May 2023

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Our cover story this month highlights the urban plaza in front of the tallest twin-towers in Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka. The designers ambition for the Forum is for it to become a place where people can congregate with friends or family for social gatherings. Along with the twin towers, the plaza aims to redefine Dhaka’s open space and create a new benchmark for urban design in the country. See page 14

We also have an article by Will Bennett on the growing impact of tech on the day-day operations of landscape companies in the region — from customisable software to easily accessible payment processes that take the hassle of financial admin off your hands. See page 18

Our projects section features the latest landscape developments in the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan and China. In Abu Dhabi we focus on the recently completed Central Plaza, which is the latest addition to Masdar City. Home to the UAE Space Agency, the adjoining Central Plaza has been a strategic move for Masdar City. See Page 10 for more details on the Plaza’s design. With green and ecology as the core theme, the Suzhou Huanyuandang Ecological Restoration and Shoreline Linkage project is the first cross-provincial ecological restoration project in China. See page 36

And in Kuwait, we visited South Sabah Al-Ahmad City set to be the urban core for the country’s southern sub-region. It’s located 80 kilometres south of Kuwait City and will be home to an estimated 280,000 people, while creating another 145,000 jobs in a diverse range of industries including construction, medicine, manufacturing and culture, along with extensive green open spaces and multi-layered public transport systems that promote wellbeing and sustainability. See page 22 for more details.

Enjoy the issue!

Please email us admin@landscape-me.com if you would like to have your company’s landscape projects featured in the magazine.

Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine

Copy Editor: John Hampton

Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan

Art Director: Ramon Andaya

Contributors: Will Bennett, Sebastien Miller, Deborah Lambert, Sophia Cheung, Dr. Anne Gharaibeh, Olivia Hurst

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opinions and views contained in the articles in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily of the publishers. The publishers cannot be held liable for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

NEOM unveils details of work behind Zero Gravity Urbanism, the concept underpinning the design of THE LINE, developed in collaboration with the global architecture community.

Zero Gravity Urbanism seeks to address global environmental and social challenges by striking a balance between nature conservation, livability, and sustainable human progress.

The Venice exhibition, curated by Ramon Prat, will be open to the public between 20 May and 24 September 2023.

The historic Abbazia di San Gregorio in Venice will be home to a landmark exhibition entitled, ‘Zero Gravity Urbanism - Principles for a New Livability’. The exhibition features the proposals of world leading architects sharing their work on THE LINE and their contribution to this urban revolution. Contributors include Morphosis, Sir Peter Cook, UNStudio, Fuksas, Oyler Wu, DMAA, and Adjaye, among others.

Zero Gravity Urbanism proposes a radical and progressive approach to cities with a sharper view towards balancing nature, livability, and human progress. In contrast to city development of the last century, it provides a sustainable model that responds to the world’s most pressing environmental and urban challenges, while addressing the need to accommodate a fast-growing urban population. The proposed model tackles urban sprawl, and climate change.

From a conservation perspective, THE LINE proposes a city that can accommodate up to 9 million inhabitants with a land footprint of 2% of that of cities with a similar population. This allows nature to thrive and contributes to protecting 95% of NEOM’s 26,500 km2 land area. THE LINE is also a model for a city that is fully powered by renewable energy and is supported with sustainable water and food production.

NEOM shares its vision for the Future of cities in Venice Exhibition

From a human perspective, THE LINE, with its 3-dimensional organization of private and public space, provides universal and equitable access to amenities and services. It will also ensure all residents have direct views and immediate access to nature. The city is car-free and is composed of hyper mixeduse walkable communities providing 5-minute access to daily needs.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said, “The work undertaken by NEOM in the last few years will not only be important in the context of THE LINE, but will also in a pro-active and meaningful way, help to engage in the ongoing development of sustainable urban design globally.”

Antoni Vives, Chief Urban Planning Officer of NEOM, said, “68% of the world’s population is expected to be living in urban areas by 2050. The current global urban model driven by the automobile is failing

and must be revisited considering its impact on the environment and on people’s wellbeing.”

Tarek Qaddumi, Executive Director of Urban Planning of NEOM, said, “Working on THE LINE with some of the most recognized designers and research institutions has resulted in a significant body of work that reestablishes our urban realm as a space for human and cultural exchange.”

Visit the exhibition

The exhibition runs from 20 May – 24 September 2023 at Abbazia di San Gregorio and will host speaking events, educational programs and round tables, featuring leading architects, academics, and urban thinkers from around the world.

Visit the website for further information and to register for complimentary tickets to attend at neomvenice.com

Anchoring for Growth

Why you need to use a dead man tree anchoring system in your next project

Landscaping is an art that has been practiced for centuries. It involves designing and creating beautiful outdoor spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional While landscaping can be a rewarding experience, it can also be challenging, especially when it comes to planting in urban environments. In such environments, the soil is often compacted and difficult to work with, making it challenging to plant trees, shrubs, and other vegetation.

This is where the dead-man tree anchoring system comes in, it’s a product that has been designed to make planting in urban environments easier and more efficient. It consists of a series of metal rods that are used to anchor plants in place, providing stability and support as they grow.

One of the primary benefits of using a dead-man anchoring system is that it allows you to plant trees and other vegetation in areas where they might not otherwise be able to grow.

