation classification, inland suitability, waterfront suitability, and public realm category. Also it includes the Irrigation Rate matrix for detailed information regarding irrigation of each plant category according to its irrigation classification, maturity and season.

Mr. Yousif Al Fahim, Planning Manager at UPC talks to Landscape about the Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan. Developed by the UPC, in close coordination with Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) and key stakeholders, the Baniyas-South Wathba Master Plan covers the areas of Baniyas, South Wathba and Al Nahda, one of the oldest Emirati communities in the UAE. The Master Plan is aligned with the principles of both Vision 2030 and the Capital 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan and aims to revitalise BaniyasSouth Wathba to create a sustainable, vibrant and complete community. Currently, 69,000 residents live in Baniyas-South Wathba, with over 7,000 existing homes across an area spanning 6,500 hectares. Can you please take us through the Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan? • The Baniyas-South Wathba Master Plan covers the areas of Baniyas, South Wathba and Al Nahda, one of the oldest Emirati communities in the UAE.

• The Master Plan, aligned with the principles of both Vision 2030 and the Capital 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan, aims to revitalise Baniyas-South Wathba by creating a sustainable, vibrant and complete community. Currently, 69,000 residents live in Baniyas-South Wathba, with over 7,000 existing homes across an area spanning 6,500 hectares. What are the main components of the project? (hierarchy) • The overarching concept of the Baniyas Revitalisation Master Plan is to focus on creating a sense of community. This will be achieved by developing a hierarchy of district, neighbourhood and local centres to provide services for existing and future residents. • Integrated community facilities and a range of public spaces will ensure residents have easy access to amenities. The concept of mixed use activity centres plays an important role in the revitalisation strategy. Furthermore, streetscapes throughout the community will be revitalised to provide well-connected, safe and comfortable routes for walking and cycling. • The community will be serviced internally by public transit along with new regional connections, to facilitate safe and convenient local movement networks and establish the best conditions for economic growth and social inclusion.

How is the UPC coordinating with its strategic partners such as the Abu Dhabi Municipality to ensure an integrated and sustainable community that will provide the best living conditions for its residents? • UPC has been working with its key partners, mainly ADM, from the inception of this project to address key themes such as the quality of the public realm, community identity and social cohesion alongside the importance given to the development of infrastructure, as the physical and social challenges of urban growth physical are • This approach is vital to achieving an integrated, long-term strategy to implementing the revitalisation masterplan, ensuring it will help build complete and sustainable communities there. How does the Baniyas-South Wathba project align with the overall 2030 Vision? • Comprising some of the Emirate’s oldest housing communities with their own individual characteristics, the successful integration of these communities of Baniyas-South Wathba with the emerging Metropolitan Area is a key focus of our Revitalisation Master Plan and an important precondition for the successful realisation of Vision 2030. • The Revitalisation Master Plan forms a key part of Abu Dhabi Government’s ongoing commitment to coordinate and manage urban growth within Abu

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Dhabi’s Mainland, reflecting the importance of the suburbs as a key area for the city’s Emirati population growth over the next 20 years. • Baniyas-South Wathba remains one of the largest and most ambitious opportunities for sustainable urban revitalisation in Abu Dhabi, and the UPC is ensuring that the creation of a cohesive urban fabric will provide the opportunity for communities to be transformed into vibrant living areas, with a strong sense of belonging and coherence. • Besides, the Baniyas-South Wathba Revitalisation Master Plan is designed to contribute to the enhancement of the economy and social environment of the Mainland by promoting a prosperous living environment and increased economic activity. It also demonstrates that existing communities can be effectively revitalised through the implementation of transportation, community facilities and housing options while building on the existing social fabric and infrastructure framework. • As Emirati housing is part of 2030 Vision, with its overreaching goal to provide future generations of the locals with modern homes, new plots for Emirati housing will be allocated and existing homes will be revitalised to improve the quality of housing to meet the needs of the residents. • The concept for the new Emirati housing types has been driven by a courtyard lay-out within a traditional ‘fareej’ neighbourhood design concept that is both environmentally and culturally sustainable. This new type of urban fabric provides the community with a new sense of place and restores and promotes the richness of traditional Arab living in a contemporary form. Landscaping is an important element in our communities; what is the percentage of green area planned for this particular project? • The Revitalization Master Plan has established an open space strategy that is divided into 5 categories. The 5 categories or systems include sub-regional open space, district open space, neighbourhood open

space, local open space and linear open space. • The sub-regional open space comprises the existing desert landscapes, which are retained, enhanced and kept free of urban development. District open spaces act as major social and recreational focal points and include facilities such as sporting fields, public space events, and large green open spaces. Neighbourhood open spaces are located in close proximity to Neighbourhood centres and cater for the recreational needs of the residents within the neighbourhood catchment area. Local open spaces have a similar function to neighbourhood open spaces with a less intensive level of programming due to the smaller catchment area. Linear open spaces exist along road rights of way enhancing site legibility and incorporate storm water management measures where possible. Included within these categories are planned green areas. These areas cover around 150 Ha of the project area, or around 2.5% of the total revitalisation area. How many parks are included in the public realm? • A clear hierarchy of parks has been established in the Master Plan. The parks have been divided into District, Neighbourhood and Local Parks ensuring that an appropriate range of facilities are delivered and recreational needs catered for. The Master Plan provides just over 100 parks throughout the revitalisation area across the different park hierarchies and ranging in size from 0.5 Ha to 30 Ha. How do these parks comply with the PRDM and Estidama guidelines? • These parks will help promote more liveable, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing public spaces across the Emirate. • This is going to be achieved through planning and designing of the public realms by addressing core themes such as liveability, identity, access, connectivity, place-making and design excellence, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, activation, shared ownership and implementation. These principles will ensure that the development of public

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spaces is in-line with the established vision of raising the profile of Abu Dhabi as a truly sustainable, liveable and accessible Emirate. • By following this approach, parks will aspire to achieve the overall objectives of PRDM of establishing Abu Dhabi as a world renowned capital that upholds its unique culture, identity and heritage and environment while serving a rapidlygrowing and diverse multicultural population with a fully accessible and engaging experience that encompasses diverse public parks and civic spaces.

Water scarcity is amongst the biggest issues our region is facing today. How does the new revitalization plan fulfill its commitment to water conversation? And what are the new approaches or techniques used to reduce water consumption especially in the irrigation of the landscaped areas.

• The scarcity of water makes it an extremely precious commodity. With this in mind, a multilayered approach has been adopted within the Master Plan to minimise water demands within the landscape and to make best use of the water that is dedicated to the irrigation of the public realm. This includes limiting high water demand landscapes in the first instance, and where they do occur, locating them only within high usage areas where they will have the most visual impact. Landscapes with lower demands are preferred and these are located throughout the majority of the revitalisation area. Planting selections are particularly important, with a focus on drought resistant species from arid climates and a particular emphasis upon native species. Efficient irrigation systems and regimes also contribute significantly to water savings across the revitalisation area. Although the rain is infrequent, runoff is directed into landscape areas wherever possible to provide passive irrigation for landscaped areas.

