May 2018

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May 2018

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Editor’s Note In this issue, This month’s issue takes on a rather reflective note – we look at the changes and growth of the landscape design industry across various regions. SNC Lavalin’s Atkins Architect Salim Hussain talks about the evolution of design in Saudi Arabia on page 42, while Gover Garden Centre share their experience across the GCC and discuss the challenges of doing business in the región, as well as future projects. See page 26 for more.

We also look at how landscape design projects can improve people’s quality of life and impact society. Key examples include leading international architecture firm, H+A who designed a US$60 million proton beam therapy cancer treatment centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It’s the first in the region and was built to aid recovery of cancer patients. Over on page 20, WATG one of the world’s leading integrated design firms discuss how its latest urban landscape design at Zorlu in Istanbul encourages children to play and improve places where people live, work or visit.

The issue also looks the garden by Chio, the difference scenes of the garden takes place between an interesting combination of element, sober and exotic plant species, fountains, different types of pavements and inert objects. The final composition is a work full of beauty, an easy maintenance design which achieved a perfect fusión between the classic and the exotic.

See page 30

Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine Copy Editor: John Hampton Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan Art Director: Ramon Andaya Contributors: Amy Bilek, Ashley Fauguel, Stefano Corbo, Chris Goward, Chio Garrido Gomez, R. Senthil, Michaela Nováková, Shaaista Ahmed, Jimena Martignoni Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com

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

I hope you enjoy the issue.

John Hampton

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

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contents

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May 2018 - Issue 131

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The Impact of Landscape Design

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Towering above

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Spotlight on Gover Garden Centre

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The Garden

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Into the Forest Retail Therapy

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I news and events

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The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East

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I news & events

Participants of the UAE National competition for architecture students with the officials of Dubai Municipality and Saint-Gobain.

Top 3 designs to join international contest next month

32 teams participate first UAE national competition for architecture students Dubai Municipality joined hands with Saint-Gobain to organize the first-ever UAE National competition for architectural students, as part of Saint-Gobain’s Architecture Students Contest, an international competition held since 2005 in several countries around the world and hosted this year in Dubai.

During the national event, held at the Dubai Municipality Training Centre, 32 selected teams from the UAE’s seven top architectural universities presented their designs for the unique ‘Multi-Comfort’ building to a panel of sustainability experts and design professionals.

The top three designs from the national contest will join designs from other national competitions, which are being held simultaneously in more than 30 countries, from Belgium and Bulgaria to Ukraine and the UK, as well as the best on-line entries, to go forward for judging in the international Architecture Students Contest, which will also be staged this year in Dubai, from 12-14 May. Under the terms of the Architecture Students Contest, the building that the students design must follow the principles of Saint-Gobain’s groundbreaking MultiComfort House design, incorporating Passivhaus energy efficiency standards, superior indoor air quality, high levels of acoustics, visual and thermal comfort and other key sustainability features - all seamlessly integrated with superior design aesthetics.

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As per the directives of the Municipality’s Planning Department, the building is to be located in Dubai Cultural Village, next to Mohammed Bin Rashid library, an area of unique architecture that fuses traditional Arabic heritage with the latest modern design techniques – further challenging the design skills of the students.

More than 2,200 participants from 170 universities from 35 countries have registered for the international stage competition, which will be held for three days in Dubai next month. The international Architecture Students Contest, organized by Saint-Gobain and Dubai Municipality, in partnership with Dubai Properties and the Environmental Center for Arab Towns, will see around 60 winning teams from the national and on-line competitions presenting their designs to an international jury comprising of foreign architecture experts in energy efficiency, representatives of Dubai Municipality’s Planning Department, local authorities and experts from Saint-Gobain.

Designed to help the next generation of architects to address the issue of sustainable design, the international competition is expected to attract Year 1 to 6 architecture students from universities and colleges around the world. Now in its 14th year, the competition offers a range of attractive monetary prizes in addition to the kudos associated with designing the best sustainable student building of 2018.

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I news & events

RTA plans to expand cycling lanes to 850 km by 2030 The Roads and Transport Authority – Abdul Fattah Haidrah: Events of the MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition continued, and one of the sessions focused on integrated strategic transportation plans.

Ms Mona Al Osaimi, Director of Strategic Planning, Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, said, “The RTA has strategic plans to make Dubai one of the best cities in providing cycling lanes and supporting non-mechanical mobility means. It is anticipated that the total length of cycling lanes in Dubai will reach 850 km by 2030 from 316 km this year, and only 10 km in 2006.”

Participants in the session entitled: Mobility through Walking and Non-Mechanical Means, included Christian Brink, Director of Business Development, Next Bike Company, and Antony Reynaldi, Business Development Manager in PBSC, and Nasma Hannawi, Researcher in London University College. Mona stated that the RTA had a plan for supporting walking mobility in Dubai based on six key pillars: development of modern cities, caring for pedestrian services, developing legislation for using private vehicles, paying attention to cycling lanes, supporting public transport mobility, and improving the benefits relating outlets, pavements on streets of the Emirate.

She gave an elaborate explanation of the improvement of mobility operations in Dubai, especially through public transport which had witnessed a quantum shift over the past years. Accordingly, the public transport riders in Dubai had soared to 551.7 m riders in 2017.

