April 2021 by Landscape Middle East

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MIDDLE EAST

APRIL 2021

2013 - 2021 From a boutique landscape maintenance firm, to a complete end-to-end landscape constructions service provider

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EDITOR’S NOTE We’re thrilled to have our print edition back in circulation after a year’s hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions on publishing. While our digital edition has flourished, ensuring that our readers didn’t miss an opportunity to showcase their work or voice their opinions, there is nothing quite like holding a magazine in your hands and seeing your project in all of its glory spread over a few pages! The print is dead argument still rages on, but for us it has never been about print versus digital, the fact is that print plus digital is the way to go! Big brands still prefer to see their logo in a tangible way, instead of having it pop up on a screen only to disappear a few seconds later. There has never been a better time to support local, independent businesses and media companies because like so many of you told us over the past year, you miss us when we’re gone! Dubai recently announced plans to be 60% nature reserves as part of their 2040 urban plan, our April issue looks at smaller scale residential projects in the UAE and Singapore that are turning the tide on ‘traditional’ urban design in favour of developing health and wellness communities for residents with lush greenery and wide open spaces. (See page 14) Learn about Kuwait’s Plan 2035, the country is focusing on the design and construction of educational facilities throughout the country. (pg 46.) While in the US, a new Manufacturing, Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC) at Chicago’s Daley College is an example of how urban and landscape design can inspire whole communities. (page 36.)

Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine Copy Editor: John Hampton Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan Art Director: Ramon Andaya Contributors: John Arthur Davies, Natalie Habib, Almudena Grande, Nafeesa Mohammed, Sejal Nagjee, Eslam Abeed, Olga L., Catherine Chan, Matt Matouk, Tijana Popovic, Farid Alvie, Henriett Pribek Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com

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CONTENTS

April 2021 - Issue 166

The men who made Dubai’s twisted bridge and the women who inspired them

10 14

The House that Wisdom Built

Turning small spaces into personal resorts

22 28 32

Preserving Abo Makhrouq Park

36 40

Luxury Oasis

Project Promenade Bahrain Beauty Hope springs from new Chicago College building

Urban Sanctuary

28 2

I NEWS & EVENTS

Drone technology with first-of-its-kind planting mechanism takes one million Ghaf Tree Seed Project to next level CAFU the Dubai born tech and car services company, completed two rounds of desert planting using pioneering technology Months on from announcing the Sustainability Deal - Dubai-born CAFU has taken big strides in its strategy towards becoming carbon neutral, starting with the ground-breaking Ghaf Tree Seed Project to plant a million Ghaf seeds in the UAE desert to combat climate change. The pioneering technology and car services company has completed two rounds of planting with over 10,000 seeds in the desert this year using its cutting-edge drone technology and first-of-its-kind planting mechanism designed by the CAFU engineers in the region.

Last year, the team at CAFU went through a rigorous R&D process to test optimal germination of the Ghaf seed in the harsh desert landscape, which shed light on certain requirements such as the need for a seedball mixture with the right ratio of nutrients to help the seeds germinate, and that these seedballs needed to be planted to a depth of 1 centimetre below the ground. CAFU’s team of engineers and technology experts have designed and developed a pioneering in-house pressurised air mechanism built into the drone, which shoots the seedballs to the required depth,

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while also geotagging the location to track its progress. So far, the team have undergone two rounds of planting in the Mleiha Desert and expect germination over the coming months. “Our motivation, since the time we launched in 2018, has been to set convenience in motion to make life better for our customers and residents, not just through our services, but through our ethos and values. This is why we set out the ‘CAFU Sustainability Deal’ last year, to act as a responsible business by taking real steps forward in our sustainability agenda to reduce the impact on our environment and the world we live in”, said Rashid Al Ghurair, Founder and CEO, CAFU. “The Ghaf Tree Project, which forms the central pillar of our sustainability deal, is very close to my heart and I am happy to see the impact we are making on the UAE through this project”, he added. ‘We have accomplished a major milestone through the drone-tech powered planting, and we are excited to use our rich findings and technology to move to the next stage where we scale this project to explore other native UAE seed types. And the best part is, this is only the beginning’, she added. Advancing desert planting through strategic partnerships With sustainability and climate action high on the UAE agenda, CAFU has partnered with key strategic organizations in the UAE,

all with the shared agenda of advancing solutions for positive impact on the environment and by doing so, advancing their research knowledge in the UAE. CAFU and UAE University are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner on research to help optimize and create a self- sustaining seedball for outdoor survival which could lead to long-lasting effects for how we successfully grow trees and plants across the desert. They also agreed to explore working together on a new strategy to scale these findings to explore working with other UAE native desert plants using same seedball methodology. Both organisations signalled their intent to instigate the research project that would conclude with an in-depth research report published containing their findings. ‘As an institution that shapes young, bright minds to become future changemakers, we are delighted to be working with a company like CAFU which uses its resources and technological knowhow to do good in the world. We believe this will be an immeasurably fruitful partnership, as we set out on our journey of R&D that will enable significant progress towards combating climate change’ said Dr Mohammed Abdul Mohsen Ali Al Yafei, Chair and Associate Professor of the Integrative Agriculture Department at UAE University.

Other important partnerships include: The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) have supported CAFU since November 2019 by providing land in the Mleiha Desert - Green Belt conservation area, for drone planting. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure have provided CAFU with land and other resources in AlDhaid, Sharjah, to carry out manual seedball planting during its R&D phase.

I NEWS & EVENTS

AUS architecture students propose winning sustainable design for school in Bangladesh Architecture students from American University of Sharjah (AUS) were awarded first, second and third place for their original designs for a sustainable floating school in a flood-impacted area of Bangladesh, as part of a semester-long Climate Change Challenge initiated by Fatima bint Hazza Foundation. The competition was integrated into the Fall 2020 curriculum for students of architecture at AUS, as well as students from UAE University in Al Ain and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Dubai. Over 15 weeks, the students were required to brainstorm, research and employ design thinking towards an efficient, resourceful and easy-to-implement floating school that will function both as a boat as well as a classroom for students in flood-impacted areas of Bangladesh, while proposing solutions to elevate the living conditions of vulnerable communities. Conceived by Mourad Ben Ayed, advisor to SMEs and non-profit organizations on topics of sustainability and climate change, the inaugural challenge aimed to engage UAE youth in proposing sustainable solutions for developing communities impacted by floods and rising water levels. Ben Ayed said, “I hope that, by launching this initiative, UAE students continue to engage with climate action beyond the classroom and project. This initiative has allowed them to understand the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and gave them the opportunity to take action by designing with a purpose while being creative and pragmatic.” Maysoon Barber, Executive Director of the Fatima bint Hazza Foundation, said the Climate Change Challenge was an opportunity to reward the creativity of youth and create a bridge between the UAE to Bangladesh using talent and human capital as a medium. First-prize winners Maitha AlHammadi and Afra AlFalasi said the competition pushed them to think beyond aesthetics in finding sustainable solutions to environmental factors such as heat, rain, wind and floods.