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CONTROL THE UNCONTROLLABLE

WIRELESSLY

Through wind and hail and blazing sun. Solar Sync is in control. Every day, Solar Sync gathers your local weather data and determines whether or not your lawn needs to be watered. And now available in a wireless version, this revolutionary smart product is even easier to install. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just smart, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s genius. www.hunterindustries.com/solarsync

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Interview

Eng. Rashed Al Falasi

Director - Parks and Recreation Facilities Division

The Abu Dhabi Vision Municipality of Abu Dhabi City (ADM) has an extensive agenda which aims at making Abu Dhabi a modern capital city, and it is a priority to create an ideal living environment for city residents, with unmatched quality of life and modern amenities. ADM, has since its inception, developed a number of key objectives, notably the implementation of projects aimed at establishing modern infrastructure for the city including bridges, drainage systems, road networks, modern means of transportation, consolidation of comprehensive development projects. It has also simultaneously been moving towards attaining the goals set out by the development plans. 24

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e have spoken with Eng. Rashed Al Falasi (Director - Parks and Recreation Facilities Division (PRDF)) in ADM on the vision which is “to ensure a superior quality of life and a sustainable environment of Abu Dhabi residents” and their plans to expand the green area in the Emirate while conserving water and natural resources. Can you brief us on the history of PRFD? The Parks and Recreation Facilities Division (PRFD), which is part of the ADM was established since 2005 as PGD “Public Gardens Directorate”, and then converted to PRFD with due respect to restructuring. PRFD in 2005 is established as amalgamation of different Sections, Directorates / Department such as SPC-Landscape and Irrigation Section, Forest Department and Agriculture Department. PRFD is responsible for meeting the rapidly growing needs of the city of Abu Dhabi.

What is the overall vision of ADM? Vision of ADM as topic is to ensure a superior quality of life and a sustainable environment for Abu Dhabi residents. ADM is responsible for providing sustainable comprehensive services to the public and ensuring proper planning of the developing city, with regularized road networks, parks, gardens, street landscape, amenities, maintenance services, lighting works, launching the landscape development plan in the Emirate and establishing public markets in various areas. As part of Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, ADM aims to transform Abu Dhabi into a world-class city that provides for its residents a great place to live and work and attracts investors and visitors from all over the world. To achieve this transformation, we have joined our efforts with strategic partners such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) to coordinate on

the development of projects that are aligned with the guidelines of the Public Design Realm Manual and Estidama. Other associated partners include the Department of Transportation, Department of Municipal Affairs, and the Environment Agency. Once of the most important aspect is that is to reduce the usage of irrigation water, not to depend to the natural groundwater resources, using local ambient tolerant plants and plantation system, attempting to use sea water and recycling the irrigation water as much as possible. What is the PRDF’s role in implementing the overall vision of ADM? PRFD’s vision is • To provide Abu Dhabi residents with quality living through innovative planning, outstanding municipal services and modern infrastructure. • To be recognized internationally for an award winning sustainable landscape environment that places the City

of Abu Dhabi as a leading global city with a distinctive identity and sense of place. At the same time, our division’s mission is • To foster a distinctive, vibrant, aesthetically pleasing network of open space and public realm across the city that offers residents and visitors landscaped areas while ensuring sustainable use of natural resources including water, energy and plantings. Our objective is • To provide Abu Dhabi residents with quality living through innovative planning, outstanding municipal services and modern infrastructure. Recently the main objective is to increase the number of playgrounds and parks in Abu Dhabi, a request from ADM’s General Manager to work on providing new recreational facilities for the residents. The ADM was recently awarded the Greenery Award for Best City in the Middle East Countries for 2010,

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Interview presented from the Arab Cities Organization at an event in Doha, Qatar. At the same time, since PRFD is dealing with the recreation facilities, PRFD’s members supported proactively to grant the blue flag for Abu Dhabi Corniche that becomes first beach in Gulf region to achieve Blue Flag certification as of June 2011. Blue Flags started flying on the Abu Dhabi Corniche on June 12, 2011 morning, assuring better health, environment, and safety standards to thousands of visitors. Abu Dhabi Corniche is the first beach in the Arabian Gulf region to achieve Blue Flag certification for beaches and marinas. Based on compliance with 32 strict criteria, including environmental management, information and education, water quality, public safety and services, Blue Flag is only awarded to beaches which meet all of these stringent international standards. The certification was awarded by the Emirates Wildlife Society - World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF) acting as the national coordinator in the UAE for the Blue Flag Programme. About 30,000 to 50,000 residents visit the beach every month. We also work with international reputable and vastly experienced Consultants to handle the design, construction, operation and maintenance of some of our infrastructure and landscape projects. They provide technical support while the implementation and operation is through renowned contractors in the Emirate. Our main challenges are the enhancement of existing landscape and other infrastructure assets; • Updating asset information • Automating the asset information • Creation of GIS platforms, • Rehabilitation of existing landscape, • And finally constructing sustainable new landscape areas and infrastructures for the rapidly growing needs of Abu Dhabi. What are the scope of work, functions and provided services of PRFD? Our division is responsible for multidisciplinary fields such as Irrigation and Landscape, management of Stormwater, Electromechanical, and other functions including: • Design and construct of landscape and plantation projects in Abu Dhabi City (island and mainland). • Design and construct of lowering ground water table projects in Abu Dhabi City. • Design and construct of storm water networks projects & the related pumping stations. • Design and construct of TSE water distribution networks projects & the related pumping stations. • Operating & Maintenance for the parks, recreational facilities & landscape works in Abu Dhabi City. • Operating & Maintenance for the irrigation and storm water networks in Abu Dhabi City. • Review the design of the development projects which are submitted from the investment properties. • Permissions & NOC issuing to work in the areas that belong to PRFD. Services provided by PRFD are • Green Areas Cutting Permit • Subsidiary Pipe Connection to a Rain Water Drainage Point Permit • Underground Water Pumping Permit • Irrigation or Rain Water Drainage Pipes Relocation Permit • Fines Payment for Damages Related to Green Areas Resulting from Works Execution

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• Fines Payment for Damages Related to Green Areas Resulting from Traffic Accidents • Contractors Work Commencement Non-Objection Certificates • Revision, auditing and approval of plans to design new cities • Consulting Firms Standards Specifications • Issuance of a work commencement notification • Request for approval of civil, electromechanical, or agricultural material to use for projects • Security Deposit Release Related to Deep Water Drainage The typical cycle of any new project starts with feasibility studies and detailed planning in cooperation with our strategic partners and following the guidelines set for the next period. Once the study is approved, we then design and tender the landscape and irrigation infrastructure projects. The next steps include the design, review, value engineering and approval of all third party landscape & Irrigation projects carried out in Abu Dhabi City. Furthermore, we design, review and approve the design activities associated with PRFD O&M and Construction Section activities. Throughout this process, we establish a Quality Control System to ensure the execution of works in compliance with the requirements of Design, Contract Specifications and international Standards while ensuring the completion of projects on time and urging the implementation of Performance Based Contracts (PBC) of the Operation & Maintenance projects as to make sure the performance of tasks implementation are always high quality. PRFD manages all the landscape and irrigation assets located at Abu Dhabi City “Islands and Mainland”, involving more than a million maintenance assets with the management of GIS through AIMS. PFRD required AIMS, CMMS solution to cater to its day-to-day operations and maintenance of assets. Water scarcity is amongst the biggest issues our region is facing today. How does ADM generally fulfill its commitment to water conversation? It is one of Abu Dhabi’s ADM top priorities to reduce the water consumption. We have taken several initiatives to introduce water conservation technologies; • Following up the requirements of Estidama. • Developing parks and gardens to international standards which include xeriscaping to maximize the use of reclaimed water. • Drafting Subsurface Irrigation Guidelines. • Automation of Irrigation Water Network. • SCADA system is in place to monitor irrigation network. • Administering the Estidama rating system. • Developing irrigation master plan for the Emirate to identify weak points in the system and formulate prioritized infrastructure investment programs with timeframes and budgets. • Constructing new irrigation transmission and distribution networks. As mentioned earlier, we are very keen on applying the strategies developed in line with the Emirate-wide policies and guidelines which are: • UPC Estidama/Estidama Pearl Community • Source of Irrigation Water • Plant Selection • Water Usage UPC Public Realm Design Manual • Source of Irrigation Water (TSE, Gray Water)