For example, in urban environments, the soil is often compacted and hard, making it difficult for plants to establish roots. By using a dead-man anchoring systems, you can anchor plants in place, allowing them to establish strong root systems and grow to their full potential.

Another benefit of using this tree anchoring system is that it can help reduce the risk of damage to surrounding structures. In urban environments, trees and other vegetation can pose a significant risk to buildings, sidewalks, and other structures. One other point to note about the benefits of using deadman tree anchoring systems in urban environments is that they can help mitigate the effects of strong winds, which can be a significant challenge for planting in certain areas. By using the anchoring system, you can provide the stability and support that your plants need to withstand the force of the wind. The kit’s metal rods and anchors can be driven deep into the ground, providing a solid foundation for your plants to grow and thrive, even in areas where winds are strong. Overall, you can help ensure that they grow in a controlled manner and minimize the risk of damage.

When it comes to choosing the right dead-man anchoring system for your needs, there are two primary options available: wired and strap. The wired option consists of a series of metal rods that are connected by wires. This option is ideal for anchoring large trees and other vegetation that require a lot of support.

The strap option, on the other hand, consists of a series of straps that are used to anchor plants in place. This option is ideal for smaller plants and shrubs that require less support.

At Desert Group, we offer both wired and strap options as part of our dead-man tree anchoring systems. Our products are made from highquality materials and are designed to provide maximum support and stability for your plants.

If you’re looking to plant trees and other vegetation in an urban environment such as the MENA region, using dead-man anchoring systems is an excellent choice. By anchoring your plants in place, you can help them establish strong root systems, minimize the risk of damage to surrounding structures, and create beautiful outdoor spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. And with options such as wired and strap kits available from Desert Group, you can choose the right product for your specific needs.

T: +971 4 590 4000,

E: trading@desertgroup.ae,

W: www.desertgroup.ae

ANCHORING SYSTEM-

DEAD MAN TREE ANCHORING SYSTEM- STRAP

Jubail Island: Where life and nature meet in perfect balance

Jubail mangrove park’s sustainabilty efforts attract record numbers of visitors

Jubail Mangrove Park has become one of the most sough-after destinations for nature lovers. The park has achieved a remarkable accomplishment by drawing in over 150,000 visitors from October 2022 to March 2023. This achievement is a testament to the park›s commitment to sustainability and its dedication to providing visitors with engaging activities that help them forge a deeper connection with nature.

In line with Abu Dhabi’s ambitious goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees which was announced by Her Excellency, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment during COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, Jubail Island has

launched a project to plant 1 million mangrove trees, where more than 500,000 trees have been planted to date. This initiative is a testament to the island’s dedication to preserving this unique ecosystem and contributes to the UAE›s significant objective. By expanding the mangrove forest, Jubail Island aims to create a healthier environment for wildlife and support local communities.

Jubail Mangrove Park is committed to sustainability and engages visitors in edutainment and interactive mangrove tree planting experiences. Through such activities, visitors gain insight into the pivotal role that mangroves play in mitigating climate change and promoting biodiversity.

Numerous high-level dignitaries who are actively contributing to preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development on a global scale, have been attracted to the Jubail Mangrove Park, the first self-contained educational, nature and leisure destination of its kind in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Their involvement, in addition to Jubail Island’s several partnerships with high-end entities including Etihad Airways, Emirates NBD, ADGM, Marriott International and IFZA, attest to the significance of achieving a greener future for generations to come.

The tree planting initiative has also attracted the participation of numerous schools and universities, providing an engaging and educational experience for students.

Jubail Mangrove Park recognizes the crucial role of education in

promoting environmental consciousness and offers students a platform to learn, explore, and engage meaningfully with nature.

Situated on Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi, the park is a unique natural treasure that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors can immerse themselves in the serene atmosphere and abundant natural wonders that the park has to offer. It›s a perfect retreat for those seeking a natural haven and has become a popular choice among both tourists and residents alike.

Visitors to the park have a plethora of activities to choose from, ranging from guided walks to yoga and meditation classes, all of which provide a unique opportunity to connect with nature while nurturing the mind and body. For those seeking a thrilling adventure, kayaking tours are available to observe the unique biodiversity of the region. Additionally, spinning classes on the park›s tranquil terrace provide an excellent way to stay fit while enjoying the stunning scenery.

As one of the leading eco-tourism destinations in the region, the park acknowledges the importance of promoting sustainable tourism practices to protecting the environment while providing visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.

For more information about Jubail Mangrove Park, visit the park›s website at: www.jubailisland.ae/jubail-mangrove-park/

By Sebastien Miller

Central Plaza Masdar City

A focus on sustainability and urban integration

Masdar City is a ground-breaking sustainable urban development and a world-class business and technology hub featuring a thriving free zone, innovative, energy-efficient architecture, autonomous electric vehicles, and much more. With a growing population, the need for vibrant open spaces and activated public realm is becoming an increasingly important part of the city’s development.

The recently completed Central Plaza is the latest addition to Masdar City. It has been designed as a placemaking gesture using the relocated 2015 Milan pavilion by Foster + Partners. This iconic building now hosts the UAE Space Agency. In addition to the design of its high-profile client and architectural pedigree, the development of the adjoining Central Plaza was seen as a strategic move for Masdar City.