Christian focused on making bicycles in megacities a means of entertainment and mobility as well. He stated

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that his company had served in five projects in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Turkey and contributed significantly to improving the bicycle sharing system which has become common in several global cities.

He added that they were seeking to support the concerned government departments to adopt nonmechanical mobility systems through providing a proper environment for encouraging people to use cycling.

Antony was impressed with the steps taken by Dubai, adding that the strategic plans of Dubai had set a good model for the huge improvements in the Middle East to emulate.

He stressed the importance of walking and cycling, citing medical statistics revealing that cyclists were 6% healthier. He noted that encouraging people to use cycling was directly linked to the constructing of cycling lanes and associated facilities.

He noted the soaring temperature would not be an obstacle for the use of bicycles in summer as frost doesn’t stop the people of Montreal, Canada from cycling.

Nasma concluded the session by calling on government departments to address the means of public transport and cycling lanes when making plans for cities and mega residential districts. She called on GCC countries to encourage the use of public transport and cycling, rather than the semi-total reliance on private vehicles.

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I news & events His Excellency, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Commission in Yanbu Dr. Alaa Bin Abdullah Nassif, inaugurating 12th Flowers and Garden Festival 2018

In Full Bloom:

Yanbu Flower Festival 2018

12th Flowers and Garden Festival Overall View

flowers. The 2018 Yanbu Flower Festival includes: *Flower Hills *Festival Downtown *Butterfly Garden *Bird Garden *The Lake *Recycling Garden *Royal Commission Exhibit *Entertainment Area *Festival Promenade *Food Court etc. Also, Twenty-Six artists from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Georgia and France took part in the competition to paint a picture of the Saudi Team’s participation in 2018 FIFA World Cup. Many Yanbu families visited the festival every day to walk among the beautiful flowers, AL-Zahrani said. “We have created more space so that it will not look overcrowded. People can also walk for about two to three kilometers. This is good for their health,” he added.

Engr. Saleh bin Abdullah AL-Zahrani informed that the festival attracted students from more than 300 schools in Yanbu, Medina, Yanbu Al-Bahr and Jeddah. “We encourage kids to plant their own

The 12th Flowers and Garden Festival 2018 was officially opened

by His Excellency, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Commission in Yanbu Dr. Alaa Bin Abdullah Nassif on Thursday 01st March 2018 in the presence of Engr. Saleh bin Abdullah AL-Zahrani, Director General of Operation and Maintenance Division and CEO Flowers and Gardens Festival and other distinguished guest. The extraordinary spectacle that took place at the Events Garden featured a sea of floral arrangements and landscape designs in vivid colors and pastel shades that surround the main attraction—a larger-thanlife flower carpet at the heart of the festival. Engr. Saleh AL-Zahrani, said that this year a flower tapestry using thousands of different colored blooms has been used to represent hills, which spread over 45,000 square meters. Engr. Saleh AL-Zahrani, said Flowers and Gardens Festival is not only an environmental and entertaining event, it is also an educational where the society can learn and be aware of the importance of taking care of our environment and encouraging the people to start planting more. In addition, Royal Commission’s Yanbu Flower Festival in Saudi Arabia holds the Guinness World Record for having the world’s largest carpet of flowers and take them to their homes.” AL-Zahrani said they have arranged specially designed programs for children, which has pleased parents. “All things related to gardening are available at the show. Saudis and expatriates have hailed Royal Commission for organizing the festival.

Engr. Saleh A. AL-Zahrani commended H.E. Dr. Alaa Nassif, CEO of the Royal Commission of Yanbu, for his support and his encouragement has motivated us to organize the festival impressively.

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I news & events KE structures were chosen by Arch. Perna and Arch.

Tulumello for a prestigious private villa, placed next to Antigua’s marina; Antigua is one of the isles in the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea, renowned for its white sand and turquoise sea beaches.

KE for a private villa outdoor in the Antigua harbour, in the heart of the Caribbean.

The project comes from the customer’s need of covering four different areas of the residential complex: the entrance, the area standing next to the living room, the terrace of the sleeping area and the mooring. With regard to the living room and sleeping area, 5 placed-against Gennius Isola 2 were installed, 3 on the ground floor on the exit of the living area and 2 on the first floor, next to the sleeping area.

Isola 2 was chosen in order to meet the need for a structure in line with the architectural look of the residential complex, which is characterised by a neat and linear style and by soft colours. This is why both the structure and the covering cloth are white.

In the area next to the entrance a Kedry Plus bioclimatic pergola with roof blades was installed, being it lighter and more essential in its design, once again in line with the villa’s style and soft colours.

Finally, a Gennius Roomy special structure was chosen for protecting the mooring. As the customer did not need an opening covering, a fixed model was chosen; it is also equipped with a peculiar cloth hooking system, that the customer can easily remove in case of exceptional weather conditions, as they are very frequent in that area during the hurricane season.

Gennius Roomy is actually one of the products with the highest performances concerning wind and water resistance on the market. It is a unique product, tailored following the customer’s needs, pre-assembled in the factory and installed on the spot only after checking that each one of the customer’s requirements was fulfilled.

Technical features: Isola2 Aluminium awning structure with retractable packaging, made up of a cloth (which is tensioned when opened) fixed to a system with crossbar profiles, trolleys and guides; the system allows an horizontal sliding. Wind resistance certified up to class 6 according to UNI EN 13561.