• Plant Selection (local, drought resistant) • Water Budget UPC Urban Street Design Manual • Source of Irrigation Water (TSE, Gray Water) • Plant Selection (80% to be local, drought resistant) • Water Budget EAD Water Vision and Targets • Sustainable Water Use and Reduction of Water Stress Index • Water use per hectare of forest • Water use per hectare of agriculture • Encouragement of Water Management Programs What are ADM’s new landscape strategies? The overall landscape strategy is set from 2010 to 2015. Before 2010, the old strategy was coherent and had inadequate consideration to many aspects of the projects cycle. It covers the four main elements which are the design, construction, operation & maintenance, and the management of the projects. In the design phase we are keen on presenting distinctive designs, by diversifying the planting strategy, while considering the typological, hierarchical design

concepts. The designs should be feasible and sustainable (i.e., Plant selection, durability, sustainability, materials, water use, drought resistance, orientation, water source, energy) and should be climate compatible and sustainable as over all. Like I noted before the irrigation is very important, we rely on efficient irrigation systems “e.g., Dripping) and projecting to subsurface irrigation system. In the construction phase, we seek new sustainable methods that are applicable in prevailed ambient conditions. For the Operation and Management phase, we have divided the city into zones and areas with respect to the project functions for each contractor as to allow a more focused and specialized service in order cope with enhance performance, hence quality. Also on the management level, we are eager to launch training program for new graduated / fresh Emirati Graduates with different skills. Thereupon, to upgrade the knowledge and know-how transfer to the new graduated / fresh Emiratis, the strategy is to fish out the experienced staff at first instance. We have sourced talented Emirati professionals and have established a standardized management system to ensure a transparent routine auditing to support the monitoring and feedback system.

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rOOI è WF Çd*Çè rOLB Ç qLA w Ç WO U Ç ÊÇuD)Ç l ¬UM s ÊU U *Ç rOLB Y U Ç ádD Ç l ÑUA W U WI Çu è W bMN Ç rOLB r N ¬p Ð v Å W U{Å ®w u Ã WM b w êd Çè ÁÇdC)Ç ozÇb(Ç ÉÑÇÏS WK ÊÇÐ rOLB Ç ÊU UA vK WI Çu*Çè WF Çd è ®ÁUM Ç r è W UOB Ç qOGA Ç ÊU UAM W U)Ç W UF Ç ÊU e M*Çè

åÇb Ç W iOH b$ W bK Ç UN èUM w Ç V Çu'Ç r Ã s è WO u'Ç tOLK WOFO D Ç ÑÏUB*Ç vK ÏUL Ç b è ¬êd Ç çUO áèdE Ç çc w uLM w Çè WOK;Ç WDO;Ç ÊU U M Ç åÇb U d èb ÉÏU Åè d Ç çUO åÇb W èU;Ç l ¬5F W ÇÑÒ åUE è ®sJ2 b vB Ã v Å êd Ç çUO

cOHM WK Õd K ÉÏu'Ç ÉÑÇÏ åUE ÁvAM ¬WOKLF Ç çc ä è ¬WO èb Ç dO UF*Çè rOLB Ç bI ÊUH Çu ÊU KD * Uë I è äUL _Ç ÏuIF Ç oO D vK Ëb(Çè ÉÏb;Ç UN KN sL{ l ÑUA*Ç ÒU$Åè ÉÏu vK Ã æULC W UOB Çè qOGA Ç l ÑUA w ÁÇÏ_Ç vK WOM *Ç ®ÉcHM*Ç åUN*Ç ÁÇÏ_ ÊU U *Ç äu Ã W U vK W UF Ç ÊU e M*Çè ozÇb(Ç ÉÑÇÏÅ ádA b e U* êÃ ¬©w Ozd Ç d Çè Ñe'Ç¨ w u Ã WM b w êd Çè ÁÇdC)Ç

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‫ﻣﺎ ﻫﻮ ﺩﻭﺭ ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﳊﺪﺍﺋﻖ ﻭﺍﳌﻨﺘﺰﻫﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﻓﻴﻬﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺗﻨﻔﻴﺬ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺮﺅﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﻟﺒﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺃﺑﻮﻇﺒﻲ؟‬ ºw WONO d Ç ÊU e M*Çè ozÇb(Ç ÉÑÇÏÅ W ÄÑ æÅ jOD Ç ä s w u Ã æUJ gOF Ç ÊU u Ïu Ã æUL{ p ®W dBF Ç W O Ç WOM Çè WO U *Ç W bK Ç ÊU b è dJ *Ç WM b lC w Ç W Çb *Ç WOFO D Ç d UM*Ç W O UM Q Uë O èÏ ádF æÃ p ®w UJ*Ç UN è ÉeOL*Ç W u YO s WO*UF Ç æb*Ç ÉÏU Ñ w w u Ã

w H Ç b ÇÑ ÓbMN*Ç WONO d Ç ÊU e M*Ç è âÐÇb(Ç ÉÑÇÏÅ f ÐÑ w u Â WM b W bK

‫ﻃ ّﻮﺭﺕ ﺑﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺃﺑﻮﻇﺒﻲ‬ ‫ﺃﺟﻨﺪﺓ ﺷﺎﻣﻠﺔ ﺗﻬﺪﻑ ﺇﻟﻰ‬ ،‫ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﺻﻤﺔ ﺃﺑﻮﻇﺒﻲ‬ ‫ﻭﺗﻮﻓﻴﺮ ﺑﻴﺌﺔ ﻋﻴﺶ ﻣﺜﺎﻟﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﻤﻘﻴﻤﲔ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻊ ﺿﻤﺎﻥ ﺟﻮﺩﺓ‬ ‫ﺣﻴﺎﺓ ﻋﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻭﻣﺮﺍﻓﻖ ﻋﺼﺮﻳﺔ‬ .‫ﻟﻴﺲ ﻟﻬﺎ ﻣﺜﻴﻞ‬