“Given the social, climatic, and environmental conditions of the project’s site in Bhangura, Bangladesh, we had to consider and overcome a number of challenges—the most critical of these being its vulnerabe position along the flood-prone banks of the Gumani River. The solution we opted for was a floating foundation that would adapt to the constant radical changes in water level, which in itself introduced questions of buoyancy, stability, materiality and sustainability,” said AlHammadi and AlFalasi. Their winning design, “Floating Community, Bangladesh”, also addressed the need to provide quality childhood education on a floating foundation while taking into account questions of sustainability and energy in its off-the-grid location. Their innovative design incorporates the use of locally sourced bamboo as the primary material and is powered by solar energy. “The Climate Change Challenge has helped us understand that sustainable design requires far more thoughtful consideration. We saw this as an opportunity to design something that will ensure a better future for humanity instead of following the footsteps of designers that have not benefited the environment or local communities,” they said. AUS students Aju Irine and Ali Niha were awarded second place, and Nada Abdulmaguid and Sara Bokr took third place for their own unique designs of the floating school concept. The students thanked Assistant Professor George Newlands for his guidance throughout the design process. “The competition and its objectives were an excellent opportunity to take part in something positive, in a very difficult year. The entire studio achieved some exemplary results tackling complex issues of global warming and resource availability in a remote area, and realizing the design potential and possibilities in addressing those problems,” said Newlands. While there is no confirmed time frame, the winning design is expected to be constructed in Bangladesh, engaging the local community and using local, sustainable resources. The next Climate Change Challenge is expected to engage design students on a sustainable solution for a community in Africa.

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I LANDMARK

The men who made Dubai’s twisted bridge and the women who inspired them The UAE is synonymous for its rapid urban development and bold, iconic architecture. And while many of us can quickly name the impressive structures and developments in the city skylines, the names of the architects and urban planners behind them are often unknown, regardless of whether they’ve designed the world’s tallest tower, planned the first sustainable city in the desert, or crafted some of the world’s most stunning mosques. In 2017, the landmark Dubai Water Canal development was completed. Since then, millions of UAE residents and tourists have passed over the series of stunning pedestrian and motor bridges that link the city, including the “Twisted Bridge” which was named among the world’s most beautiful bridges earlier this year by leading travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller. Yet most have never heard the story behind these bridges and the legacy of their architects—two best friends, Ismail Kerem Şerifoğlu and Tamer Fawzi Ismail, who started their careers 20 years ago in the design studios of American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD). Kerem, UK-born to a Turkish family, and Tamer, who was born and raised in the UAE with his Egyptian family, met in 2001 as 18-year-old students and became inseparable throughout their five years of intensive architecture study at CAAD. As members of the first few graduating classes of AUS, they and their wives Yusrah Mazen Saleh and Lamees M. Khalid Himmo are among some of the regions most highly regarded and award-winning architects, interior designers and visual artists.

“We cannot separate our success and our story from CAAD,” said Tamer. “It’s where Kerem and I became best friends, brothers, even where we met our wives, Yusra and Lamees, and where we received such a solid foundation and preparation for our careers.” “Sincere passion in work, formidable teamwork, reaching out to others at all levels are all important principles we learned in CAAD, and we took these dogmas as values for our work and life,” he said. Graduating in 2005, the two friends secured work, together with Tamer’s wife Lamees, on the $1.3 billion Dubai Autodrome, a mixed-use development and showroom project with global architecture and planning firm Burt Hill. The team became a formidable force, going on to design and realize major healthcare, commercial, residential, hospitality, retail, education and master planning projects across the Gulf region. “Since 2005, we have worked on over 30 projects, many of which have surpassed our client’s expectations in the way they have been both designed and realized. As a team, we are often acknowledged for our extraordinary design solutions for large-scale projects,” said Ismail. One of these large-scale projects is the monumental Dubai Water Canal development, which they started working on in 2014, only a decade into their professional careers and completed in record-time in 2017. A jointventure of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and developers Meydan and Meraas, the project involved the massive task of connecting Dubai Creek to the Arabian Gulf. The development effectively cut one side of the city

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Tamer Ismail

Kerem Şerifoğlu

off from the other, requiring a series of new access bridges to reconnect the city for motorists and pedestrians. Architecture firm AE7 was appointed to design three new pedestrian bridges integral and the masterplan, with Kerem and Tamer leading the team. While all three pedestrian bridges are each individually striking and impressive, their third Twisted Bridge (officially known as “Bridge 03”) has garnered the most attention. The bridge’s popular name refers to its twisting truss, a design feature representative of the future and the dynamic vision of the city. “The twisted Bridge 03 is 100 percent our design, nurtured by AE7. We used our architectural design experience coming directly from our time in Professor George Katodrytis’s studio. Kerem and I worked deliberately and meticulously to execute every detail to get it built and realized. We consider the three bridges our most glorious collaboration in our career as designers and architects,” said Tamer. “The fact that the twisted bridge project was realized within only six months is remarkable. To be part of the decision-making with leaders from RTA, Meydan, Meraas, and the hard work of AE7 and Jacobs Engineering Group was a huge privilege,” he said.

“I must credit my wife Lamees and Kerem’s wife Yusra who provided the ‘fresh eye’, critical viewpoint, and always pushed us to our limits. They have both facilitated and sacrificed a lot to help us achieve our design and career goals,” Tamer said. When the twisted bridge won accolades again this year, the team’s former mentor Professor George Katodrytis, Head of the Department of Architecture at CAAD, recalled: “I remember back in the CAAD studio around 2005– Kerem was working on his studio project. Tamer and I were sitting around the table when Kerem walked in with a large white cardboard and not well-crafted model. He placed it at the table,” he said. “It was a twisted bridge.” This project was, in fact, Kerem and Tamer’s last together. Shortly after Kerem and his wife were married and had their first child, the young architect passed away from a sudden, acute illness. “Kerem’s passing was a great tragedy. His legacy will continue forever with the support of all of us—myself, Yusra and Lamees,” said Ismail. “The three of us are one firm family for life. We are a team that will face all of life’s challenges together. When Kerem’s parents in Turkey learned that his story was going to be told, they were delighted,” he said. Today, Tamer and Lamees lead major architecture and design projects with AE7 in Dubai, while Yusra works as an urban design director within a reputable mega project in Saudi Arabia. Tamer and Lamees have two daughters and a son, Kareem, who is best friends with Yusuf— Kerem’s little boy.

I DESIGN

The House that Wisdom Built

Sharjah’s newest cultural icon projects its bold ambition blending traditional architecture with cutting edge design

The House of Wisdom, which commemorates Sharjah’s year-long tenure as World Book Capital 2019, is designed to further the emirate’s distinctive standing as a hub of knowledge and culture. Reinterpreting the traditional library as a social platform for learning supported by innovation and technology, the House of Wisdom aims to be a centre for culture, education, arts and scientific discovery. Developed by the Sharjah Investment Development Authority (Shurooq), the House of Wisdom is considered a model for libraries of the future, especially in the way it merges traditional and digital knowledge sources to cater to every segment of the community.