Kedry Plus Aluminium awning structure with an adjustable-blades roof, made up of a perimetral gutter profile that allows blades rotation and water drainage. Wind resistance certified up to class 6 according to UNI EN 13561.

Fixed Roomy Extruded aluminium alloy UNI6060 profiles structure, made up of square supporting columns and eaves bearing profiles on which the covering archs’ curved profiles are introduced.

Excellent water and wind resistance.

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Project name: private villa in Antigua Location: Antigua, Lesser Antilles Project: Arch. Salvatore Perna – Arch. Giuseppe Tulumello Customer: private client Covered area: 145 square meters Products used: 5 Isola 2 retractable packaging pergolas, 1 Kedry Plus bioclimatic pergola, 1 Gennius Roomy fixed structure, custom version www.keoutdoordesign.com

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I news & events

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Pool Сabana

First Look Inside One of the World’s Most Opulent Villas

Dubai is a place of incredible contrasts. Humble homes are juxtaposed with out of this world luxurious resorts and plush ocean view pads. But Dubai has always been a place of extremes. A place where more is more. A whole lot more.

Luxury homes here all share certain things: abundant space, stunning design, and, of course, privacy. That’s certainly the case with the XXII Carat ultra-luxury villas that are just about to welcome their first ever occupants. Located right at the end of the Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent, this is where things get rather fancy.

For today’s new generation of well-heeled travelers, the bar for luxe hideaways has reached dizzying heights, which is why XXII Carat’s interiors boast everything from kitchens that reflect discerning and uncompromising taste to bathrooms that offer a luxurious retreat from everyday life.

All the villas are furnished with high end finishing materials and equipment imported from France and Italy such as La Cornue, Baldi, La Cuisine Française, Devon&Devon, Schuco and Miele, to name just a few. Built using only the finest materials, XXII Carat is where all the determinants of uber luxury can be found.

Anton Yachmenev, Managing Director of Forum Group, the company behind XXII Carat, believes the standards of luxury living in Dubai have changed, for the better.

He says, “A decade ago, Dubai was not a place to buy a home and settle down. It was transient and short term and wasn’t taken seriously as somewhere you might want to spend the next 20 to 30 years of your life.

“But that has changed, dramatically. There is now a trend of discerning well-heeled buyers choosing a permanent home in Dubai and that’s why we came up with the idea for XXII Carat.

“It is a place residents can truly call home, where no expense has been spared. Each villa has been expertly designed and furnished to make sure you will never want to leave.”

Asked about who the buyers are lining up to purchase these high-end properties Anton says, “Our buyers are luxury-minded Beach people from all over the world. They are people with style and sophistication who know exactly what they want and they expect nothing less than perfection.”

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(BUA)

(SQM)

Ground floor First floor Total

551 552 1 103

5 928 5 942 11 870

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Plot area Ensuite bedrooms

1 927 7

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* Floorplan, built-up area and individual plot area of Villa 5 are provided as an example of Sapphire type villas.

(BUA)

(SQM)

Ground floor First floor Total

551 552 1 103

5 928 5 942 11 870

(SQF)

Plot area Ensuite bedrooms

1 927 7

20 747

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14

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Crescent Road

* Floorplan, built-up area and individual plot area of Villa 5 are provided as an example of Sapphire type villas.

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Crescent Road

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RUBY

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The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East

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I site report

Site Report

Western Municipal Water District, Southern California PROJECT OVERVIEW: Western Municipal Water District (Western), the water district for Riverside County, Calif., developed a test program designed to demonstrate water savings by converting certain zones of homeowners’ spray irrigation systems to drip irrigation. Western evaluated and selected 20 homes, each having approximately 600 square feet of landscaping, consisting of ground cover and shrubs, watered by sprays. At each property, the spray zones were converted to drip irrigation using Rain Bird’s 1800-Retro Spray-to-Drip Retrofit Kit. The 1800-Retro easily converts spray heads into connection points for Rain Bird’s XFD On-Surface Dripline. The 1800-Retro includes a built-in 200-mesh filter and 30-psi pressure regulator.

CHALLENGE:

WATER DISTRICT Western Municipal Water District

END USER Homeowners in Riverside County, Calif.

Because of growing water-supply demand and persistent drought conditions, Western wanted to find an easy way for homeowners to change their watering habits. Spray irrigation is a less efficient method for watering ground cover and shrubs than is drip irrigation so this seemed like a good place to start. Western’s management and board also recognized that it needed to be both easy for contractors to change out the sprays for drip irrigation and cost-effective for property owners.

RAIN BIRD PRODUCTS: • 1800-Retro Spray-to-Drip Retrofit Kit • XFD On-Surface Dripline

“California’s water suppliers and landscape irrigators equally continue to search for intelligent irrigation and landscape options. Water suppliers want increased irrigation efficiency; irrigators want healthy landscapes. Both want the lowest possible resource inputs – water, labor and money. Drip irrigation is perhaps the best way to achieve these desires – lower water demand and healthy plant materials.”