‫ ﻃﻮﺭﺕ ﺑﻠﺪﻳﺔ‬،‫ﻭﻣﻨﺬ ﺗﺄﺳﻴﺴﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺃﺑﻮﻇﺒﻲ ﻋﺪﺩﺍً ﻣﻦ‬ ‫ﺍﻷﻫﺪﺍﻑ ﺍﻟﺮﺋﻴﺴﻴﺔ ﺗﺸﻤﻞ ﺗﻨﻔﻴﺬ‬ ‫ﺍﳌﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﻣﻴﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺗﻮﻓﻴﺮ‬ ‫ﺑﻨﻴﺔ ﲢﺘﻴﺔ ﻋﺼﺮﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ‬ ‫ﺗﻀﻢ ﺍﳉﺴﻮﺭ ﻭﺃﻧﻈﻤﺔ ﺍﳌﺠﺎﺭﻱ‬ ‫ﻭﺷﺒﻜﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻄﺮﻗﺎﺕ ﻭﻭﺳﺎﺋﻞ‬ ‫ ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ‬،‫ﺍﻟﻨﻘﻞ ﺍﻟﻌﺼﺮﻳﺔ‬ .‫ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰﻣﺸﺎﺭﻳﻊﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔﺍﻟﺸﺎﻣﻠﺔ‬ ‫ ﺗﻌﻤﻞ‬،‫ﻭﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻧﻔﺴﻪ‬ ‫ﺍﻟﺒﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﲢﻘﻴﻖ ﺍﻷﻫﺪﺍﻑ‬ .‫ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺣﺪﺩﺗﻬﺎ ﺧﻄﻂ ﺍﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ‬

Blends naturally with any environment and landscape composition simple and elegant Modern flower pots with lights

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New products

The Benefits of Event Flooring T here are so many diverse companies and establishments that can make use of event flooring. When a community, school or sports arena is looking to get increased revenue, the area could be transformed to use for additional purposes. No one wants the flooring scratched or messed up, so the specialized floor covering is placed on top of the basketball flooring (for instance) so that stage gear and chairs will not be damaging the court.

Even institutions with a large outdoor area and want to set up for several parties, functions, fundraisers, and or weddings can usually make use of this product. It is typically put on top of artificial turf to make a more even surface area for a stage, a dining area or perhaps a performance area. In fact, it could even be used to produce a more secure environment for visitors and entertainers alike.

When using a big space, event flooring can help to make a big difference. It is added onto the top of the current floor for all kinds of purposes. It not only gives a space an entirely fresh use, but it can easily protect the floors underneath from damage and wear.

Typically, it comes in pieces or tiles which may be easily assembled by a team and installed right on the top of the current surface. The amount of time it will take to set up depends on the amount of space that has to have protection as well as the personnel available to assist. In most cases, even volunteers could work with each other to arrange and piece together the tiles with almost no training. For more information about event flooring contact the specialists at Raymond Sport. Abu Dhabi- +97124499196, Bahrain +97317293981 or Dubai +97143391331- www.raymondsport.com

Generally event flooring is a commercial purchase. Sporting arenas might want to increase income by offering additional, non-sports related events in the same place. Additionally, a clubhouse or wedding hall might want to offer you some type of dance floor that may be laid out for visitors to enjoy. There are a number of possibilities and uses.

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The price is determined by the size of the location, so every company should decide on the amount of space that needs to be covered. After that, the cost will tell them the number of tiles will have to be laid out as a new type of flooring. What’s essential is that this can be achieved while protecting the floor underneath. The tiles are then organized in advance to cover the current floors and create a new, useful surface.

There’s two main reasons for thinking about event flooring. Most importantly, this adds a completely new aspect to any space. It can make several uses for the exact same area. This in turn can bring in revenue or simply generate a lot more alternatives for the area.

It also protects the underlying flooring. In the case of artificial turf or even specially made flooring, such as hardwood or ice, it protects it from harm and can make certain that there are no punctures, scrapes or stains that result from the various other activities. While there is a cost involved, it can cut costs in maintenance and damage, and you are able to make far more use of the area.

Turtle Garden

The Museum of Primitive Arts By MARIO PISANI

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n Paris, along the banks of the River Seine, specifically along the Quai Branly, a short distance from the Alma Bridge, sadly known for the tragic car accident where Princess Diana, Dodi al-Fayed and their chauffeur lost their lives, one is unexpectedly attracted to a space where our senses are stimulated, starting from the visual and progressing to that of smell and sound. This space is the garden of the Museum of Primitive Arts or Turtle Garden. The museum was originally conceived by the former President Jacques Chirac, who is a keen admirer of primitive and non-western art forms, and his close friend and connoisseur art collector Jacques Kerchache. The garden was realized following a design competition that was won by the architect Jean Nouvel. The Museum was officially inaugurated in 2006 and is planned over 40,600 square metres organized within four buildings. It displays over 3, 500 artifacts, specially selected from a collection of over 300, 000 objects. The first building to be completed was a five-storey structure that is covered by a vegetation wall covering over 800 square metres, a garden faĂ§ade designed by Patrick Blanc, a French landscape architect and botanist who has embraced concepts of vertical gardens by closely studying natural landscapes in Thailand and Malaysia. He is also the author of the intervention for the Caixa Forum Art Museum in Madrid, designed by Herzog and de Meuron. This building accommodates the administrative offices. The actual museum itself takes the form of a long bridge some 200 metres in length with 31 multi-media cells that extend over the garden covering some 18, 000 square metres in superficial area. Designed by the landscape architect Gilles ClemĂŠnt, it is essentially a park combining pathways, hillocks, meandering lakes and water basins lined with pebbles that invite a visitor to relax and meditate.

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Gilles ClemĂŠnt is a highly versatile man and active writer, entomologist, gardener, landscape architect and agricultural scientist. He also lectures at the national school of landscaping at Versailles and is

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Gardens 1

7/5/1

The Turtle Garden represents a total break from the traditional schemes of the French gardens that are based on concepts of order and symmetry. It presents a wooded space almost a jungle or a mall that takes the form of a Savanna, a tropical or subtropical bioenvironment that is characterized by lush

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and dense vegetation including bushes and trees spaced out in consonance with the artifacts displayed in the museum. The absence of explicit and direct perspectives and ordered grounds, sculpting space to soft contours that model the topography of the site and enhance the organic power of nature, thus stimulating the curiosity of the visitor pleasantly overwhelmed by the sense of discovery and surprise. This apparent disorder, far removed from any design logic, is in reality regulated by the theories that Clemént adheres to in the planetary garden, whereby every element located in space: the trees, the grass, the birds, the insects, are equal in relation to man and thus, worthy of every respect. Clemént’s desire is “to encourage a respectful attitude towards animistic civilizations, natural beings and a modern approach to ecology that leads to the same objective - that of protecting the environment and every

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one of Europe’s leading and most influential landscape architects. Clemént has conjectured the planetary garden, the garden in dynamic movement and the concept of the third dimension landscape whereby he plans to display the great diversity that exists on earth. He has designed several parks and gardens both in the public and private realm. In Paris, those of La Défense and the André Citroen park which covers some 13 hectares along the banks of the Seine and the grounds of the renowned automobile factory. In the city of Lille, he has planned and executed the Matisse Park.