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Is there an interconnecting theme between the building and the landscape design? The House of Wisdom building was designed to be open and inviting. The basic design, inspired by woven Barasti architecture, is a very simple square structure based around a densely planted and shaded open central courtyard that can be enjoyed at almost all times of the year and allows natural light and ventilation deep into the heart of the building. The large overhanging roof sits lightly on service cores at every corner, giving the building a welcoming and approachable form. In addition, it is designed to protect and shade the whole structure during the hottest times of day. Externally, a series of fixed aluminium screens protect the building from the sun. How important was it to reflect the UAE culture in the tree selection for the landscape? The House of Wisdom is steeped in the rich Emirati culture and heritage and this is reflected in the selection of trees for its landscaping. The trees form a part of and complete the destination’s design language, blending natural elements to fuse with the literary and cultural space of House of Wisdom. They were carefully selected to

I DESIGN reflect the inclusive nature of the UAE. Of course, it was also important to ensure that indigenous species were represented at this landmark cultural edifice, and the collection includes trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers found locally. Was the design of the space adapted in any way to meet Covid safety requirements? As the design and construction was initiated long before the COVID-19 pandemic was even a glimmer in the horizon, no specific modifications were incorporated into the process at any stage. However, sustainable design strategies are targeted at finding architectural solutions that ensure the well-being and coexistence of inorganic features, living organisms and human beings. The House of Wisdom is a model of sustainable architecture that takes into account the fact that human health and well-being are intrinsically connected to and ensured by the built environment. It incorporates a balance between the concept of open access design and allows for the adoption of all control measures to lessen the rate of infections while the space is in use. Given the destination’s vast open spaces and free-structured design, it is also easy to implement safe distancing protocols. Why was the British sculptor, Gerry Judah, selected to design the Scroll monument? What was his inspiration for the design? The 36.5-metre-tall ‘The Scroll’ is an astounding work of art designed by Gerry Judah. This monocoque made of 72 tonnes of steel plates and 240 tonnes of concrete foundations celebrates Sharjah’s achievement as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019. Judah is internationally renowned for designing sculptures, theatres, museums and public places in the UK and around the world, making him the ideal choice for this spectacular monument. His idea to design The Scroll as a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Arabic scroll resulted in a visually striking artwork representing the eternal flame of knowledge, constantly lit and reaching upwards to the skies.

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How was the indoor courtyard space design conceived? Envisioned as a flexible place of learning that would inspire people to come together and share ideas, it was important to integrate the physical building with its surrounding landscape and achieve a seamless flow between the two while designing the House of Wisdom. For instance, the landscaped spaces and gardens have been designed to teach people about plant species, art and sculpture, while also encouraging young children to learn through play. The Central Courtyard was inspired by the oasis at Al Ain, with its layered plant cover providing shade and cooling. The building itself reflects a modern interpretation of traditional Sharjah courtyard spaces and adopts the ancient principles of Barasti architecture, illustrating how the shade from the roof and lightweight screens can be used to protect the building from the harsh sun.

I WATERFRONT

Luxury Oasis At the heart of Dubai lies Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City, District One, a one-of-a-kind waterfront lifestyle community set in green, scenic surroundings. By: Meydan An iconic landscape constructed with the vision of developing a healthy community while enjoying worldclass family-friendly amenities, District One is home to a 7.5km Crystal Lagoon, the largest manmade lagoon in the world. The master community also features extensive open spaces with lush greenery: a perfect example of how nature and modern spaces can be blended into one beautiful landscape. The community offers an enviable lifestyle at the heart of the city. Developed by master developer Meydan, it is minutes away from Dubai International Airport and within easy reach of some of Dubai’s most famous landmarks, including Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre, and Dubai International Airport.

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District One is an excellent choice for anyone looking for tranquil living among greenery, with a scenic shoreline and against the backdrop of Dubai’s magnificent skyline. Although the community is close to the city centre, it provides a nature-inspired break away from city life. The mansions and villas at District One are built with a luxury living experience in mind. Simple, open-plan architecture and well-planned outdoor spaces make the homes desirable and aspirational, with ample natural light to the indoors, blending the surroundings with the living space. Defining destination living, District One is tastefully designed with a commitment to healthy living, sustainability and promoting a balanced lifestyle. An urban microcosm Be it the breath-taking views, the comfort of homes surrounded by greenery or the scenic shoreline of the glistening crystal lagoon, District One residences offer everything for that dream home. Part of master development Meydan, which adopts a ‘City within a City’ concept, this destination enables residents to enjoy all aspects of city life, but within an urban microcosm. The development’s master plan also includes state-of-theart tourist attractions and leisure activities as well as schools, mosques, parks and much more. Living close to nature Imagine a life closer to nature in the city. That is what District One is here to offer with more than 60 percent of the master plan given over to green space. The open green spaces, beautifully laid-out parks and green

I WATERFRONT

pastures promote relaxation and bring a real sense of peace and tranquillity. Sustainability is increasingly being taken into consideration during the design of most of the new developments in the region, and District One exemplifies that. The trees and shrubs of its landscaping plan have a modified irrigation system that ensures the most optimum and efficient consumption of water. The development’s sewage treatment plant is also designed to reduce water consumption. The community offers a living space amidst 26 million square feet of lush greenery and sweeping parklands, promising to boost life quality. The expansive green pastures features beautiful flowering plants and trees to provide shade and healthy air. The streets and walkways are also lined with shrubs such as

Leucophyllum, Bougainvillea, Clerodendron, Jatropha, Tecoma Stans, Vitex and Cassia. The parks and green areas feature alluring flowering trees — Delonix Regia, Phoenix, Dactylifera, Millingtonia Hortensis, Azadirachta Indica, Terminalia Catappa, Tabebuia Argentea, Tabebuia Rosea and Conocarpus Inerme. Rows of palm trees attractively line the bicycle and jogging tracks, streets and open areas. The community is designed to offer relaxed, peaceful open spaces for families allowing them to get close to nature. The goal is to provide a healthy body and mind by rejuvenating residents’ overall quality of life. In District One, life is enriched by a healthy combination of modern-day amenities and sustainably planned greenery.

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night, with minimal energy consumption. District One also offers an opportunity to indulge in various water sports, including kayaking, paddle boarding or swimming, further highlighting its approach to a healthy, balanced lifestyle in a fun, natural environment.

Planned with wellbeing in focus District One residents can indulge in a quick swim in the lagoon, go for long walks along 14 kilometres of pristine shoreline and lush landscaping or unwind and relax with meditation and yoga on the beach. Staying healthy comes naturally here, as District One has several amenities for fitness and leisure, including an 8.4km picturesque cycling and running track located on the perimeter. The four-metre-wide running track has a specialised surface for walking or jogging, while the six-metre wide cycling track includes several rest areas and a designated place to park the bicycles for cyclists to rest and enjoy the surroundings. In addition, the tracks are illuminated by solarpowered lights, meaning they can be used day and

On the shores of the largest Crystal Lagoon The Crystal Lagoon is a stunning 21st-century oasis that offers an idyllic and exclusive beachfront retreat at the centre of Dubai. The 15 km long shoreline has private access beaches, boardwalks and swimming zones that provide unlimited opportunities. A dedicated kids’ zone ensures children indulge in fun activities in safe surroundings. The lagoon uses a unique technology developed by U.S. company Crystal Lagoons that allows the water to stay crystal clear all the time. The innovative technology stands out for its low water consumption as the lagoon operates in a closed circuit, needing only to replace the water lost through evaporation. Crystal Lagoons is a leading player in creating innovations that enable development of attractive landscapes in cities that enhance the value of real estate projects. The company builds and maintains crystalline lagoons of unlimited sizes while solving some of the most pressing sustainability issues such as water scarcity, energy scarcity, and pollution. According to Crystal Lagoons, a 1-hectare lagoon consumes only 50% of the water required to maintain a park of the same size, and a lagoon of average size consumes around 30 times less than a golf course. The technology has been patented in 190 countries. It is transforming the real estate markets of both the private and public sectors around the world. District One is the perfect setting for anyone aspiring to live close to nature in the middle of a bustling city with all the amenities and greenery in place. Here is where one finds modern facilities, tranquil nature and aquatic beauty come together to provide an unrivalled community.