— Tim Barr Western’s Deputy Director of Water Resources

RESULTS: Across all 20 homes, water savings averaged 81.5 percent with an average savings of 238 gallons of water per week, which is almost 12,500 gallons per year. The overall cost per square foot was $1, which included labor and materials. In a survey conducted before the program, 67 percent of the participants joined to save money on their water bills and 20 percent joined to save water. After completion of the program, 80 percent recognized that the primary benefit was to save water, and 80 percent would consider converting more sprays to drip systems in the future. In addition, 51 percent noticed improved plant health, less water run-off and fewer weeds, and 31 percent noticed no overspray on sidewalks and walls.

Western’s water-use efficiency team were encouraged by the results of the program. “Drip irrigation is probably as important to the future of California’s landscape as the aqueducts were to the early Roman Empire. It’s about efficient delivery of water. Drip has the greatest potential to increase water efficiency in the landscape – while allowing shrubs and trees to thrive – with lower potential for irrigation run-off, overspray and waste,” says Tim Barr, Western’s deputy director of Water Resources.

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I treatment center

First of its kind H+A to design first proton beam therapy cancer treatment centre in the Middle East By: H+A Architects Newly launched international architecture and design firm, specialising in healthcare and hospitality, H+A has been appointed by Proton Partners International Healthcare Investments to design a US$60 million proton beam therapy cancer treatment centre in Abu Dhabi, which will be the first in the region.

The treatment centre, which will be known as the Abu Dhabi Proton Centre (ADPC), will be part of the existing Gulf International Cancer Centre (GICC) in Abu Dhabi and will be situated on a site provided by SBK Holding LLC, the Holding Company of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, advisor to the President of the UAE.

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H+A has been tasked with designing the centre to house the compact Proton Therapy (PT) solution and other facilities including a cafĂŠ, anaesthetic rooms, treatment rooms, zen gardens to aid recovery of cancer patients, dosimeter facility, a conference facility which seats 200 for regular meetings, offices for consulting specialists, interior design, landscaping and additional parking. It will also include the introduction of a new MRI suite and linear accelerator (LINAC) as an extension of the GICC. The centre is expected to be able to treat over 1,300 patients annually, opening in 2019.

Stas Louca, H+A’s Managing Director says, “This was a very complicated project dealing with such advanced equipment. We had to work with a number of design specialists for the radiation screening bunker to protect staff and patients. The radiation shielding blocks will be imported from the U.S by Veritas and the equipment is provided by IBA from Belgium. The technology for the shielding blocks in a unique innovation and a first for the region.

“We’ve also created a patient experience with a high-end hospitality feel. We looked at everything from materials and colours to lighting, all of which affect healing time. This is truly a contemporary and modern piece of architecture. We used glass for better light and views and the quality of materials are low maintenance, sustainable and high performing to surpass insulation criteria. It was an exceptionally fast design using BIM. We used an integration of software tools, including augmented reality to meet project timelines. The most exciting part for us was not many healthcare architects have ever designed a proton beam facility, and to be the very first in the region has been a privilege.”

Dr Abdel Razak, one of the world’s leading oncologist’s practises at the centre, making it one of the most sought-after destinations in the world for cancer treatment. He explains Proton Beam Therapy is considered the most advanced and targeted cancer radiotherapy treatment by limiting the collateral damage of radiation to other vital organs in the body.

It is also widely considered to have a lower risk of side effects.

“We are delighted to have our expertise in the healthcare sector recognised with our appointment to design the first ever treatment centre with this technology in the region,” explains Stas Louca.

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“ It is wonderful to be a part of such an important phase in the UAE’s plans to revolutionise cancer treatment, aiming to provide world-class medical treatment for all cancer patients, making this country a prime destination for medical tourists.”

A 2016 healthcare study by Deloitte shows that a large number of GCC nationals are opting to travel abroad for medical treatment. Kuwaiti nationals are the most likely with 65 per cent saying they prefer treatment outside Kuwait, while Saudis are the least likely with 35 per cent reporting they travel abroad for healthcare while 39 per cent of UAE nationals claim they would fly for treatment.

Outbound medical care is becoming an increasing burden to Gulf governments with the UAE alone spending US$2bn annually to send its residents abroad for treatment.

Mike Moran, chief executive officer of Proton Partners International says, “The introduction of proton beam therapy marks an important phase in our plans to revolutionise cancer treatment in the UAE and with works officially started, our vision will soon be a reality.

Currently, there are no centres which offer proton beam therapy in the Middle East, so we are proud that Proton Partners will be part of the team to be bringing it to the UAE.” While cancer is the third leading cause of death in the UAE behind cardiovascular disease and accidents, approximately 4,500 new cases are reported each year and the UAE government has vowed to lower the number of fatalities from cancer by 2021 with programs encouraging regular screenings and the building of more modern facilities like the GICC.

I landscape design

The Impact of Landscape

Design

When it comes to landscape design, it’s the experience that is at the forefront of watg - one of the world’s leading integrated design firms – minds. It’s not about it just looking great, it’s about creating spaces for all kinds of different people and with future generations in mind.

Landscapes can exist both outside and inside buildings: our designs are devised to create a journey and experience for the people who go there. We study biomimicry and robotic technology, but often the beauty of a project is in something as simple as a stand of native trees, planted to encourage wildlife to co-exist with humans.

Great landscapes have a much stronger purpose than being aesthetically ornamental to support a building.