Design approach

Building on the architectural design narrative, the public realm is inspired by a modern interpretation of UAE landscapes. A series of linear spaces incorporate topography and vegetative mounds that assist in channeling the prominent local breezes that flow through the site. The raised mounds define social and civic areas, while ensuring human-scaled spaces. Key features of Central Plaza are the three iconic shade structures that are the focus in terms of both architecture and programming. These impressive structures shade key gathering areas, and together with the local breezes, provide a distinctly noticeable passive-cooling effect that extends the usability of the plaza into the summer months. To further assist with outdoor thermal comfort strategies, consideration has been given to light-colored materiality and white seat walls that reduce the urban heat island effect.

Equal to the design considerations, sustainability has been an overarching focus of the project, and considers the cultural, social, economic, and environmental aspects of every design decision. At a casual glance, the public plaza, with its clean modern lines and high-quality materials, does not appear to differ significantly from business-as-usual projects, but therein lies its strength.

How is this achieved? Central Plaza offers the following approaches to landscape design, and is an exemplar for other projects within the industry, especially as cities worldwide face issues related to water scarcity, heat mitigation, and efficient use of both energy and resources.

Materials and sourcing

Locally and regionally sourced materials were used for the project, meaning that materials were procured and manufactured within 500 km of Masdar City. Not only did this reduce carbon associated with transportation, it also supports the local economy.

The landscape architects and engineers considered the full life-cycle operations when specifying materials and construction techniques.

Waste and recycling

The project was supported by Masdar City’s Materials Recycling Centre (MRC). This on-site facility is used for a variety of initiatives including steel salvaging, cementitious substitutes, and re-use of aggregates, both decoratively and as road base. Future initiatives of the MRC include research projects with local universities for exterior rated tile production, rammed earth blocks, and more. These initiatives continue to evolve and will be further developed within upcoming park projects.

Masdar City’s philosophy is to treat waste as a resource, which allowed the project to divert 70 percent (by weight) of material from landfills.

Planting design and water conservation

The plaza was designed without lawns to achieve the most significant water consumption savings; however, this raised challenges in designing “softer” spaces. The solution to this was the vegetated mounds, which also assist with various other design issues.

The mounding creates hydro-zones with more moisture at the lower sections and a more defined xeriscape treatment at the top. This ensures the most efficient water usage possible. The mounds are also a way of visually angling the ground plane relative to the user and visually emphasizing the layering and density of planting in a way that is not possible in flat landscapes.

By using species that are climactically relevant to the UAE, we have created a public realm that is attractive and appropriate to the growth conditions. Planting selection does not have to be a challenge in the sense that many desert adaptive species in this region offer a broad range of colors, textures, and scents. Not only do they grow quickly, but some species also flower most of the year, providing ongoing horticultural interest.

Shade and micro-climate

The impetus to ensure shade resulted in the iconic shade structure as a central feature. In conjunction with the tree and palm canopies, the open space supports a shaded area of 70 percent.

Solar PV was considered for canopy, though in this case it was deemed less suitable from a cost/ benefit analysis, especially given other highly efficient initiatives that Masdar City has established within the city and other upcoming public ream initiatives, which are specifically designed around solar efficiency.

There is a growing trend towards sustainability in public realm design, spearheaded by awareness of environmental issues, legislative compliance, and the desire to establish landscape designs that break the mold. In that regard, Central Plaza offers meaningful sustainability approaches that are an important component to the wider built form and contribute to a healthy living and working environment. “The fact that Masdar City is able to achieve quality environmental design and construction with the same economic and delivery considerations as other projects and developers is a testament to our vision, experience, and ongoing commitment,” said Mohamed Al Breiki, Masdar City’s Executive Director of sustainable real estate. This future-focused design and delivery approach continues to position Masdar City at the forefront of innovation in urban design.

The Central Plaza concept design was developed CRJA-IBI, with Mark Habre Associates undertaking the construction documentation and approvals. Terra International Construction were responsible for the implementation, with design review and supervision by Parsons International.

A benchmark for design in Dhaka

The Forum is an urban plaza that won’t be overshadowed by the city’s tallest twin towers

By: One Landscape Design Limited

Designed to create a striking urban plaza in front of the tallest twin-tower in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Forum hopes to become a place where people can congregate with friends or family. Along with the building, the landscapes plaza plans to redefine Dhaka’s open space and create a new benchmark for highly considered design in the city.

The design idea was to create a plaza that is truly an extension of the commercial building in both design language and function. It is as if the ground is a series of landforms, the tallest and grandest among them being the building itself. Inspired by the striking triangular profile of the crown as well as the dynamic roof profile of the grand lobby of the building, the landscape

design was envisaged as a sculpture plaza with trapezoidal forms as skylights, planters and water cascades. These trapezoidal forms not only brought ample sunlight to the basements below but also glowed as subterranean lamps at night. Their non-transparent surfaces were further articulated by the bamboo planters that swayed on a windy day and water surfaces that glittered on a sunny morning. These forms, though primarily functional to bring light to the parking area, became embellished through design on the urban canvas, where softscape, hardscape and waterscape are displayed as a composition in complete harmony. To carry and extend the triangular geometry narrative further, with the plaza being primarily a

mineral space, the paving pattern was conceived as an intricate interplay of stone and embedded light in the form of triangles. At night the plaza imitates a clear night sky with its numerous stars spread in the ground as simmering confetti.