I ADVERTORIAL

How to design for every budget and space

Turning Small Spaces into personal resorts If there is one thing that we’ve learned from the global pandemic, it’s that our living space is precious and our outdoor space is even more precious, regardless of its size!

Case Study A young Dubai couple wanted an intelligent living space for their townhouse in Meydan by Milestone. They wanted to create a luxurious

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space that they could use daily so we started by utilizing their large terrace area and building their own personal resort with facilities to match. Since the townhouse garden was small in size, we couldn’t fit a pool but instead we met their requirement for a fun outdoor area with a Jacuzzi. Design details: The villa is a modern linear structure with a geometric front pathway and large silver antique finish travertine with lights leading to the door. The pathway continues to the backyard with tiles and grass in a geometric pattern. The Jacuzzi is framed by circular steps to give the impression of a suspended tub and comes with color changing lights, 20 jets, aqua blue mosaic tiles and adjustable height seating. The

I ADVERTORIAL Jacuzzi pump room is hidden behind the wall, which is lit with a metal CNC cut panel design with a four way lighting system, making it a chic design feature and effortless back drop for the Jacuzzi. Large Ficus Cone plants of 2m provide a privacy fence near the Jacuzzi and act as a green wall, leading across the pathway to the backyard. The Barbeque counter with a four burner Cal Flame grill and a Sedona wood fired Pizza oven make a convenient outdoor kitchen with storage for wood and cooking utensils. A distinctive water feature is placed cleverly right opposite the villa entrance door and living room, making it an eyecatching feature to look at from the window. The villa was purchased with an interesting flame tree( Delonix Regia or Flame of the Forest tree). A 45 cms height planter box was made with a wide 40 cms coping with concealed LED strip lights to make it into a seating area for guests — their very own chef’s table!

The lighting design is a highlight of the project, creating the perfect ambience for night time dining and relaxation after a long day! The Lantern wall is a signature design that is key to that ambience, it creates a beautiful partition and lighting feature just as you climb the steps going up to the Jacuzzi. Materials All Neutral shades of beige, grey, black, brown with an aqua blue color reflecting from the Jacuzzi. Black metal panels, green plants and flowers add color in this neutral landscape.

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Porcelain tiles are used as paving in the villa with some highlight of wood looking porcelain in the seating and Jacuzzi deck. Nice travertine mosaic, large porcelain polished marble slabs, Silver travertine used in steps and at the entrance, blend together to create this harmonious design. Terrace garden in the Polo Townhouses villas is one of the best highlights of purchasing a property there. It’s blessed with a large space and we used that fully to create a pergola, a nice shade structure that is completely waterproof and protects the furniture cushions at the bottom from

bird droppings and mist droplets. It’s highlight is the fairy lights backdrop with Metal panels. A bar, buffet counter, dining sail shade pergola, a nice dining table below that with lights and fan, make this terrace the go to place for this young couple with their friends. You get to see the view from a height. Tomato Red Bougainvillea, Rosemary, Lemon grass, Basil, Flowering Ixora Chinensis, Taebernaemontana and many other plants are grown on the terrace. Murraya Jasmine gives an amazing fragrance near the seating area. Large potted plants are planted with Plumeria trees giving nice shade.

This small town house villa is a private haven for its owners to be enjoyed with family and friends. They travel for a change to explore different places in the world when they want to but never to get away from the mundane as their home is not their own personal resort!

Photo credit: Mr. Orkun Orcan Sejal Nagjee Creative Director Milestone Landscaping LLC. 0559497312 https://milestonedubai.com/

I COMPETITION DESIGN

Preserving Abo Makhrouq Park

Landscape architects join forces to redesign one of the oldest park’s in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ABDALLAH LABIB

PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, ENV SP, GSAS CGP, Associate at SWA Group

AHMED YASSER

MSc. B (Hons). LS, PhD candidate. Sr. Urban Designer at Broadway Malyan – PhD. TU DORTMUND

ESLAM ABEED

LEED, LEED AP, B (Hons). LS Senior Landscape Architect at Parsons

Abo Makhrouq Park is considered one of the oldest parks in Riyadh and was popular with the locals in the 1980s. The site consists of abandoned huge dry wells, play equipment, a water feature, and rocks, with Abu Makhrouq mountain forming a focal point in the centre. The unique shape of the mountain and the location of the park allow it to attract many of Riyadh city’s residence throughout the time.

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The history of the site has a lot of nostalgia, and holds a special place in Saudi’s heart, especially since King Abdulaziz opened it in 1902 to become a private park before it was opened to the public. This mountain was called Al-Khirbeh Mountain, but later named Abu Makhrouq Mountain due to its eight-meters-diameter opening above it. This mountain was a road for commercial caravans between Riyadh and east and north of the Kingdom, where merchants used to rest before entering Riyadh city. In May 2020, a competition was organized by Al Riyadh Municipality which was submitted on September 2020. Open to three categories of participants; consultants, work groups, and students with a total prize of 1 million SAR. More than 300 participants for all categories participated in the competition. Three landscape architects; Abdallah Labib, Associate at SWA Group, Ahmed Yasser, a Senior Urban Designer at Broadway Malyan and Eslam Abeed, a Senior Landscape Architect

I COMPETITION DESIGN

at Parsons partnered together to create a strong vision to rehabilitate the park and provide innovative ideas to integrate the mountain landscape with the surrounding community. The proposed design has been short listed as one of the top ten projects in the work group category and has received an appreciation letter for innovation in design from Riyadh municipality. The main concept was inspired by the rich history of the site and the celebration of the historical uses and events that once happened

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there. One of the most important aspects of the concept is to maintain the visibility of the mountain and integrate the site with the surrounding urban context and respond to the community needs. When complete, the park’s flexible design will allow it to host local and regional scaled events and promote a new generation of public placemaking. The team aimed to revive the old memories by preserving and renovating these elements in a new way by rehabilitating the planters, water features, and steps in the mountain and promoting the pedestrian circulation. Abo Makhrouq Park celebrates the history of the site and its unique existing landscape. The park’s flexible design aims to engage visitors with diverse activities and amenities and to be a place to host local and regional scaled events and to attract more visitors. Both commercial and recreational uses were considered including children’s playgrounds and sports fields.

I COMPETITION DESIGN

Circulation and connectivity were one of the most important design principles to connect all people and activities to the top of the mountain. Therefore, a circle bridge was proposed starting from the park’s ground level to the highest point of the point where pedestrians can reach. The purpose of adding the bridge is not only to connect people from the ground level to the top of the mountain but also to use the bridge as a viewing point with seating areas overlooking the surrounding areas in Riyadh. The softscape design includes a botanic garden around the proposed water body next to the mountain, which adds as a buffer around the sports playground, providing an open flexible lawn area that could accommodate various events. The team also propose applying Xeriscape in some areas of the park to consider the water demand to match the design of the desert experience area.