manifestation of it.” The absence of boundaries compatible with the principals of the ‘Manifesto of the Third Landscape’ is re-affirmed by the immateriality of the entrance approaches: the main one, with an immense glazed wall, oriented towards the quay, evokes an aling-aling (construction of a wall in Bali which serves to ward off the evil spirits); the secondary one, along the university avenue is boarded by an artificial basin and by a metal railing that evokes the image of a reed. Walking across the garden, there is a restaurant-bar through a series of intricate pathways paved in coloured concrete, of varying widths, articulated by some three hundred small fragments of glass, there are insects on display alongside flowers, shells, elements that are considered sacred by animistic cultures and used as

decorations for ritual ceremonies or as a monetary coin. Seen from above, the form of the pathways is reminiscent of a turtle, a mythical animal that occupies an important role in the animistic and polytheistic cosmos of which the museum displays sacred works. An oval form that we find in the design of the surroundings of ClairiĂ¨res, small enclaves of nature that constitute a series of pauses along the pathways. Points of aggregation, theatres of vegetation or simply scenic terraces, terraces of roses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; lianas, all articulate the life and activities of the museum and contribute to enriching the scenographic aspect with several rushes made of plexi-glass, creative work of the artist Yann KersalĂŠ conjuring an artificial landscape made of white, green and blue lights. Cylinders are placed on multi-coloured leds, whose luminosity varies in consonance with the climatic conditions. As regards the naturalistic aspect, the massive presence of Graminaceae provides clear yellow nuances to all the space, mixed with other species of plants in small, medium and large dimensions, that originate from every part of the world but that are compatible with the Parisian climate. Towards

the north we find the large trees, the vast majority Maple trees, whose purpose it is to reach the roof terrace. To the south, trees of medium heights such as Magnolias and blackthorn bushes that permit the sun to reach the faĂ§ade. The most extraordinary aspect that is coherent with the theories of the Manifesto, as a generator of life and the evolution of the garden, is that of embracing the great diversity of natural species on our planet. The distribution of large swathes of ferns and of the Gramninaceae permits for future phases the establishment of non-indigenous plants opening the garden to any type of contamination. It is a polyhedral vision and is extended in such a manner that distinguishes the work of ClemĂŠnt, and whereby it is not just the state of vegetation that is relevant but the state of animal and human life forms. Man in a pantheistic vision is no longer simply the beneficiary or creator of the natural space but becomes an integral part of it.

Landscape architect Gilles ClĂŠment Period: 2005-2006 Superficial area: 18 000 square metres

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international designs

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Landscape I www.landscape-me.com I April 2010 32December www.landscape-me.com October 2011 2011 Landscape 2011 October 2010 Iwww.landscape-me.com www.landscape-me.comIIIApril IJune August 2011 Landscape III www.landscape-me.com 2010

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41 Landscape I33 www.landscape-me.com I December 49 51 45 Landscape I www.landscape-me.com I October Landscape I April 2011 39 II www.landscape-me.com June2010 October 2011 53 I www.landscape-me.com I August 2011

International Designs

he Bicentenario Park, located in Mexico City, is a typical contemporary project of postindustrial conversion. The original site, which covers 100 hectares, had been a refinery for seventy years, from 1918 to 1988, when it was definitively closed as part of an agreement with the Federal Government. This agreement is framed in an â&#x20AC;&#x153;air improvementâ&#x20AC;? plan for the city, whose objective was also the eradication of a heavy and light industry-based economy; between 1988 and 1994, 150 polluting companies and factories in the city were closed. This refinery was owned by Pemex, the leading oil company in Mexico and one of the largest in the world; as part of the agreement and plans, under a decree from the Federal Government,

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the land had to be donated to the city and the Secretary of Environment (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente) became the formal client. Out of the total 100 hectares, 55 hectares were donated and 45 were left for storage purposes of the company; Pemex is also responsible for all cleaning and remediating processes of the 55 hectare-site.

system of bombs; second, the extraction of semi-solids, which was basically achieved through the extraction of the soil, washed and then returned to the site; third, the aeration, which was performed using ventilation methods. This last stage also working on the soil located in between the existing continuous concrete slabs of almost 40 cm high.

The remediation was scheduled in three different stages: first, the extraction of liquids, which was executed with a

In 2006, while completing these phases, the government launched a call for entries for a national competition and the

Executive Project was finished in 2007. The winning team was composed of two prestigious local architecture firms – Ricardo Legorreta and Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos – the Papalote Children Museum, or Papalote Museo del Niño, a leading organization in business and management plans with thematic and educational purposes, and GDU or Grupo de Diseño Urbano, a firm specialized in planning, urban and landscape design, who would be in charge of the Master Plan.

Mexico City offers a new park in a former industrial central area By Jimena Martignoni

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International Designs

In this particular case, the dismantling process of all industrial elements left the location with no signs or traces of the past and the Master Plan created a completely new space: a park with diversely designed areas, which yet make one single system. The three components of this Master Plan that were marked as main reasons to have won the contest, were the location of the parking area along the edges of the site, with easy access and away from service and recreational areas of the park, the significant presence of water in the site, and the possibility of developing the project in phases. However, since the remediating procedure for the site´s soils took longer than expected, the government finished only part of the project between 2009 and 2010 and the completion of all proposed phases is slated for future months. The project suggested five segments or themes for the park: 1. Natura (Nature), characterized by the presence of native plants. 2. Viento (Wind), represented by the sportive area and an auditorium. 3. Sol (Sun), represented by the museums.

4. Tierra (Earth), represented by the park´s uses at large. 5. Agua (Water), represented by the lakes and service areas. So far, the segments that were built are Nature and Wind. The Nature garden is situated in the northwest corner of the U-shaped site, directly connected to the main pedestrian access. The location of this access was strategically planned in response to the presence of a metro station, called Refineria, which provides massive access to the complex. The main pedestrian paths begin in the accessing piazza; in order to truly and fluidly get into every one of the different spaces that make the Natural garden, it crosses through the entire area as a diagonal. In this manner, visitors get to experience the diversity of the compositions in the site, all of which want to reflect the rich range of ecosystems of Mexico. Mario Schjetnan, director of GDU, says: “Mexico is one of the most biologically diverse countries on the planet and we want people to learn about that, walking through these spaces that seek to exhibit the different species of every biome.”

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This is the reason why the compositions are divided into nine areas or “Biomas”. Five of the biomes are open and are arranged as small-scaled botanical gardens which display the typical plants; one is a large orchid garden which takes advantage of an existing cistern and reuses it as a linear exhibiting space, centrally located in the park; and three of them are large structures climatically conditioned by sustainable methods. These structures are icons within the park and invite visitors to walk into green thematic spaces. The open biomes represent the Temperate Woods, the Desert and Semi-Desert areas, the Low Deciduous Rainforest, the Aquatic Vegetation or Chinampas and the “Encinares” (pine species of Mexico). The three large structures represent the Mountain Woods, the Humid Tropical Rainforest and the Sonoma-Arizona Desert, all of which have special climate needs and humid conditions. These structures are the result of combining a basic module of 15m x 15m x 15m which houses a funnellike element for rain water collection; depending on how large the area needs

to be, the buildings are made of one, two, or four modules. In the facades, the module appears as a glass panel with a metallic frame which is repeated 16 or 32 times depending on the necessary size, thus creating reticulate transparent surfaces, so visitors can see the plants and the water collecting devices inside. As part of the water treatment methods incorporated in this project, the remnant of the rainwater collected by these funnels is conducted to a large underground cistern; from this pool, the water is sent to some filtering tubes to be cleaned and then returned to the city aquifer. The Tropical Rainforest biome offers an accessible mezzanine, around one of the funnels, which floats over the lower planted areas and the tree canopies; in this way, visitors have a more intimate connection with the green humid environment generated in this structure and the reference to this natural formation is especially realistic. When the irrigation system is turned on, an event that occurs two times a day during the weekends and four times during the week, people come into close contact with this water experience, which is extraordinary for a public city park. The

climate conditions were recreated biotechnically in all cases, avoiding energy consuming systems and making use of different natural ventilation options. In order to be able to plant and grow large trees in those areas of the site built on top of the 40cm-high concrete slabs, they were treated as large green roofs and were filled-in with up to 4 meters of earth. The consequent elevation change within the park served as a great opportunity to create some sunken gardens, especially between the biomes structures, which provide intimate areas with borders, vegetal mazes, benches and grassed surfaces where people get together, sit around and relax. The Orchid Garden, or ninth biome, was a result of reusing an abandoned 5 meter deep cistern, centrally located in the area of the park that was intended for the Nature Garden. The decision was to go across the cistern with the main path of the park, starting in the accessing piazza, bisecting the linear space and overhanging onto the buried spaces, on both sides. Visitors are then able to watch the sunken spaces from the ground level of the park, while passing through, or to go down a system of pedestrian