The landscape design intervention for this project was further extended to the spectacular glass lobby, blurring the boundary between inside and outside, in addition to the streetscape where the site boundary dissolved into a sculptural and dynamic edge statement.

Along the street edge, instead of a formal boundary wall, interplay of repetitive triangular forms with alternate softscape and hardscape treatment was created to ensure the design idea flowed freely and integrated itself with the overall city fabric. The walking experience in front of this project was thus transformed from walking along a closed boundary to walking along a linear sculpture garden where the triangular forms rose and fell in perfect rhythm, culminating finally to the landmark sculpture of a building.

Inside the lobby, planters inspired by triangular forms of the core design language were strategically placed reinforcing further the intent of the landscape in connecting the outdoor to the indoor.

Meanwhile, the roof garden was envisaged as a greener abstraction of the plaza. Dotted with extruded triangles as planters with integrated seating and the same bamboo planting as the plaza below, it is a garden in the sky for the office goers to enjoy the panoramic view of the adjacent lake and the city beyond.

Project Name: Forum, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Designer Credit: One Landscape Design Limited

Client: Shanta Holdings Ltd.

Company Role on Project: Landscape Architect

Collaborators/Other Consultants:

Architect: Ehsan Khan Architects

Growing Innovative Businesses

By: Will Bennett

If you’re in the landscape industry you’re an optimist. No, really. You are! You’re working in some way to improve how we engage with the natural world around us. If that’s true, the quality of our landscapes and our own lives will be a direct result of our ability to work together towards a shared vision of the future. Sadly, my experience of the construction sector is witnessing common issues repeat and reduce our ability to do just that. Untimely communication, unforeseen cost overruns, delays, abortive work, huge waste, and tense relationships. These are avoidable, however my deeper concern is that these issues prevent us from achieving the positive impact we’re all aiming for. Worse, it could be the opposite of what we intended; that we harm the planet as we push for growth and development. In one ‘sustainable’ project, I’ve seen a client’s impatience misinterpreted as an excuse to bury three tonnes of rubble in the void between two basements. Thankfully we caught it before it was buried out of sight, but the mind boggles. So, how do we avoid these problems in future?

I believe that innovation and simplification will drive better collaboration. Here’s some ideas we’ve been trying at WILDEN that you might find helpful too...

Growing pains

The feedback on our first ever ‘Loom’ video was underwhelming. ‘Interesting’, was how it was described by one Contractor. To a British person that means anything between ‘not interesting’ and ‘a terrible waste of time’. So, not a great start then. If you’re new to Loom, it’s a screen recording app which allows us to record our camera and desktop together. The video is stored in a cloud, accessible to anyone with the link. We use it to narrate whilst sharing sketches, PDF files, and feedback on screen. This is great for creating micro-presentations and working asynchronously as a team; we don’t have

Embracing technology will make your life easier, improve collaboration, and increase your bottom line.

to ‘hop on a Zoom’ every hour or repeat standardised information. Instead, we record and share when it suits us. Less meetings, more me-tings.

Or maybe not...

We thought that having a short, personalised video is ten times better than playing email tennis. But our innovation wasn’t well received at first. This was a case of right technology, wrong place. The search for innovation continues.

The greatest sources of innovation and inspiration for us have been outside of our discipline. From Rich Webz, a marketing and productivity expert, we’ve learnt to automate our entire sales process and social media content. 90% of our communication is now pre-written; we have scripts for milestones, digital feedback forms, and our weekly schedule is rigorously time-blocked so

we’re in control of our highest priority work, rather than putting out fires. To get started, we suggest trying Gmail templates or a software like Dubsado if you want to script a lot of your repeated workflow tasks. You can also try using Acuity or Calendly to give your Clients (or internal staff) options to select meeting times from a calendar which you control. No need for a PA or rescheduling a coffee five times via email.

Never chase an invoice again.

Our payments process has been radically simplified by Stripe. Now all invoices are paid quickly using a card or Apple Pay so we never have to chase Clients for payments. We can even set up payment plans to automate stage payments. This saves us a massive amount of time and energy, avoiding upsetting Client

relationships over money. Something that’s all too common for other designers and the service sector generally. What’s stopping us all from moving away from out-dated cheques, PDCs, proformas and the plethora of mind-numbing payment admin? I’ve seen countless hours wasted doing this, yet there’s been dozens of tools that make digital payments safe, fast, and secure for years. They are used across banking, retail, ecommerce, automotive sectors already. Our industry needs to step up! We encourage others to embrace these tools. If you think this would help you, research Xero, PayFort, or Quickbooks to gain more financial freedom. You can retrain your accountant as a personal investor; they’ll need something to do with their extra time, and money!

From Chris Do at The Futur, we discovered Notion. It’s a completely customisable software that we use to track over 30 projects simultaneously. Every Client has their own personal portal too. They can access proposals, payments, design files and loads more. You can also consider Trello, Asana, Monday, Basecamp, Zoho, or Salesforce, depending on your size and preferred workflow. You can integrate these tools with your document control, payments and design apps to help your teams collaborate, remove duplication, and simplify time-consuming tasks.