There can be a functional purpose such as solving erosion

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By: John Goldwyn

Vice President, Director of Planning & Landscape, WATG or drainage for an entire region, or supporting biodiversity.

Landscape should be a part of the building design, not a separate aspect of the overall planning.

By example, in our urban landscape design at Zorlu in Istanbul, you will find a highly programmed and interactive environment that encourages children to play, and where wild flowers, olive trees and butterflies live and thrive in the centre of the city. Our intention is to lift the spirit and to improve places where people live, work or visit. Landscaping is a fundamental and integral part of the WATG design vision.

Good landscape design is always sustainable. It is an intrinsic part of master planning and an essential in demonstrating responsibility. We always use indigenous

and adapted species to the locale in which we are designing, to ensure that what we do supports the delicate web of fauna. Global warming has created major issues with rising sea levels and increased potential for flooding. Our landscape designs can act as a sponge to soak up excess water. And likewise, plants we incorporate can provide natural air conditioning to

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spaces through transpiration while they turn carbon into oxygen through natural processes.

Our philosophy is that landscape is the physical expression of broad master planning vision at its most tangible. Our vision is to always innovate and have people enjoy the landscape of spaces between our buildings and interiors. We want them to be surprised and delight in

I landscape design

the experience, and that is foremost in our minds when designing. This is evidenced by our use of the existing elements of a site that intelligently takes into account nature’s habitat such as an olive grove or a mature, protected woodland. Journeys that connect spaces and buildings are part of that physical expression.

The accommodation of a growing global population will continue to present challenges for landscape design.

We’re at the forefront of innovation, it is an inherent part of what we do. For example, global warming increases the presence of drought so the design of a landscape that can sip tiny amounts of water and still produce shade is evidence of our intention. Sensitivity, intelligence, and expert knowledge in landscape design is makes clients happy and guests appreciative.

What we’re doing is carefully managing the dialogue between the pace of human intervention and Mother Nature through our imagination and modernity of our thinking as landscape architects. As futurists, thinkers and dreamers, it’s natural for us to be aware of the impact our landscape design can have.

Current WATG Landscape projects: WATG are currently working on several Landscape projects in the region, select under construction projects: Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Oman A fusion of tradition and modernity, WATG’s Landscape design for the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is a blend of native plants, designed to celebrate the tradition and heritage of the region.

Opening late 2018, OCEC is the first tourism development in Oman to achieve a LEED Gold certification, setting standards for the sustainable development that reflects the future of Oman’s growing tourism industry.

Rixos Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE Designed by WATG's Irvine office, Rixos Saadiyat Island is slated to open late 2018.

Inspired by Mediterranean palaces whilst remaining true to the destination, the elegant grandeur of an Arabian fantasy is designed to delight the most discerning travellers. The Islamic garden design concept of the Paradise Garden is realised with courtyard gardens and water features that provide shade and protection from the elements.

A modern oasis of contemporary design, WATG incorporates traditional elements that subtly allude to the destination. Inspiring guest journeys past infinity edged water features and along covered walkways, provide a modern yet graceful allure.

The expanse of indoor and outdoor spaces flows seamlessly in a contemporary style with archways and balconies detailed in fine Arabic style. Terracotta coloured roof tiles hint at the Mediterranean essence.

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I international design

Towering above

By: Stefano Corbo

The Gentle Giant is a proposal for an Observation Tower in the Chinese city of Suqian.

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The main goals of the competition were to connect the Observation Tower with the existing infrastructure and bridge that develops along the site and to alter the horizontal configuration of the context and to modify its skyline with an iconic landmark, which could constitute a visual magnet for tourists and visitors.

The conceptual origin of the project derives from the will to re-interpret two Chinese traditional typologies according to a contemporary syntax. The Gentle Giant combines the vertical presence of the so-called Pagodas and Porcelain Towers with the adaptive geometry of the famous Great Wall, whose formal configuration depends on its reaction to the specific topographical constraints.

The Gentle Giant is based on the dynamic superposition of two different systems of ramps: one, longer and smoother, which allows a complete and relaxed experience of the surrounding panorama. The second ramp is a sort of direct connection with the ground, for those interested in a quicker visit of the building. Once the visitor will get to the highest point of the tower, will find a circular lounge area where they can rest and enjoy the beautiful views of the Flower Farm.

The Gentle Giant’s geometry recalls the existing bridge - a sinuous, sensual and organic ramp that turns into a vertical tower. Visitors are trapped into a spiral

NaTian Cup International Design Competition Flower Farm Area The Gentle Giant Design Team: STEFANO CORBO SCSTUDIO Architecture and Design www.scstudio.eu labyrinth-like effect that will guide them from the ground up to the sky. Through a gradual and gentle promenade, they will climb this artificial mountain and will get on top of it.

Perception and movement become keywords of this project.

The Gentle Giant works as a conceptual and structural skeleton whose aspect is not closed or static. On the contrary, it is constantly changing and evolving depending on the interaction with its users.

So a simple Observation Tower can also become a real public space - a space for aggregation and socialization.

At the same time, vegetation will progressively colonize its structure and little by little, will change its perception.

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I interview

Spotlight on Gover Garden Centre Ramanathan Senthil Nathan Managing Director Gover Group of Companies

How did you become involved in landscape gardening?