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International Designs

ramps that lead into the orchid garden and connect to a floating metallic path, which runs along the 100 meter-long area. As they walk, they encounter diverse exhibit elements, such as self standing or hanging vertical metallic walls and hanging trays, all of which display different and colourful orchid species, accompanied by thematic panels with photos and written information. Of the original five meters of depth the cistern had, one meter was filled to create a higher bottom level, right on top of the existing slab, and the floating path was built one and a half meters over this new level; consequently the available exhibiting and walking space was approximately two and a half meters high. However, in order to display larger species, vertical panels, and to get as much natural light as possible, the space was roofed with a transparent structure and, as a result, the walls´ height almost doubled. From the outside, when visitors walk the park, these spaces appear as two metallic cubic structures interrupted by the main pedestrian path.

Following this path, the site offers a large and diverse sporting area with basketball, soccer fields and a skate park. Most part of this area is surrounded and marked by a gabion whose inner side contains the stands, creating a very well delimited segment of the park. The fields located at opposite extremes were turned into two sand pits, very popular with little children. In addition, the Master Plan proposed two buildings, one for maintenance purposes which includes an area for a local nursery, and a larger one open to the public which provides restrooms, offices, working rooms and a large showroom. This 232 m2building is finished with local stone, thus highlighting the vernacular image and sustainable approach with which the entire project has been thought out. Although a large part of the park has not built yet, today the site offers an exceptionally attractive place that can be used as an open educational centre while a relaxing and colourful area within one of the most stressful and overwhelming cities on the planet.

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Location: Mexico City, Mexico Size: Total 55 Has; First Phase: 22 Has Year of Completion: 2010 Client: Federal Government of Mexico Master Plan, Natura and Earth Garden, Sportive Area and Lake: Grupo de Diseño Urbano. Mario Schjetnan, Luis Matanzo, Juan Carlos García, Silvia Rodríguez, Rodrigo Hernández, Gustavo Rojas, Alfredo Gonzalez, Isaac Mendoza,Victor Betanzos, Jessica Navarrete and Oscar Aguallo. General Management: Papalote. Marinela Servtje; Alejandro Fujikovsky; Alejandra Lerdo de Tejada; Maribel Ibarra; Mariana Canales. Environment Consultant, Leed: Enlaces Ambientales, Jorge Kanahuati.

SATELLITE CONTROLLERS

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Fertile bulbs

Xavier Bonnaud, StĂŠphane Berthier, ClĂŠment Bouchet, Fabien Gantois, Etienne Panien, Olivier Duraysseix and Guillaume Pezet

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Text and photos by Fiona Law, vivekagardens.com

nternational artists, architects, landscape architects and garden designers have been playing with the concept theme ‘gardens of the future, or the art of happy biodiversity’ in central France this year. A series of summer-long garden installations have delighted and provoked landscape professionals and the public alike. This festival takes place in the grounds of Chaumont castle, one of the many fairytale Renaissance châteaux of the valley of the river Loire. Now in its 20th year, Chaumont’s International Garden festival regularly attracts over 300 design applications, decided upon by a jury of 16 that is presided over by a guest chair. The festival is sometimes seen as France’s answer to the Chelsea Flower Show. It is strongly Gallic, though, with its combined flavour of fable, philosophy and fantasy. The festival is an opportunity to showcase flair and originality in design practice, and this year the future-nature theme has produced some very coherent spaces with ideas that could be developed practically. ‘The Takeaway Garden’ by a British team imagines a future in which people, instead of feeling hopeless at the fast rate of the loss of biodiversity, take responsibility for their own patch of habitat. The garden has one tonne builders’ bags planted according to different (European) habitats – heathland, forest, saltmarsh, hedge or orchard, for example. These would be brought by a lorry and offloaded into an area of community grassland. There are benches for contemplation with laser cut words that reinforce the theme. A fantasy future for public space has been created in The Street Garden . French design pair Julien Maieli and Germain Bourré asked what if biodiversity became the raison d être of our streets, so changing the face of our town’s altogether, to the point that streets become our gardens. A ‘baobab’ streetlight not only has photovoltaic panels in its branches, but also collects and stores 500 litres of water and supports a range of mountain pasture plants. Road run off and storm water are collected in channels planted with purifying aquatic and marginal species that also create a soft barrier between cars and pedestrians. Walkways are hard wearing

The memory library

Gaétan Macquet, Oreline Tixier and Pierre-Albert Labarriere

France’s famed International Garden Festival blooms By Fiona Law

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Gardens Feature

Garden in the street Julien MAIELI and Germain BOURRÉ

Handle with care

Jeroen Jacobs and Maarten Jacobs

Exuberant pollen Yekaterina Yushmanova and Ruth Currey

grills over grass that tickles sandaled feet. Algaebased binders replace bitumen in roads. Climbing plants create shade in summer and soft light in winter. In ‘Handle with Care’, Dutch duo Jeroen Jacobs and Maarten Jacobs have created a garden hospital for plants under threat, complete with transfusion drips, medicine cabinet, x-ray panels and crutches. This call to take better care of the environment attracts a lot of popular attention for its dramatic and original carrying out of the critical care metaphor.

The take-away garden

Steve Papps, Jo Chapman, Jackie Bennett

The diverse genetic heritage of plants, and particularly the importance of wind borne pollen in cereal crops is playfully explored in ‘Exuberant

The garden of extinct plants Olivier Barthélémy and Denis Valette

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Pollen’. American Yekaterina Yushimanova and Canadian Ruth Currey have suspended plastic spheres to the corners of the garden over raised beds of wheat, quinoa and other hybrid plants bred by man using the plasticity of genes for improvement. A ‘raised bed’ for people over a rectangle of water makes a place to enjoy the bubbles and their reflection. The geometry and scale of loss of a war cemetery is evoked in The Garden of Extinct Plants . Here labels in the style of a botanic garden are laid out in quadrats. The grid becomes more overgrown as you walk through to the far corners of the space, showing nature s ability to decolonize an empty space. This installation was put together by French sculptor Olivier Barthélémy and architect Denis Valette. Another French team created Fertile Bulbs garden. Here, organic shapes are intended to evoke the rich life of the soil and the humification process by which compost produces fertility. Annual flowers and vegetables grow through and over pleasing woven wooden slat sculptures. The shiny slate roofs of the chateau s turrets create a charming borrowed landscape to The Library of Memories by French architects Gaétan Macquet, Oreline Tixier and Pierre-Albert Labarriere. Silvery balls on tall bamboo poles containing heritage seeds of draw the eye up. The gardens are magical by night when photovoltaic lights illuminate them and 5000 candles are lit in the château beyond. The garden festival runs until October 16th 2011 when the competition for entries for 2012 opens. www.domaine-chaumont.fr

Reinventing

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Landscaping Head Quarter – ABU DHABI P.O. Box 48303 Tel : +971 2 633 8228 Fax: +971 2 633 8010

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Women in landscape What inspired you to become a landscape architect and was your educational background directly related to this? I have lived in my hometown of Byblos for a long time and saw firsthand how a city can grow and expand. As Byblos gradually developed its zones, areas and downtown, I saw the construction and restructure effort but also I witnessed how the city healed socially, culturally and regained its national and international heritage. I was inspired by the architects in Byblos and the residents who rallied with the municipality to enhance the landscape and the whole city and this helped me to value the collective effort done by people who want to enrich and improve their environment.