Why share all of this? Because we know we can use these tools to synchronise and cross-pollinate better with

project stakeholders… Could this be the collaboration that we need to help Contractors too? We think so, and we’ve been trialling many of them for a while. But first a few more growing pains…

At first Client’s didn’t use their personalised portal and Contractors felt confused by it. We had concerns about duplicating workload and how to communicate best (please God, no more Whatsapp groups).

It felt at times that every step forward was costing us two steps back in other areas. Communication was meant to be improved, but at times it has been messy. At one villa our Contractor preferred to speak directly to the client than to use site notes on the new portal. With ignorance

The ‘J’ curve.

bliss, they could impress their own ideas without the designer’s guidance. A week later, an artificial grass lawn on a huge slab appeared before we could revisit the site. Clearly troubled by this, our dejection was met with a proud smile - ‘levelling, concrete and turf done in 5 days, pretty good hey?’.

Well, we didn’t ask for concrete nor artificial grass. So, no. Not pretty, not good.

I still think about what I could have done different today. With hindsight, I realise, probably nothing. The misalignment between our values and the Contractor’s ambitions was too big to bridge. This taught us that for all the tools and technology, nothing is more important than being aligned in ambition.

More recently our journey with innovation has been met with an equal ambition by our Contractors and Clients. We track and communicate dozens of projects in a fraction of the time we did before. We’ve learnt from overcomplicating and stripped out most of the complexity that comes with new ideas. Now we’re building the relationships and relentlessly using the systems we’ve created to help our Contractors too.

We’ve learnt that for every leap forward with the technology, there needs to be an equal effort to communicate that ambition, train others, and to take feedback well. That’s where we spend our efforts now. Most important of all, we’ve learnt to focus on solving the big problems in small ways. Don’t try and implement a new way of working overnight. Don’t implement too many tools at once. Instead, demonstrate that one new method makes a part of the job radically simpler. Then double down. Spanks Founder Sara Blakely often quotes “start small, think big, and scale fast” for building brands, but I love that ethos and think it applies to what we all do in our respective business as we innovate together.

At WILDEN we often talk about being in the ‘J’ curve - in this period of painful growth (which often feels more like regression) it feels like our efforts are making things more complex. However, we know it’s an essential part of the process. We slowly remove the obstacles and find a clearer path with every improvement.

Now is the time to resolve as an industry. The pace of change is outrageous, and exciting. It also has never been easier. I feel so strongly that our combined energy to collaborate and innovate, by riding this new pace of change, will help us deliver better projects, much faster. And that’s the answer we all want, isn’t it?

So, it begs the question, how will you rise to the challenge?

Ten neighbourhood clusters will form the new South Sabah Al-Ahmad City located 80 kilometres south of Kuwait City

Kuwait City is getting a new neighbour

By: Foster + Partners

Located 80 kilometres south of Kuwait City, South Sabah Al-Ahmad City is set to be the urban core for the country’s southern sub-region. The city will be home to an estimated 280,000 people, while creating another 145,000 jobs in a diverse range of industries including construction, medicine, manufacturing and culture, along with extensive green open spaces and multi-layered public transport systems that promote wellbeing and sustainability.

The 61.5 square-kilometre city is formed of ten neighbourhood clusters arranged around the city’s central business district, and bordered by a ring of light industrial buildings. The central district contains a sports stadium, museum, city university and a major city park, which forms the heart of the masterplan’s landscape strategy. Petal-like green spaces branch off from the city park, running between each of the neighbourhoods to create green

urban links throughout the masterplan. The undulating topography of the development has been inspired by the gentle form of sand dunes in the desert.

The practice has also detailed one neighbourhood cluster as a pilot project to showcase a future vision for the city. The villa cluster forms the smallest unit of the masterplan, arranged around a contemporary interpretation of a Farige – a traditional Kuwaiti cul-de-sac. These also function as shaded courtyards, merging traditional living with contemporary urbanism. Several villa clusters together form a community centre, which includes local parks and shops, nursery and kindergarten schools, and local mosques at every 250 metres. A number of communities combine to become a neighbourhood, each with a residential centre featuring a large souk, centres for health, children and the youth, and primary, elementary and secondary schools.

I URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The masterplan offers a range housing typologies, including apartments and patio houses, encouraging high density living with equally high standards of luxury. The modular construction system adopted throughout allows for multiple configurations and ensures high quality buildings, while also contributing to strengthening the construction industry in Kuwait. The pilot neighbourhood cluster will also feature roof-top photovoltaic installations on the industrial buildings surrounding the development, to further strengthen the sustainable credentials of the project. The city also offers opportunities several leisure activities such as desert glamping, e-biking, design galleries and luxury shopping.

Photo credits: Foster + Partners

I SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

HEALING AN URBAN BLOCK

ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Study Area

The pleasant summer weather of Irbid city—characterized by cool breezes—and the moderate winters, have made it a favored destination for both local and international tourists in Jordan. Unfortunately, many of the city’s places are not made to serve the tightly-knit community and its visitors with livable spaces for their daily use. Although the city center is very active and live, it is suffering deterioration and abandonment at its periphery leaving some frail businesses and

crafts. Additionally, it is suffering from the lack of urban green spaces (UGS), the lack of outdoor living spaces, and entertainment (Figure 1). With climate change, all impacts are exacerbated with a greater need for mitigation measures.