I come from a small town called Manamadurai from Tamilnadu in south India. I developed a passion for gardening when I was a child. Lush green plants and colourful flowers have always fascinated me. After school, I studied a degree in Agriculture at Annamalai University. During my college days I decided to pursue a career in landscaping. I believe formal education gives basic knowledge but to become an expert in any field, you should keep learning and it’s a continuous process.

What experience do you have in the GCC? After graduation I became a field officer a famous plantation company. Within a year I got an opportunity in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and my first assignment was to oversee an equestrian club and mini golf club facility. After two years, in 1997 I moved to UAE and worked for seven years before starting Gover Horticulture. Those years were the boom period of our industry and I worked in various projects in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi.

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When did Gover first set up business?

Gover Horticulture L.L.C, which is our flagship company of Gover Group, started in 2003. During the initial years of Gover, we were the first company to bring metal planters from India and distributed them all over G.C.C. Gover soon became a wellknown brand for various decorative planters. Simultaneously, our landscaping division also made a name in quality maintenance. In 2011 Mr. Mohammed Ismail (The Garden Centre WLL-Doha, Qatar) became a partner in Gover. After this association we acquired many agencies and distributorships.

Now we represent many well-known brands in the industry.

What are your company’s main services From Gover Horticulture L.L.C (Al Qouz facility) we distribute to contractors and retail shops and projects. We distribute stainless steel planters, aluminum, ceramic, nursery pots, garden tools and more. Gover Brand Stainless Steel, Aluminum and GRP planters are designed and manufactured by Gover India

A4 in their state of the art facilities located in Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, India. Whereas, our fiber stone planters are produced by our specialized partners in China, Vietnam and Philippines. In many cases they are manufactured exclusively for us and we own designs and formulations. Apart from trading, our contracting and maintenance division offers turkey basis solutions in landscaping and in interior plants capes.

We are one of the pioneers in Greenwall concepts in the region and Gover has emerged as a major player in Greenwall systems.

Our Gover Green wall systems are highly reliable coupled with good performance. With our expertise in UAE we can give guaranteed, best performing Green walls of indoor and outdoor Gover Garden Centre L.L.C in Al Warsan caters for the needs of garden enthusiasts, professional gardeners, landscaping contractors with a wide range of products under one roof.

We offer plants, shrubs and trees, ground covers and seasonal flowers, Indoor plants, garden decorative items, chemical and organic fertilizers, pesticides, pebble stones and more.

formed. Now our employee strength has reached nearly 200 in UAE and as a group there are around 500.

Gover Group Companies in UAE Gover Horticulture L.L.C Gover Green House L.L.C Gover Garden Centre L.L.C Associate Companies: The Garden Centre WLL- Doha, Qatar Gover India – Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India City Garden center – Cochin – Kerala-India

How has your business expanded since its inception?

During our humble beginnings, I was the first and only employee and performed all roles of the company for an initial period.

Gradually as business has grown, one by one the team was

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I interview

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

Every company should be very careful in resource management.

Project management will be very difficult during delayed finishing due to various unforeseen reasons. Seasonal fluctuations, retail nursery business and garden material trading need careful planning and logistics. Stock levels and meeting demands are a challenge during the peak season months.

What changes need to be adopted in the GCC landscaping industry to become on a par with the rest of the world?

Careful selection of design elements to considering the water resources and future.

How important is it for the regional landscaping industry to adhere to international standards when completing projects?

Strict adherence to the policies of HSE. What are some of the major projects that you have been involved with?

We have supplied project planters for the iconic project of DUBAI AIRPORT Terminal 3 and for the new 70 storied ADNOC HQ TOWER project of DUBAI AIRPORT Terminal 3. Others include the largest Green wall in G.C.C Cultural Village, a Green wall project of Dubai Properties in Business bay, Qatar Airways Headquarters and Qatar Foundation Project Planters.

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What are your plans for the future?

We want to introduce an innovative vertical garden concept which suits our climatic conditions and environment. We want to promote products which are made up of organic origin and environment friendly.

How do you see future opportunities related to the landscape and irrigation business in the coming years?

We are witnessing the phenomenal growth of the construction related industries including landscaping industry. The development of many Freehold communities and residential compounds and expanding city limits are giving landscaping industry big opportunity and room for growth. In UAE alone we are having more than 14 golf courses and many numbers of football clubs and many other sports fields. In long term we require more quality producers of indigenous trees and shrubs according to the changing trends of the landscaping industry.

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Photo credit: Daniela Belizan

I garden

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Chio is graduated by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and holds a MS Degree in Agricultural Engineering with a specialization in “Environmental, Urban planning and Landscaping�. Four years ago, she moved to Dubai (UAE) where she started to run her own company in UAE; The Garden by Chio. Since then, she has executed more than 20 projects throughout Dubai.

Nowadays, Chio is traveling between Dubai and Spain, Where Chio Garrido and Loreto Leon (Architect and partner in Spain) have a very well established Landscape Design Studio.

The

Garden

By Chio Garrido Gomez The Design For this garden we wanted to create something special, and considering that we take our job seriously we have spent a lot of time figuring out what makes a garden look amazing.

When designing a garden we create nature, so we proposed that this must be a paradise, a garden tailored to the client, to accompany them in time as it changes and evolves.

The idea was to create a garden with different uses in all its spatial scope; it is a place to walk, be and interact with nature, as well as a constant game of perspectives.