Myriam Al Hajj

How a city can grow and expand

My family house has also been a small lab experiment, I used to constantly plant and design and this has helped know more about gardening, landscaping and design. When I graduated from high school, I immediately applied to the American University of Beirut to study landscape design and when I finally graduated I knew that I had made the right choice of career, since almost all of our modern day problems focus on sustainable environment, garnering ecological solutions and fostering natural and organic development. In your opinion, what are the essential attributes that any landscape architect should possess? I think that a landscape architect must primarily have great respect for biodiversity, a sense of admiration for ‘mother nature’ and our planet, a sense of wonder and exploration to the natural environment and a great appreciation of the craft. Landscape is an art and a process; one must be patient and possess a will, ability and vision to come up with interesting concepts and designs. Innovation is also an essential quality, since our work demands a great deal of creativity and meticulous detail, therefore when working on little drawings or on huge maps, the quality of work must be coupled with a level of originality and imagination. What really helps to differentiate one landscape architect from another is an attention to detail, the passion to improve and the constant effort to better the environment and focus on involving nature everywhere in his/her designs.

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The Middle East has seen major developments in the landscaping industry over the past few years with major projects in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Now the attention must be turned to sustaining these ‘Green’ landscapes for years to come. How can this be done baring in mind our environmental responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and the limited skills of the maintenance workers who are left to preserve the landscapes once the architects have handed over the job? We should as architects take responsibility of our projects and work, we should not only be interested in the work done for private companies and households, but we should step up and become part of the change that is sweeping our planet. The fact that global warming and the need to go green is becoming hard evidence in our present world, is posing numerous problems but this should not be the sole motivator for us to come up with innovative green and ecofriendly solutions. The Middle East, known for its deserts and less than friendly hot weather does not help sustain green landscapes, however as technologies move forwards, irrigation technologies have made a great leap forward and the ways to provide water to large scale surfaces has also grown in number and output. However there are water solutions such as using the sewage and filtering, preservation of natural rivers and sustaining wells and irrigation systems. Desalination has also been one of the solutions but it is too expensive to consider, therefore private sector and governments in the Middle East must work on preservation, raising awareness to agricultural sectors, maintenance and field workers to help optimize levels of water irrigation and using techniques to sustain the green landscapes without increasing costs or carbon emissions. Much work and research must be done and a lot of free sessions, seminars and workshops must be given to the workers in the agricultural and industrial sectors to enhance their green concepts and encourage them through subsidies to use green technologies and methods. Water will become the most precious resource in the coming years and it’s likely to become a source of conflict. How can you as a landscape professional plan

ahead in your work to ensure that water is treated with the respect it deserves and not wasted? Nowadays water conservation has become an ever pressing and controversial issue around the world; because many areas are experiencing drought, limited access to water, poor irrigation conditions, and lack of advanced utilities and infrastructure that could help allocate water. A professional landscape designer will have to ensure that installations and irrigation will be produced and installed diligently. Unfortunately, not all landscape designers can and will be able to review the way the irrigation lines are installed, however continuous testing must be done at all times, and careful allocation of water becomes the responsibility of any landscape architect. Moreover, the landscaper should understand more thoroughly the nature of the land so that he/she understands what is needed in terms of irrigation and installations and this will help optimize water consumption and quality and allocate such installations to zones and areas according to needs of plants and trees. Solutions to limiting water consumption can be done by minimizing that consumption altogether, whilst still keeping high and optimum levels of water usage without depleting or diminishing the environment; furthermore, architects must cooperate with irrigation specialists on each

project, engineers and environmental preservationists to gain access to accurate information which will help landscapers do more for less and present cutting edge solutions in poor water conditions. There is no one single solution that will help us reduce water use in landscapes but there are many tools we can use and practices that can be adopted so to benefit from water without depletion. Do you believe that the landscape industry in this region will undergo a major change in their design practices and be forced to adapt in the years ahead to overcome this problem of water scarcity and how can you avoid having only arid landscapes? I think the leading roles of landscape architects nowadays, must not be limited to the architectural and design areas of landscape, but to the preservation of natural resources through their designs; we must be ready to start engaging in ecological solutions, present new and innovative plans that help sustain environmental development and preservation of natural resources. Moreover, our mission and vision of the future should be paced with the present developments in green architecture and solutions. The MENA region is starting to become a hub of experiments in landscape, especially when it is witnessing a large demand for water and experiencing troublesome hot weather, typical to the desert of the

Arabian Gulf. This climate change proves to be a serious problem; water scarcity will eliminate much needed water for plantation and eco diversity, and as a result many landscape projects would be diminished and inefficient. In addition, arid lands will become a hard reality with little, if any governmental interventions that can stop the desertification of the region. This is a fact, however, solutions which are modern, sustainable and technologically oriented can prevent this and the need for a higher caliber of landscape architects are needed to become part of the solutions. Design practices will definitely change, planning and design will undergo development and the role of landscape architects would be more challenging and increasingly involved in environmental protection. Which projects have you been most proud of throughout your career and why? Though I still have much to learn, I am proud to have already worked on different aspects and levels in local and global projects, such as the research phase, on site surveying, data collection, concept phase and relevant details of the projects. One experience however has been very fruitful, where I was working on the internal landscape design of the Mumbai airport. I have learned that creating indoor green spaces can be as interesting as external landscapes. A closed indoor space can be

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Women in landscape witnessing more and better opportunities for women in the region, and I think woman in landscape will take on more important roles than men and become more involved in the decision making processes as well.

diversity, and should gradually move from the scale of individual buildings to cover the entire enclave.

turned into a roomy place; adding greenery will add to the space and create a relaxing atmosphere. So the challenging part was to create vertical green walls in a closed space, choosing the right mechanism and the right vegetation for it. In addition to creating water features, such as water cascades, shallow pools with water jets, not to forget the designing planters, steps and sitting spaces. I have found that the combination of indoor greenery, water movements and hardscape are very interesting as well as very relaxing for visitors. If you could create your dream project, what would it entail? My dream project would be working on a largescale urban development project, which would provide water treatment for the city, ensure plant