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I INTERNATIONAL DESIGN

Project Promenade Basis Studio completes second stage of five-year improvement project of Pavshinskaya Poyma in Russia

By: Basis Bureau

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The Pavshinskaya Poyma is a densely populated residential area of Krasnogorsk in Russia with a very compact development of high-rise residential buildings which required recreational areas for comfortable living and leisure for families. Basis studio has been working on this project for five years, with the first stage completed in autumn 2020 and now with the completion of a large part of the lower embankment. The entire project for the improvement of Pavshinskaya Poyma covers about 13 hectares. Ivan Ohapkin, head of Basis studio says, “The area has been on everyone’s radar because of the current

difficult situation. On the one hand, it is located on the river, opposite the biggest concert and exhibition complex and the metro station used by the entire Krasnogorsk city. On the other hand, it is surrounded by a very dense development of high-rise residential buildings, and in fact, acts as the adjacent territory. There is a large amount of pedestrian traffic passing through the project area. The task of combining a modern promenade for residents and courtyards for locals was quite a challenge. We were lucky enough to have several architects living in the area and working on the project, so despite the challenge, we understood the problems and found the solutions.”

I INTERNATIONAL DESIGN

The architects managed to separate the different pedestrian streams including those coming from the bridge and those heading towards the church so that the inhabitants of the high-rise buildings could stroll peacefully in the courtyard and the residents of Krasnogorsk could walk along the promenade. Research and engineering surveys were carried out to see how the project impacted the water area of the Moscow River and how the ecosystem could be preserved. By choosing a curved embankment, Basis employed divers who carefully examined the riverbed. It was crucial to see whether the water current would wash debris into these curved surfaces. The area has

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become more open: the upper embankment is now much easier to access from the lower embankment (including people with limited mobility), and the lower embankment has water access in several places and is connected to river transport. The new section of the embankment will eventually become green and shady with planted maples, willows, beautiful tall grass. The waterfront is now home to lounge chairs, benches and two observation decks with marvelous views. The long jogging track along the river appeared because of many public hearings and discussions, meetings with activists, working closely with the residents and engaging them in the design concept.

Basis studio’s design is based on socio-cultural programming and user experience. The studio produces custom urban design elements for each space. The most natural materials and forms were used in the Pavshinskaya territory. This was important both visually and semantically: the studio wanted to create a light, open, accessible environment as opposed to an urbanized environment. The playground elements are made entirely of natural materials. An important part of the project idea was to design a blooming garden and hills to diversify the landscape: create more comfortable spaces with an elaborate design visible from the bridge, protecting from strong winds and adding greenery to the densely built environment.

I TRANSFORMATION

Beautification of Al Farooq Interchange, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain By: John Arthur Davies Some months ago, having occasion after a long absence to pass through the Al Farooq Interchange it was very pleasing to see landscape improvements taking place. Discussing the project with Engineer Shaikh Mohammed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Municipalities Affairs, I tabled questions and commented as follows: The landscaping recently implemented at the Al Farooq Interchange is appealing, could you please elaborate? The landscaping of the Al Farook Interchange, which covers 92,000 square metres, represents a green lung in the heart of Manama, the capital city of Bahrain, and is part of a programme reflecting the

Al Farooq Interchange - Site Development Plan

Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning’s commitment to beautification. This focusing on the enhanced greening of streets, open spaces and highway interchanges, as well as public gardens throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain. The project commenced on the 25th September, 2019 and was completed on the 31st January 2021.

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Your reference to the interchange being a green lung implies a commitment to the environment, in addition to beautification.

That’s correct, the selection of trees, shrubs and other plants having been undertaken in close coordination with the Supreme Council for the Environment; for, in addition to the natural beauty offered by trees and other plants, the Bahrain government is mindful of the critical role the plant kingdom plays in mitigating global warming through the carbon – oxygen exchange and maintaining biodiversity. Moreover, considering the density of traffic flowing through the interchange, plants, particularly trees, serve as vacuum cleaners filtering pollutants from exhaust emissions.

The junction on the south side of the interchange near the Central Market consists of a paved area featuring Islamic patterns, the fountains you mentioned being significant elements all providing an interesting contrast to the surrounding soft landscaping. It was deemed important to celebrate the junction. Fountains in conjunction with all the other aspects provided the answer. Also, it was felt necessary from a cultural point of view to introduce a reference to Islam. With water and geometric patterns being fundamental to a traditional Islamic garden and the landscaping of the interchange, though evocative of parkland, represents a type of garden, this approach seemed entirely appropriate.

Frangipani (Plumeria alba)

The interchange features a number of dhows, could you please explain their presence? The dhows are a reference to the location of the interchange near the old port of Manama; they also refer to cultural elements such as Bahrain’s fishing and pearling diving industries; likewise there are fountains in keeping with this principle. Consequently, the Ministry considers the Al Farooq Interchange a strategic project, against which a budget of BD900,000 was allocated for its landscape development.

Dhow - Representing Bahrain’s fishing and pearling industries

Junction on the south side of the interchange

The interchange, with its broad expanses of mown grass punctuated with trees, certainly has a parkland feel about it, thus providing the city of Manama with a unique feature. Was this part of the design intent? Absolutely, for the objective was to develop a unique landscape feature in the heart of Manama with the emphasis on soft elements such as evergreen trees against a green foil, while incorporating cultural icons such as dhows highlighting Bahrain’s strong links to both fishing and pearl diving, as already mentioned – all embodied in the national flag flying in the centre of the Islamic garden element previously discussed. The interchange is part of a strategy to develop open spaces as green areas by planting appropriate ornamental trees and shrubs set in carpets of grass lawn, complemented with suitable landscape lighting.

Parkland scene

I TRANSFORMATION Presumably irrigation is provided by treated sewage effluent (TSE)? Yes, that is correct, the TSE being provided by the Tubli Sewage Treatment Plant. The irrigation system is entirely automatic employing the latest electronic controls, providing pop-up low angle precipitation for grass areas, drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers, with several 400 cubic metre underground storage tanks along with pumping systems having been installed for the purpose. From an environmental point of view, irrigation water not taken up by the plants and which has not evaporated or retained by the soil, will filter through the ground strata to recharge the sweet water aquifer,

Could you please recount some of the plants chosen for the project? Examples include the date palm, which of course is native to Bahrain, while ornamental trees include the yellow poinciana (Peltophorum inerme) and, the royal poinciana (Delonix regia), with shrubs including bougainvillea (Bougaivillea glabra) and the peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), as well as herbaceous and groundcover plants plus succulents and seasonal flowers, all of which having adapted very well to the kingdom’s climate.

Low angle pop-up sprinkler

Quite a range of ornamental trees and shrubs have been planted, could you please provide some background information about their selection?

Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum inerme

The selection procedure involved choosing plants most suitable for Bahrain’s climate. The exercise involved choosing almost 800 trees as well as 1,500 shrubs, all reflecting a wide range of different types. Seashore paspalum was chosen as the grass owing to its tendency not to “brown out” so much as Bermuda grass during the cooler months of the year, thereby largely avoiding the need to over-seed with perennial rye grass.

Trees planted alongside one of the exit roads

Peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

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Bougainvillea glabra Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis)

Looking back over the several decades I’ve been living and working in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf generally, it has been my experience that royal families have played a major role in the greening of cities in the region; and bearing in mind HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa’s contribution all those years ago,, it could be said that the Kingdom of Bahrain was the first country in the region to pioneer environmental improvement.

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

By way of further interest, many of the trees which are now viewed as native, such as the council tree (Ficus altissima), also included in the planting palette of the Al Farooq Interchange, as well as the banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), were brought over from India during the reign of HH Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa (1872 – 1942), who incidentally established the first public park in Bahrain.