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Geometric, simple and structured Inspired by the English formal garden, historically, a formal garden was a place to walk, stand or sit, and even today is conceived more as a visual gift than as an active space, and this was mainly our goal when we started the design of the front area. We wanted the garden to be a delight for the senses of the people living in the house.

The entrance for walkers is aligned with the entrance door to the house. As soon as you cross it you have to surround a sphere of glass that serves as a fountain, being this one

I garden

of the significant elements, giving the stroller a sound and a reflection and brightness that makes the ride an experience, and the place a site for contemplation. This walk around the fountain is flanked by two Ficus amstel king, newly planted but in the future endowed with a large hearth and shadow at the entrance, both aligned with the pillars of the entrance of the house.

An organic driveway surrounds this access without breaking the aesthetics of the place, grey tiles have been used with interspersed artificial turf, to merge in the garden.

A small garden extends to the left side of the house, based on the rules of the classic style of the formal garden -order and symmetry. The plantations are very geometric and straight cut and have the prominence of an olive tree (Olea europaea) in the center of each parterre. The interior parterres are of Clerodendrum inerme and the flowers that fill it are Vinca (Catharanthus) of white color. A plantation of Tabernaemontana divaricata surrounds the garden and its flowering continues throughout the year. This garden invites to contemplation and to walk through the meadow paths.

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The facade of the house is completed by three lines of parallel plantations: a hedge of Clerodendrum inerme provides the formality, a line of Gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) the smell and freshness and a ground cover of Dianella tasmanica the serenity to mix the green and white. Each window is framed in two pruned Ficus macrocarpa and Jasmines (Jasminum grandiflorum) that climbs the entire facade, completing all the species that make up the garden.

The use of materials such as gravel fulfils a double function, transports us to a formal English garden and brings the sustainability that we always try to convey in our designs.

The transition A populated path allows access to the back garden through the wildest part of the plot, walking under the shade of the trees (Terminalia cattapa) as it dissolves the landscape.

The variety of vegetation turns the path into an exotic place so special where a disorder of species creates beauty and foliage, shaping a very special area (Raphis excelsa, Vietchia

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I garden

merrillii, Codiaem variegatum and covering the ground we have used a perennial evergreen ground cover plant Alternathera ficoidea).

As we move through the corridor we leave behind everything formal and classic, to interfere in the tropical, modern and exotic.

The final point will be a blue fountain that shows what happens later, where blue and green will be the predominant colours.

Minimalist, exotic, straight lines and clean strokes.

It is a garden on several levels, the project tries to make the most of the space, generating several areas at different heights, forming angles and taking advantage of the diagonals. The different surfaces seek to give the sensation of spaciousness. We want to celebrate the expressive force of the horizontal and vertical lines, and the effect of both of them crossing between them.

A very clean solution has been made, with geometric lines and very clear planting lines. It has a central pool designed through geometric plans that shape the space. Three delimited lawn carpets mark the access of the house to the garden until descending to the pool, where an infinite and overflowing sheet of water merges with the adjacent landscape. A design bench gives a cheerful note to the garden on the pool’s axis.

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The vegetation chosen in this area gives much importance to the grass meadow, to create that link in which the garden moves from architecture to landscape to merge with the surrounding nature.

The tropical and exotic touch is preserved thanks to the use of the Washingonia palms, covers of Tradescantia spathacea along the pool, Cocos nucifera, Scaevola and Canna indica of different colors on both sides of the perimeter, and finally Crinum asiaticum that limits the grass carpet to continue and open up to the polo field.

The selection of species has been one of the main tasks in this area, since the orientation is south, and we needed plants that are very resistant and well adapted to the climate of Dubai.

THE RESULT The tour through the different scenes takes place between an interesting combination of elements: sober and exotic plant species, fountains, different types of pavements, and inert objects.

The final composition is a work full of beauty, an easy maintenance design, which achieves a perfect fusion between the classic and the exotic.

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I forest

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The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East

The natural and the artificial mingle to become one in the new administrative centre of the Czech Forestry Commission

Into the Forest By: Ondrej Chybík and Michal Kristof A project designed by a team under the direction of the Brno based studio Chybik+Kristof has recently won the international competition for the new administrative centre of the Czech Forestry Commission in Hradec Králové. The winning proposal is a two-storey building on the edge of an existing forest that uses wood extensively as construction material – as requested within the competition. The concept is based on incorporating the forest landscape into a five-finger building to create new relations between the inside office and the outside forest landscape. A nature trail surrounding the building allows for exploration of the different forest ecotypes, designed by Tomas Babka and breathe.earth.collective.

In summer 2016, a public two-round international architecture competition was announced, looking for a design

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for the new administrative centre of the Czech Forestry Commission that should substitute the existing insufficient headquarter buildings on the south-western outskirts of Hradec Králové – a place next to one of the most sought-after forests in the Czech Republic.

More than forty architectural firms from the Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, France, United States, and Netherlands took part in the competition with its international jury consisting of Dorte Mandrup-Poulsen, Dietmar Eberle, Miroslav Šik amongst others. Five of these teams were selected to complete their proposals in the second round. The winning entry presented by Chybik+Kristof in collaboration with K4, Ivo Stolek, Jan Stolek, Tomas Babka and the breathe.earth.collective prevailed by its unconventional

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I forest approach which, according to the jury, makes the building an open public institution rather than an administrative building, fulfilling the vision of a future-oriented environment.