The goal would be to establish resource-efficient and healthier places to live and work in, within walking distance to public transit, with the intention of increasing economic viability, maintaining the workforce and integrating the infrastructure district wide. As a woman in a male dominated profession, what has been your experience working in this field in the Middle East? It has been definitely a bit of a challenge in the Middle East, especially in a field where there is much experience, research and innovation. I think women are becoming more and more aware of the challenges placed in front of them, but have become more resolute in rising to these challenges. There is more openness to women in the field, in terms of consulting, freelance, planning and design, women architects are excelling in all these areas and have proven to be more competent in some cases than men. As a woman I am witnessing changes in gender equality and as a landscape architect I am also

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With the exception of water, what are the main challenges your industry will encounter in the coming years and how can these be overcome in your opinion? Global warming has been a major reason behind the increasingly alarming state of our planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ailing resources. Our natural environment is experiencing more changes than ever, and the main challenges of my industry will have to deal with all the transformation happening in the ecological context; from climate change, reduction of eco diversity, natural disasters, as well as higher costs of labour, food and crop shortages. Research, awareness, creativity and policies are all tools and instruments needed to rise to the challenges for a better more balanced future for our planet. The green concept is sweeping the world and many developed and developing countries are becoming partners in saving our planet and preserving the environment. Architects, engineers and policy makers are working together to develop, build and maintain a sustainable infrastructure and utilities system. This will have to increase much more in the future and regulations like the Kyoto Protocol must be taken more seriously to reduce CO2 emissions and start initiating better planning and construction policies oriented towards the preservation of the environment. What advice would you give other women wanting to enter this profession, both here and overseas? Women should not let the issue of gender limit their opportunities and they should not dwell on the negative aspects of gender related work issues. They should instead focus on their thoughtful, skilled professional attitude because hard work will pay off. Women must be flexible and ready for change within their careers as their perspectives change. They must remain faithful to their own motivations and inspirations and expand their skills to accommodate new goals and priorities. In addition, they should explore developing trends in the profession, especially early in their careers as well as they need to become more aware of the tools that are available to them, detect and utilize them to advance their careers. Women also need to employ mentors, specialists and get their work published to reflect their competitiveness and market themselves in such a field.

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New Projects

middleeasttenders.com

+971 2 634 8495

Project Name

Description

Client

Country

Consultant/ Contractor

Budget (USD)

Jenan City Development Project

Development of Jenan City comprising residential, commercial, hospitality and retail, covering an area of 290,000 sqm

Jenan Properties (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

N/A

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)

Qatar

Mace Limited (UK)

1.6 Billion

Rayhaan Hotel Project

Construction of five-star Rayhaan Hotel comprising (240) rooms.

Abdulla Fouad Holding Company (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

N/A

70 Million

Muscat Cement Plant Upgrade Project

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to modernise Line 1 at the existing cement plant in Muscat.

Oman Cement Company S.A.O.G.

Oman

Ercom Consulting Engineers Private Limited (India)/ CNBM International Engineering Company (China)

29 Million

Linear Alkyl Benzene Plant Expansion Project - Jubail Industrial City

Engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) contract for the expansion of linear alkyl benzene (LAB) plant with production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per annum.

Gulf Farabi Petrochemical Company (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

Foster Wheeler Arabia (KSA)/ Uhde Limited (India)

N/A

Najaf Monorail Project

Design and Build contract for the construction of a 37-kilometre-long monorail in Najaf.

Najaf Investment Commission (Iraq)

Iraq

TransGlobim International (Canada)

600 Million

Epoxy Plant Expansion Project (Phase 2) Jubail Industrial City

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the expansion of an existing epoxy plant in Jubail Industrial City to increase production capacity -Phase 2.

Jubail Chemical Industries Company - Jana (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

Jacobs Engineering (Saudi Arabia)

N/A

Automated People Mover System Project

Construction of an automated people mover system within West Bay development.

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatar)

Qatar

1.4 Billion

Tank Farm Project - Aluminium Complex - Ras Al Zour

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatar)

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a tank farm, as part of the Aluminium Complex project at Ras Al Zour.

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (MAADEN)

Saudi Arabia

Fluor Arabia Limited (KSA)

200 Million

Infrastructure Works Contract - Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone

Implementation of infrastructure works involving construction of one road bridge, two rail bridges and other general infrastructure such as culverts, storm water drainage, sewerage, substations and pumping stations at Khalifa Port & Industrial Zone (KPIZ).

Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC)

UAE

Bechtel (International) Company Limited/ Consolidated Contractors International Co. Ltd. - CCC (Abu Dhabi)

132 Million

Tabuk Power Plant Expansion Project - Phase 7

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for expansion of the existing power plant at Tabuk to increase capacity to 118 MW.

Saudi Electricity Company Central Region (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

Al-Toukhi Contracting (Saudi Arabia)

88 Million

Jumeirah Gardens Mixed-use Development Project

Development of Jumeirah Gardens mixed-use scheme comprising seven distinct areas, including offices, residential buildings, retail, leisure and entertainment areas, and hotels.

Meraas Development (Dubai)

UAE

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (USA)

95 Billion

Medina International Airport Expansion Project - Phase 1

Expansion of Medina International Airport to develop airside and landside facilities, including the construction of a new terminal with capacity of 14 million passengers a year, renovation of an existing runway and construction of a second runway.

General Authority of Civil Aviation - GACA (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

N/A

1.5 Billion

Baghdad International Airport Expansion Project

Carrying out expansion of Baghdad International Airport involving construction of three more passenger terminals, including a free zone, warehouses, a business park and a cargo village that will comprise cargo terminals and storage facilities.

Civil Aviation Authority (Iraq)

Iraq

N/A

7 Billion

C4ISR Systems Installation Project

Installation of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems for an armed forces authority.

U.A.E. Armed Forces GHQ (Abu Dhabi)

UAE

Emiraje Systems (Abu Dhabi)

550 Million

Rod el-Farag Highway Project

Construction of 35-kilometre-long Rod el-Farag highway with seven major intersections.

Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Development (Egypt)

Egypt

N/A

1 Billion

King Abdullah Sports City Project

Construction of King Abdullah Sports City covering an area of 9 square kilometres featuring a main stadium with capacity of 60,000, together with at least five other smaller sporting arenas, including a specialist hospital for sporting injuries, a number of indoor arenas and accommodation facilities.

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)

Saudi Arabia

Arup (UK)

10 Billion

Barwa New Cairo Community Development Project

Development of Barwa New Cairo community comprising 40,000 housing units, a hospital, three hotels, schools, office buildings and a shopping centre.

Barwa Real Estate Company (Qatar)

Egypt

Hill International Ltd./ Consolidated Contractors International Co. S.A.L. - CCC (Egypt)

9 billion

Tubli Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project

Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract for the expansion of Tubli wastewater treatment plant with capacity of 150,000 cubic m a day.

Ministry of Works (Bahrain)

Bahrain

N/A

120 Million

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The Irrigation Innovators

TECNIDRO MESC

I www.landscape-me.com I October 2011

• Landscaping development the hard and soft scape • Irrigation • Horticultural supplies, lawns and specimen plants • email: info@zaidg.com • PO Box 4756 Riyadh 11412, KSA • email: dubai@zaidg.com • PO Box 181581 Dubai, UAE • website: www.zaidg.com

RIYADH: King Khalid Airport Road: Tel. No.: 00966 (1) 4655555

KHOBAR: Coast Road Tel. No.: 00966 (3) 8590066

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JEDDAH: Al Andalus Tel. No.: 00966 (2) 6686666

DUBAI Sheikh Zayed Road Tel. No. 00971 (4) 3296630