That would be an accurate assessment - witness the Water Garden initiated by HRH Princess Sabeeka; and the Prime Minister HRH Crown Prince Salman Bin Hammad’s directive regarding planting of street trees, thereby continuing the work of his late predecessor HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, who in turn had continued the tradition established by his forefathers On a concluding note, it is inspiring that the Kingdom is so committed to improving the environment and by extension the lives of the population, simply by planting trees. The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning in cooperation with the Supreme Council for the Environment continues the tradition of environmental improvement. In addition to tree planting, this involves implementing a number of strategies related to agriculture and beautification works dedicated to increasing the green areas in the Kingdom, all of which aim to promote sustainable urban development, while enhancing the quality and efficiency of the services provided to citizens and residents. It has been an interesting talk, thank you for your time. You’re welcome.

Council tree (Ficus altissima)

Images courtesy Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning and Wikipedia

I INSTITUTIOINAL

Hope springs from new Chicago college building A new Manufacturing, Technology and Engineering Center (MTEC) at Chicago’s Daley College is designed to inspire not just students but the entire local community to get involved in the industry.

By: JGMA Rising from the transformed parking lot in the city’s Southside, the MTEC project speaks to issues larger than architecture; it seeks to revitalize a Chicago southwest neighborhood by creating a connective message that all are significant and welcome. Daley College tasked JGMA with removing the negative stereotypes that exist in the workforce when pertaining to manufacturing careers. Often suggesting these careers as devoid of dignity and reserved typically for minority populations. The project reverses the misconception through a design focused on celebrating state-of-the-art manufacturing spaces and proves careers in this industry require tech and skills as advanced as any other.

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The MTEC sets the framework for a wider master plan. The project unifies the existing complex by creating a campus environment with engaging pathways and collaborative spaces throughout. The design strategy utilizes building transparency to showcase machines, equipment, and products integral to the learning objectives of the colleges as well as provide a visual connection to the surrounding West Lawn community. The seamless fluidity to the building’s form was inspired by the constant and linear flow of the manufacturing process. The building spans the main thoroughfare with a strong industrial bridge that links the south and north campus of Daley College. The new building celebrates the manufacturing

I INSTITUTIOINAL

industry through the expression of materials such as metal panels, glass, and exposed steel. In addition, the underside of the elevated bridge is intentionally painted caution yellow, bringing the manufacturing expression to the exterior. The transparency of the building provides a similar experience for even the casual passerby, by providing a look into the advanced technical nature of manufacturing today. The project challenges the latent stereotypes of a community college and alters the psychology of simply crossing the street to go to class. Through dynamic spatial organizations and site responsive architecture, the MTEC provides students and staff a

unique experience from the moment they walk into the building. The circulation spaces inside the building intentionally collide with seating areas, platforms, and alcoves to encourage students to congregate and participate in incidental learning between peers. There is a combination of exterior and interior terraces for users to enjoy in the warm weather months. These green areas facilitate the students’ and faculty’s interaction providing connections with nature and lead to increased cognitive function and wellness, as well as creating a more unified campus. As the MTEC is now the front door to the campus, thorough analysis was conducted to the user experience with regards to security, wayfinding,

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and new learning opportunities. It was imperative that the new addition set-up a framework for further transformation of the existing building while still celebrating its current legacy. The unique exterior façade of the MTEC building is phase one in a masterplan to completely rebrand and re-clad the existing facilities to create one new energized campus. The new building will not only be a catalyst for growth and change within City Colleges of Chicago, but also inspire the pursuit of manufacturing careers as a sophisticated and high-tech learning path. Design Architect: JGMA Architect of Record: Cannon Design Structural Engineers of Record: Cannon Design Civil Engineers of Record: David Mason and Associates MEPFP Engineers of Record: Cannon Design Landscape Architect: Terry Guen Design Associates Acoustic/ AV/ IT/Security Consultant: Shen Milsom & Wilke Lighting Consultant: Aurora Lighting Wayfinding/ Environmental Graphics: A Perfect Sign Client’s company name: City Colleges of Chicago Photography credits: Tom Rossiter Credit to v2com

I OUTDOOR LIVING

URBAN SANCTUARY By: mdo landscape

Golfer house in Jumeirah Gold Estate, Dubai mixes luxury with contemporary outdoor living

Matt, Founder & Creative Director of MDO Most Desired Outdoor Landscape, has been turning outdoor spaces into urban sanctuaries for a a decade His approach to landscape design, and creating beautiful, liveable spaces, is the dual importance of both FORM and FUNCTION. “They will always go hand in hand,” he says. “It is imperative that function is thought of first and then the fun stuff (the form) can be considered around this.” There is certainly plenty of fun to be had in this open golf view oasis, with a sparkling swimming pool, alfresco dining space, barbecue and seating area.

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Matt says the homeowners’ brief was to design an elegant and contemporary outdoor space for relaxed, comfortable living at home. “They wanted to create a modern, easy-to-maintain pool and garden that takes advantage of the stunning golf course view,” he says. The final design has crisp, modern lines and plenty of symmetry, with a few splashes of artificial lawn spaces and select plantings to add balance. Around the pool, low planter troughs filled with leafy plantings add structure and a modern edge to the design. There’s Pennisetum Setaceum, a hardy species soft looking foliage. In time, as some tropical plants behind a pergola, they will weave their way up and over the pergola forming a beautiful canopy. Beautiful

I OUTDOOR LIVING

lightings on the pergola set the scene for a party atmosphere when night falls, while the pergola and bar area offer the perfect perspective to look over the L shaped swimming pool. When entertaining, the homeowners certainly have it covered with a built in barbecue and a drinks fridge nearby. There is also a space for sofas and chairs, perfect for alfresco dining, with approximately 45 m2 pergola offering shade when needed. “They wanted to create a modern, easy-tomaintain pool and garden that can be used for entertaining year-round,” explains Matt. The tiles featured poolside were selected for their unique texture, low maintenance and contemporary colour. They also add a luxurious feel to the space. In this project, getting the proportions right between

the pool area and dining space was a potential challenge. With so many components, it was key to ensure there was balance and symmetry between the spaces so one didn’t overshadow another. But here good design principles and careful planning prevailed, creating a dynamic outdoor space that the homeowners will be able to enjoy for many years to come. As for Matt’s favourite part of the design, he says the built in bar is a hands-down winner. It’s ideal for the homeowners to gather the gang together after a day of swimming and lounging poolside - the perfect end to a relaxing day. For more information: www.mdolandscape.com

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I LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST

A plant for every occasion Tijana Popovic, Founder of Tgreen Life discusses how small plants can add value to your décor

Light It is essential to know that these plants favour light. Therefore, you should consider placing them in a hot and sunny spot where they could receive at least four to six hours of sunlight daily. If there is a lack of natural sunlight, it is advisable to use the artificial light of a UV lamp just above the plant. In case you live in a part of the world where temperatures drop below 0ºC, it is good to know that these tiny plants can survive at temperatures above 5ºC in the winter months. Nutrition Provide nutrition to your plants once or twice a year with a diluted liquid fertilizer high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Fertilization should be done only during the growth phase in spring and summer, as they do not require additional nutrition during the rest period. General Watering Guide In the summer, when temperatures are extremely high, it is necessary to water the plants frequently, approximately once in seven days, whereas in the spring and autumn, watering them once in ten days is enough. In the winter, most of the succulents are in the period of suspended growth, when they need little; therefore, it is enough to water them biweekly.