With the increased global focus on combatting climate change, this project aims to meet some of the challenging measures of climate change. Although there is no singular solution to the multitude of issues caused by climate challenges, many

measures can work together to reduce the impacts. The design of this proposal responds to many climate concerns (Figures 1 & 2). It proposes utilizing eco-friendly materials for the external building and pavement surfaces, improvising various types of shading elements, implementing water harvesting, minimizing heat absorption using various mitigation measures, reducing bare and abandoned urban spaces, and using spaces with reservation to increase green areas and decrease built up areas.

Design Team: Noor Abuzeid, Erada Abbas, Prof. Anne Gharaibeh, and Nermeen Abusaleem

Site characteristics.

The unpleasant conditions are viewed as illnesses that must bew treated; hence, the healing design process was carried out to renew the blocks close to Ali-Khulki Sharairy Roundabout (Sal Circle) towards the east of Irbid city center. Our design team discovered the following concerns when diagnosing the ailments: For starters, the location is being used as a parking lot for shoppers rather than attracting people to the site itself; the roundabout is a large, unshaded area that lacks greenery and adequate

shading elements; and, despite being designated as an Urban Green Space (UGS), the circle is not being used as a recreational area for children or as a green space. Furthermore, the area’s infill spaces are not being used to their full potential as recreational or green spaces. Finally, while crafts are still there, they are not as prominent as they once were and are no longer closely linked with the location.

Following an examination of the site and discussions with locals of all ages, we concluded that the site is a diseased neighborhood that lacks green spaces and a sense of place. We felt the need to design a Healing Urban Block that focuses on both the body

and the mind, from macro to micro healing. We propose that closing the roundabout against drivers and turning it to a pedestrian block will promote a sense of community and a more sustainable environment.

Sustainable techniques are utilized throughout the project, such as the use of native plants and materials, ground rainwater harvesting, shading with water harvesting structures and trees, establishing roof gardens in new buildings, and employing energyefficient lighting (Figure 2). Other mitigations include the use of heatresistant construction materials, green roofs, greenways, and building louvers for shading and air movement. This not only decreases the environmental impact but also improves the space’s overall appearance and functionality. The fundamental driver of change in this project is the increased importance of the upholstery and other crafts that were previously performed on this site. It is the theme we are using to restore this place’s character while also improving and strengthening its impact on the neighborhood by providing jobs (Figure 2). This would encourage those many families who still reside there to stay and preserve their ancestral crafts.

Concept

The notion is based on the question, “How can we heal this neighborhood?”

To accomplish this, we are developing a self-sufficient project that will allow people to participate in a variety of activities without being disrupted by traffic. Our goal is to build a resilient community using two methods: physical and psychological. Physically, we are concerned with preserving the community’s uniqueness. Psychologically, we want to provide people with one-of-a-kind experiences through various leisure activities to help them heal their neighborhood (Figure 3).

Figure 1: Ali-Khulki Sharairy Roundabout (Sal Circle) Site in Irbid.

Figure 2: Solutions to heal some of the physical problems on the site.

Our responses to the effects of climate change are centered on environmental healing and human well-being. To achieve these goals, we created two crucial elements: the craft “Spine” and the “Plaza” (Figures 3-14).

The goal is to preserve the area’s current character while also altering the existing infill areas to improve the overall context and well-being of the residents. This will be accomplished through constructing new buildings as well as revitalizing some existing structures. This renewal will improve the working environment and develop people’s bonds with their trades. It will preserve, strengthen, and expand work opportunities. Furthermore, the project will consider the effects of climate change, such as minimizing sun exposure and extending space use throughout the day and year. To that end, the initiative will expand green cover (the heavy green cover is not shown in the figures to better clarify the design) and employ materials that are resistant to the effects of climate change and collect rainwater runoff (Figures 4-14).

The “Spine” is a street that combines craft workshops and galleries, providing tourists with a one-of-a-kind and immersive experience (Figures 4 & 6). The site’s identity is created through the utilization of local materials and traditional design. The “Spine” takes guests on an exciting journey of learning, working, crafting, and establishing connections with others.

Figure 4 Concept diagrams.

Figure 5 Site plan. The Spine

Figure 6 Spine elevation.

Figure 3:

The Plaza

The “Plaza” is a multi-functional, mixed-use space that acts as the project’s heart, contributing to the site’s energy and future (Figures 5 & 1014). The plaza—which is accessible from all sides and has many bus stations—encourages active mobility by providing pedestrian and bicycle routes throughout. The area includes a viewing ramp, an outdoor exhibition space for paintings and sculptures, playgrounds, a sports court, a secret garden, a sub-plaza, and an indoor exhibition space. The plaza is made more active by proposing an art school on one of its ends. The use of ramps in the plaza and the art school facilitates accessibility for all people and strengthens visitors’ healing journey. Plaza facilities include a big dancing fountain and climbing walls as well. To accommodate more cars, an underground parking facility has been built beneath the Plaza. This was done with the intention of meeting the needs of users while also freeing up space for pedestrians and bicyclists to move around more freely. The plaza’s mission is to soothe, calm, and heal the souls and bodies of its users.

Figure 7 Spine`s building plan

Figure 8 The spine.

I SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Our design addressed a number of critical topics, including resilience, healing landscapes, recreation, walkability, livability, green open spaces, social networks, traffic and pedestrian problems, culture, and the preservation of existing identity and materials. Our concept aspires to be an example of a resilient urban block that delivers critical services and activities to the existing site’s population. We think that our design ideas will contribute to the creation of a sustainable and livable community that combats climate change.

Figure

11: Active mobility. The Art School

The art school near the plaza’s eastern end is a creative effort aiming at rejuvenating the art culture through the introduction of innovative teaching and learning approaches. It is focusing on the arts and crafts that are linked to the place, such as furniture design, fashion design, traditional crafts and needlework, and sculpting. The building is meant to give a one-of-akind creative experience, with circulation through multiple floors eased by ramps that wrap around the structure that visually connect it to the plaza (Figures 13-14).

13: The art school approach and surrounding landscape

The ground floor of the building houses a supermarket, cafeteria, waiting area, and other utilities that serve the needs of the plaza. The remaining three floors are dedicated to various art classes and feature terraces for outdoor learning. Vertical circulation connects these floors.

Design Team: Noor Abuzeid, Nermeen Abusaleem, and Erada Abbas.

Article and Supervision by Prof. Anne Gharaibeh. TA Arch. Sama Marji. College of Architecture and Design, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

Figure

Figure 14 The art school elevation

SCAN TO VIEW THE PROJECT VIDEO

A Communal Living Room

Jonas is a new residential building in the heart of IJburg, Amsterdam with a rich public realm.

By: Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners

Located in the heart of IJburg, Amsterdam, Jonas is a newly constructed residential building surrounded by an abundance of commercial and social facilities, providing a rich public realm to residents. As one of the artificial islands around the city, IJburg is a prime residential community for families that overlooks the marina.

Designed by Orange Architects, commissioned by Amvest and developed in collaboration with Felixx, Ballast Nedam West and ABT, Jonas functions as the living

room of IJburg. The building is folded around a concatenation of special places and offers IJburg an animated and diverse public interior. Felixx designed the collective landscape as an integral part of the complex. On IJburg, private homes are placed in a rich set of public spaces: large boulevards and canals in the center, beaches and nature parks on the edges. Jonas adds a linked collection of outdoor and interior rooms. The Rock on The Square, The Island in the canal, The Forest in the patio and The Beach on the

roof. These characteristic places invite you to discover the story of Jonas and the Whale. A story about adventure and intimacy, about shelter, security and homeliness inside a ‘big body’.

To offer IJburg an animated and diverse public interior, the building is folded around a necklace of powerful places:

The Rock

The Rock is a three-dimensional landscape on the square at the front of the building. The square is formed by a large wooden sculpture, which integrates the entrance to the parking

garage. Sculptural terraces and wooden decks create a multifunctional grandstand, which continues as a platform towards the water. It is the meeting place for the neighborhood and is used for events. On summer days, Jonas’s interior and exterior merge when the large glass fronts of the living room open up.

The Island

The quay is laid out as an exuberant bank landscape, with room for diverse vegetation on the border between land and water. The reed beds with jetties along the building widen into grassy banks with beaches near the square and an island in the canal. Stepping stones and a towing ferry provide an adventurous route across the water, various wooden objects for natural play elements in the green.

The Forest

The patio in the building is a quiet and intimate place, which refers to a shady forest. It is the outdoor space for the adjacent workplaces. Large birch trees, ferns and moss, slate paths and wooden benches create the natural atmosphere. Where the patio opens up, the flagstones slope down to the water, in a playful staircase with rocky seating elements

The Beach Jonas has a rooftop beach. The central watercourse of glass spans the entire atrium. Surrounded by an undulating dune landscape with grass and dancing pines. Terraces around the dune are separated by wooden boxes with wild roses. The water flows to a small square, adjacent to a community room. The story of Jonas and the whale is depicted in the pavement with Portuguese granite stones. A central barbecue area activates the square, providing a holiday feeling on the roof all year round.

The Canyon

The Canyon might be the building’s most spectacular space. The various landscape elements are connected by this monumental atrium. It is illuminated by the glare of water and sun, which shines through the central waterway on the roof. At ground level, the Canyon connects the Rock and the Forest. The mountain path, which winds along each floor of the Canyon, connects The Beach to the ground level.

Project Snapshot

Suzhou Huanyuandang Ecological Restoration and Shoreline Linkage Project

By: Tus Design

With green and ecology as the core theme, the Suzhou Huanyuandang Ecological Restoration and Shoreline Linkage project is the first cross-provincial ecological restoration project in China.

TUS Design who overseen the design and construction of the project introduced the idea of simulating the migration of fish through the design of shoal wetlands. The water culture from the south of the Yangtze River is integrated into the spatial composition, architectural modeling, plant system and furniture construction, and the sponge system is combined with the landscape design to realize the positive design mode. The restoration of Yuandang ecosystem truly illustrates the “New Space of Jiangnan Culture”.

Leveraging GIS technology, the company took measurements of height differences and hydrodynamics to calculate a rational setting for the introduction of a sponge system that combines with the landscape design to realize the positive ecological results.

As part of the landscape design, a hidden landscape flood control walkway was introduced, thus abandoning the previous rigid method of a flood control dike. The design combines the flood control shoreline with the landscape. The terrain, sketches and plants are naturally integrated with the flood control route, so that the walkway can be hidden in the whole environment, which improves the spatial experience of walking.