As a miniature symbol of a desert, small succulents will enchant you with their look, shape, and texture, which gives them a high decorative value and opens up possibilities for creating various arrangements that will enrich your office, home, hotel, or restaurant. What gives the advantage to these plants, compared to others, is that they do not require a lot of attention. We should note that these plants store the liquid in their stems to use during dry spells. They thrive in sunny and hot places, areas with little to no precipitation, and areas with peaty soil. Although they are rather low-maintenance and have few needs, there are some rules that we should have in mind when growing them.

• The soil needs to be completely dry before the next watering. • Watering should be performed after the sunset since water drops tend to behave like a lance and could burn the plant. • Freshly planted succulents should not be watered for at least seven days so that their roots could heal before being exposed to water. • Do not forget the golden rule: “the less, the better”. Transplanting Once the pot becomes too small for the plant, it is time for transplanting. The frequency of transplanting depends on the plant’s age – older succulents should be transplanted biannually or triennially. In contrast, younger succulents require more frequent transplanting, depending on their growth rate. The warning that transplanting is required is when parts of the plant root start protruding through the potholes on the bottom. • To remove the plant from the pot, turn it upside-down and gently strike the edge or the sides of the pot until the potting soil is separated from the container. If it does not come off quickly, use a thin object to separate it from the walls of the pot. • Remove the soil from the root and untangle it, but pay close attention not to damage it significantly. Plant it in a new, larger pot with a compulsory drainage layer consisting of small pebbles. Make sure that the root is equally distributed around the new container. To ensure your safety while handling the plants, do not forget to protect your hands with safety gloves.

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I PROPOSED DESIGN

A SPACE TO LEARN

Kuwait’s Plan 2035 sets out a strategy for the design and construction of educational facilities throughout the country.

By: AGi architects A new proposal in Kuwait aims to create new spaces for exploration and learning, in which the environment is protected, and health and activities are promoted. After a review of new neighborhoods being established by the Public Housing Authority (PAHW), a variety of plots that differ in terms of size, dimensions and orientation are present in the different school divisions. This ambiguity at the site means that a prototypical approach cannot be used. Instead, an adaptable system is proposed that can be modified with a flexible component scheme. The project consists of an adaptable and replicable system combining pre-school, primary, secondary, and higher education in a single proposal. This is done through the creation of a series of flexible spaces, which encourage creativity, exploration, play and the desire of students to learn, creating links and helping teachers to manage the classroom and develop their competencies.

This is carried out by the construction of an opaque base that opens to different patios inside. These are dimensioned and grouped according to the dimensions of the site of implantation and which reflect common uses. On this is a cover that is adapted to the specific programs of the upper floors of each of the centres.

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I RESIDENTIAL

The Reef at King’s Dock will be Singapore’s first residential property with a floating deck, bringing marine biodiversity directly to residents’ doorsteps.

URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND NATURE INTERTWINE IN SINGAPORE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT Located in Singapore’s HarbourFront and Keppel Bay precincts alongside the historic King’s Dock, the new development aligns with Government plans to transform the Greater Southern Waterfront into a new major gateway for urban living. The sustainable, next-generation luxury development will comprise 429 apartments in 10 buildings and is due for completion in 2024. The ‘urban village’ is set to be made up of diverse building types and will provide an abundance of green spaces and exceptional views. More than 65% of the total units were sold during its launch weekend in early 2021. Green spaces are central to the overall design with a central garden promenade seamlessly connecting all of the buildings’ entrance lobbies and lush vegetation, creating green buffers for the ground floor residential units. A full range of landscape amenities, sky gardens, pavilions, a tennis court, a dry and wet children’s play zone and a fitness zone will provide a host of leisure options to residents, while the landscape between the buildings and on the Sky Gardens is kept quiet, with most activities located at the edges and on the pontoon. The 180m floating deck, with its swimming pools, sun decks, and underwater marine viewing area, will provide unique recreational and biodiversity experiences for residents. Stefaan Lambreghts, Associate Director at Landscape architecture firm, Grant Associates, said, “I was fascinated with the spontaneous

vegetation growing from the existing dock wall when I first visited the site; our team later recorded more than 20 plant species growing between the dock stones. With the pontoon set within the dock, the dock wall becomes a major façade to the development. We wanted to address the appearance of this wall with a rich planting palette, and undertook extensive research into the plants that would be able to grow so close to the sea level. The results of an initial mock-up on site are promising and we are looking forward to the implementation on site.” “Through this project, we will be enhancing local biodiversity through both the dock wall and the marine viewing pit. We are working closely with marine biologists and engineers on the pontoon to create a unique corals experience with a marine viewing pit, where the residents will be able to enjoy seeing actual coral growth from the safety of the pontoon. The Reef at King’s Dock will serve as a prime example of how urban architecture can reconnect people with nature in playful and innovative ways.” The Reef at King’s Dock is being jointly developed by Mapletree and Keppel Land, led by KCAP Architects & Planners in collaboration with DCA Architects and landscape architects Grant Associates. Image credit: KCAP Architects&Planners

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I AWARD

Creating an Icon

International architecture practice, 10 Design, wins competition to design Landmark 55 in the emerging Starlake Urban Area of Hanoi, Vietnam.

Located in the heart of a prominent district, 10 Design’s proposal for this mixed use destination will become a new icon on the skyline of Hanoi. The development in Starlake Urban Development Area includes two towers that create a visual gateway and provide active pedestrian connections through the urban context. Barry Shapiro, Managing Partner 10 Design says, “This district is designated to become the new administrative centre of Hanoi and will become the cities primary location for diplomatic compounds, international cultural facilities and trade/exhibition events. Home to the most high-end and modern amenities in the city, Landmark 55 will become the most iconic future commercial and entertainment destination for the neighbourhood.” Landmark 55 provides a total of 178,888sqm of area including offices, a hotel and condominium hotel, retail, and F&B. The two towers contain a 55-story hotel and condominium hotel tower with a dramatic sky-lobby and a 41-story office tower. A four-story retail pavilion is located between both towers in the middle of the site with an active F&B roof garden and an amenity terrace that connect across the site. Ground level plazas and pedestrian streets activate both edges of the central retail pavilion and are lined with retail and restaurants.

Design Partner of 10 Design, Leonard Milford, explains “Whilst the plots of the new district are typically being developed as ‘traditional’ isolated podium and tower compositions, we looked at developing this plot as a connective catalyst for the region that would function on a number of contextual scales – locale, neighbourhood, district and city.” From the citywide scale, the sites are governed by the 55 and 41 story towers which are staggered in plan so as to optimise views to the West Lake and to provide the respective street addresses that both the office and hotel require. The skyline from the city centre is articulated by a cantilevering lobby for the hotel directing views out across West Lake and beyond as a new belvedere for the city. The lower volumes of the towers have been massed to create a more intimate and refined pedestrian orientated place within the district. The central jewel building sits in an avenue of activity leading from the main street frontage and opening onto the central park at the north of the plot. This element provides a shaded and human scale of activity and massing between the towers creating clear access from the context and active roof scape forming extensions of the public park.

I BOOK REVIEW

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BOOKS OF INTEREST ROOTED IN SESIGN ISBN-9781607746973 PRISE-107.00Dhs.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: A stylish and full-color guide to creatively integrating indoor plants with home decor from the owners of the popular Sprout Home garden design boutiques. Indoor plants play a large role in the design and feel of a space. Focusing on indoor gardening--from small containers and vertical installations with air plants to unique tabletop creations--Rooted in Design provides readers with the means to create beautiful and long-lasting indoor landscapes. Tara Heibel and Tassy De Give, owners of the successful Sprout Home gardening stores, offer expert advice for choosing plant varieties and pairing them with unique design ideas. Sharing practical tips honed through hundreds of plant design classes, Heibel and DeGive tell readers everything they need to know to care for their one-of-a-kind green creations

OUDOLF HUMMELO ISBN-9781580934183 PRISE-215.00Dhs.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: “Piet Oudolf is best known for his now-iconic designs for the High Line in New York City and Millennium Park in Chicago. Hummelo, his own garden in The Netherlands, is visited by thousands of gardeners each year. It serves as his personal design and plant propagation laboratory, and is where he has honed his aesthetic and created new varieties of plants for over three decades. This title charts how the garden of one of the world’s best-known and most-loved plantsmen has evolved, and gives frank assessments of his experiments that have gone both well and awry. Hummelo, timed to coincide with Oudolf’s 70th birthday and his acceptance of Holland’s most prestigious cultural award, provides his throngs of followers with a chronology of how his naturalistic style and career has developed. Lush photography documents how the garden has changed and inspired him over the years, and text by prolific garden writer Noel Kingsbury will ensure a lively read for all home garden enthusiast”

URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPE ISBN: 9781864706307 Author: Dieter Grau Hardcover: 256 pages Publication Date: (10 Jun. 2015)

Book Descriptions: The book provides the latest trends in urban environmental landscaping, with informative chapters on basic principles, dimensions, reference standards and considerations across a range of themes, such as public parks, public plazas, waterfront public open spaces, and urban street environments It Showcases a broad range of informative high-quality projects spanning the United States, Mexico, Australia, China, and Europe and provides comprehensive reference material for architects, urban planners, preservationists ,and landscape designers, and all who are directly involved in town planning in the urban environment. For each part, we selected the most striking cases with the newest design standards to showcase spectacular landscape design With its headquarter in Tokyo, Japan and world class stores spread over countries like America, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan and now in DUBAI – UAE, Kinokuniya is a globally known book seller of repute. The store in Dubai Mall is a massive 68,000 square feet wide paragon book gallery which stocks more than half a million books and thousand magazines in English, Arabic, Japanese, French, German and Chinese at any given time. The Store is also a distinct cross cultural hub wide range of time to time multicultural events such a comic art demonstrations, language learning workshops, book launches etc. The pleasant ambiance, stenographic design and add to it the impressive view of modern skyline – world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, Kinokuniya at The Dubai Mall is just the place to evoke emotions and add pleasure to your book shopping. You may like to visit our website for more information. www.kinokuniya.com

I NEW ONGOING PROJECTS

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STATUS : NEW TENDER TRADE CATEGORY : AGRICULTURAL, LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION

NEW & CURRENT PROJECTS Tender Name

Description

Client

Region

Agriculture Works

Agriculture Works for Department Buildings.

Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (Published on eSupply Portal)

Dubai

Agricultural Materials & Tools

Provision of Labors, Materials, Tools Equipment & Services for Agricultural Research Station.

Qatar University (QU)

Qatar

Polytechnic & Landscaping Services

Provision of Bahrain Polytechnic with Cleaners, Landscaping Services and General Services Helpers.

Bahrain Polytechnic

Agricultural Works

Provision of Agricultural Works.

Agricultural Soils

Tender Cost (USD)

Post Date

Closing Date

4/5/2021

4/15/2021

137

4/1/2021

4/20/2021

Bahrain

263

3/31/2021

4/28/2021

Ministry of Electricity & Water (Kuwait)

Kuwait

250

3/31/2021

6/29/2021

Mixing and Calibration of Agricultural Soils.

Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries & Water Resources (Oman)

Oman

3/31/2021

4/11/2021

Agricultural Works

Agricultural Works at Doha East Station.

Ministry of Electricity & Water (Kuwait)

Kuwait

3/30/2021

4/29/2021

Trees & Annual Plants

Supply of Trees and Annual Plants.

German Jordanian University (Jordan)

Jordan

3/30/2021

4/19/2021

Plantation Maintenance & Addition Works

Maintenance and Addition of Al Bidya Plantation.

Ministry of Infrastructure Development MOID (Dubai)

Dubai

3/25/2021

4/12/2021

Supporting and Downloading Works

Operation of Hygiene, Agriculture, Supporting and Downloading Works.

Ministry of Islamic Affairs - Endowment, Call & Guidance (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

667

3/24/2021

4/21/2021

Agricultural Maintenance Supplies

Agricultural Maintenance Supplies.

Eastern Region Health Affairs (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

533

3/22/2021

4/7/2021

Agricultural Works

Maintenance of Internal and External Agricultural Works.

National Guard (Kuwait)

Kuwait

3333

3/22/2021

4/13/2021

Soft Landscaping Works

Provision of Soft Landscaping Works.

Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning (Bahrain)

Bahrain

132

3/18/2021

4/11/2021

Restore Agricultural Hiring

Hiring Project to Restore Agricultural Oasis No. 46 in Al-Baghdadi Heet.

United Nations Development Programme UNDP (Iraq)

Iraq

3/17/2021

4/8/2021

Landscape & Associated Works

Provision of Landscape & Associated Works at Ahmadi Area.

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) (Kuwait)

Kuwait

3/16/2021

6/14/2021

Landscaping & Squares Development

Landscaping and Development of Squares and Markets

Kuwait Municipality

Kuwait

3289

2/20/2021

5/23/2021

Landscape & Associated Works

Landscape& Associated Works

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) (Kuwait)

Kuwait

3289

2/20/2021

6/14/2021

Trees Replant, Cutting & Removal

Replant, Cutting and Removing the Trees from Various Location.

Electricity & Water Authority - EWA (Bahrain)

Bahrain

1/11/2021

2/9/2021

Integrated Management Program

Supply of Research Needs for the Integrated Management Program of Red Palm Weevil.

Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries & Water Resources (Oman)

Oman

12/31/2020

2/10/2021

Landscape Services

Provision of Landscape Services.

Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC)

Kuwait

12/10/2020

3/7/2021

Miniature Parks & Playgrounds Construction

Construction of Mini and Playgrounds

Department of Urban Planning & Municipalities - Al Ain City Municipality

Al Ain

11/1/2020

11/22/2020

Maintenance and Irrigation

Maintenance and Irrigation of Gardens and Parks

Taif Municipality (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

1467

10/25/2020

11/22/2020

Parks Restore & Rehabilitate

A Project to Restore and Rehabilitate Parks (Dalgan, Al-Maski, Al-Jarrah and Al-Hadba)

Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

933

10/25/2020

11/18/2020

500

The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East

DESIGN

Detailed technical design and speciﬁcation services to architects, consultants, engineers and developers.

MANUFACTURE Fountain and swimming pool equipment, interactive nozzles, DMX controlled LED lighting and musical fountain systems.

SUPPLY

Fire features, fog misting systems, aeration systems, UV water treatment systems and water playgrounds.

Dubai +971 4 320 8777 | sales@aquashi.co.uk | aquashi.co.uk

Placing clients at the center of everything we do…

GREEN & MORE

LANDSCAPE GARDENING L.L.C

April 2021

Articles inside

Urban Sanctuary

Preserving Abo Makhrouq Park

Hope springs from new Chicago College building

Project Promenade

Bahrain Beauty

Luxury Oasis

The House that Wisdom Built

Turning small spaces into personal resorts

The men who made Dubai’s twisted bridge and the women who inspired them