This important ecological project relied heavily on the application of ecologicallynative materials and advanced design techniques in order to achieve the desired landscape effects in a cost-efficient manner. Additionally, the project adhered to a “low intervention” development program in order to reduce impacts on the greater ecological environment of the site.

I BOOK REVIEW

books of interest

design for outdoor recreation

ISBN-13: 9780415441728

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Taylor & Francis; 2 edition (August 15, 2008)

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 8.8 x 10.8 inches

Price: 319.00 Dhs.

How to read tHe Landscape

ISBN-13: 9781856231855

Paperback: 226 pages

Publisher: Permanent Publications ( January 12, 2015)

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches

Price: 111.00 AED

Book’s Description:

According to an ICM poll, 77 percent of UK adults, or about 38 million people, say they walk for pleasure at least once a month. It is remarkable, therefore, that no one has written about the landscapes they’re walking through and enjoying...until now. Patrick Whitefield has spent a lifetime living and working in the countryside and twenty

tHe good garden, tHe Landscape arcHitecture of edmund HoLLander design

ISBN: 9781580934152

AUTHOR: Anne Raver

PUBLICATION DATE : 20 July 2015

HARDCOVER: 320 pages

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This book presents dozens of gorgeous estate gardens across the Northeastern states of the US, approached thematically; individual sections reveal how components such as gateways, paths, pool terraces, bisques and

Books Description

Design for Outdoor Recreation takes a detailed look at all aspects of design of facilities needed by visitors to outdoor recreation destinations. The book is a comprehensive manual for planners, designers and managers of recreation taking them through the processes of design and enabling them to find the most appropriate balance between visitor needs and the capacity of the landscape. A range of different aspects are covered including car parking, information signing, hiking, waterside activities, wildlife watching and camping.

years of that taking notes of what he sees, everywhere from the Isle of Wight to the Scottish Highlands. This book is the fruit of those years of experience. In How to Read the Landscape, Patrick explains everything from the details, such as the signs that wild animals leave as their signatures and the meaning behind the shapes of different trees, to how whole landscapes, including woodland, grassland, and moorland, fit together and function as a whole. Rivers and lakes, roads and paths, hedgerows and field walls are also explained, as well as the influence of different rocks, the soil, and the ever-changing climate. There’s even a chapter on the fascinating history of the landscape and one about natural succession, how the landscape changes of its own accord when we leave it alone. The landscape will never look the same again. You will not only appreciate its beauty, it will also come alive with a whole new depth of appreciation and understanding.

groves, walls, and borders contribute to lush garden rooms, windblown seaside gardens, calming meadow gardens, intricate formal gardens, and shady tracts of woodland. Over 300 color photographs of beautiful properties in the Hamptons, Connecticut, and upstate New York provide glimpses of the best garden design happening today while breaking down its ideas for the home gardener.

Author Anne Raver details how the firm works to envelop visitors in landscapes that feel entirely whole: plantings near architecture create a dynamic entry progression; hardscape features that lead out into a broader garden gradually cede to more natural, living elements; pools are surrounded by gracious swaths of flowers that bloom in sequence as the season progresses to provide privacy for bathers and a sense of quiet seclusion.

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 than half a million books and thousand magazines in English, Arabic, Japanese, French, German and Chinese at any given time.

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 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

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

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TURF/LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

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Ventana LLC

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Hunter Industries

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Middle East Agrculture Company (MEAC)

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Water in Motion LLC

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PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS / HARD LANDSCAPING

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Consent LLC

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Stones &Slates LLC

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Acacia LLC

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SPORTS FACILITIES/ PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENTS

Tanseeq Projects LLC

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WT Burden

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METAL FABRICATOR

Metaline LLC

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DUSIT THANI ABU DHABI, UAE

EXPERT SPEAKER LINEUP

Ahmed Jalal Abdulla Aljalali Planning & Contracts support Section Head Abu Dhabi City Municipality

Brian Leung Associate Director ICON

Farah Naz Innovation & ESG Lead, MEA AECOM Middle East

Maria Flouda Founder and Managing Consultant Sustainability Switch Consultancy

Mohamed Ali Abu Shariah Sustainability Consultant Mustadam Limited

Nabyl Chenaf Professor and Dean of Architecture, Art and Design American University in Dubai

Tamara Bajic Associate Director Net Zero Advisory AESG

Karim Naja Senior Landscape Architect Diamond Developers

Kheira Anissa Tabet Aoul Professor & Chair United Arab Emirates University

Lorenzo Zoli Managing Director M+ N Architecture

Chris Smeaton Associate Principal Insite (KEO)

Duygu Baslican Senior Landscape Architect SALFO & Associates

Stephen Goldie City Planning Advisor, Al Ain Region Department of Municipalities and Transport

Alanood Saeed Hafeedh Al Mazrouei Director, Department Of Strategic Planning And Organizational Excellence Abu Dhabi Housing Authority (ADHA)

Alina Valcarce Co-Founder & Design Director Studio3eight

Bassel Omara Lead Design Architect/BIM Manager Dorche Gruppe ME

I NEW ONGOING PROJECTS

STATUS : NEW TENDER

TRADE CATEGORY : AGRICULTURAL, LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION

NEW & CURRENT PROJECTS