In addition, the jury praised the sensitive way of incorporating the building in the natural surroundings, its open-fronts and the modularity of the construction, which enables a variability of the interior layout.

While inspecting the premises, the team took a walk into the wooded areas, which was the driving force behind their proposal. The tranquility of the forest inspired them to create a transparent, yet intimate and highly presentable working space. Having this concept in mi

Functions and typology The office sections are divided into five fingers representing five independent administrative units forming an angle of 45° and converging in the central courtyard towards which the main entrance is orientated. The open front›s defining features comprise two protruding volumes – a conference hall and a cafeteria and canteen – which form the central meeting area of the building. All social functions are concentrated here, like a meeting room and a library.

The nature trail on the outside of the building starts on the roof with a presentation delineating the elements of sustainable forestry. The trail continues with a slide that takes visitors down to the courtyard and directs them along a winding pathway around the whole building. The central twostorey courtyard is lit by roof skylights and is complemented with supporting columns reminding the visitors of tree trunks that give the impression of a clearing in the middle of a forest.

The program provided by the visitors› centre may be seen as an added value of the design of the administrative centre that accentuates its being open to the public.

The office areas employ the urbanist concept of an office landscape and are interconnected with the exterior. Corridors

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are virtually missing in the particular units. Instead, subcentres with central staircases, storage areas and kitchenettes (which can be used for a number of activities from business meetings to informal gatherings/break-out activities) are inserted. The modularity of the construction enables both the division of the office area into enclosed units and the creation, by removing the non-load-bearing elements, of an open space area with subcentres. The segmentation of

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I forest

the ground plan ensures that all areas can offer sufficient amounts of daylight. The sub-basement is designed to provide additional functions such as parking spaces, wellness and fitness centre, depositories, and places with supplies for the cafeteria/canteen.

Landscape concept An integral part of the proposal is the concept of the landscape and vegetation which Chybik+Kristof developed in cooperation with landscape architect Tomáš Babka, and the Austrian, breathe.earth.collective, who have been known for their remarkable work on the Austrian Pavilion at the Expo in Milan ‘breathe.austria’. Together they developed the concept to improve relations between the outside and the inside within an immediate proximity to the building. The five major sectors are going to provide different local forest experiences, such as spruce, beech and fir, pine and birch, and oak and hornbeam forests, which refer to the basic types of forest found in the Czech Republic. The main entrance is designed to serve as a highly-presentable vision of a park in the future with fully-grown trees performing with technical adeabate

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cooling elements. The vegetation proposed is not a mere accompaniment to the design. It is rather meant to educate and recharge its visitors as well as the employees through the refreshing forest atmosphere.

the open courtyards the succession of the actual forests will be initiated through the provision of an intensive ground layer based on substrates, stones, shrubs and perennials.

Considering the effort to install an instant forest landscape, the designers propose a development scheme of the forest.

The upcoming 20 years the surrounding forest landscape will be constantly changing.

Energy concept and sustainability The administrative centre of the Czech Forestry Commission has been designed as an energy-efficient building which makes extensive use of wood as a building and aesthetic material. The above-ground part consists of a framework construction made of glued laminated timber profiles, columns are also made of glulam. Full facade elements and internal crossbars are made of compact wooden boards. The sub-basement and staircase cores are made of reinforced concrete. Wood pellet stoves are used to provide heating. Alternatively, boreholes can be used and photovoltaic arrays may be installed on the roof of the building and serve as renewable energy sources. In addition, the building is equipped with a controlled heat recovery ventilation system, systems to save drinking water, smart rainwater management systems, external shading devices and energy-efficient LEDs which, as a whole, make it a building with virtually zero energy consumption. Energy consumption and heat and water management data will be monitored closely and accessible to the public on the internet.

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I NEW environment

Designing the new normal SNC Lavalin’s Atkins Architect, Salim Hussain talks about the evolution of design in Saudi Arabia When we look at the world’s best cities, we look at a range of factors. Melbourne, Vienna and Vancouver consistently come out on top because of their excellent infrastructure, culture, education and environment. The physical environment is connected to the touch points of people’s lifestyle in a meaningful and beneficial way. So, when it comes to designing the cities of the future, and ensuring they flourish, we can engineer a ‘new normal’ by taking influence from these case studies and future proofing the new environments for future generations to enjoy.

These new environments are being realised when it comes to the transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Vision2030, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is accelerating the development of the country at pace. When it comes to the built environment, Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly becoming more sophisticated. Driven by the vision of His Royal Majesty, the growing voice of the younger generations and

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external forces, Saudi Arabia has reached a pivotal moment where the very essence of what ‘normal’ looks like is being redefined. The broad changes that the country is undergoing are most immediately apparent in the physical environment.

There is an acute awareness for the need to build for the longer term. The new Jeddah Waterfront, along the city’s 4.5-kilometre-long coastline on the Red Sea features dancing fountains, access to Wi-Fi, and facilities for the disabled and will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the lives of residents.

The King Abdul Aziz Road project in Mecca is another sizable development that will fundamentally transform how people live, work and play by master planning a community that is fit for the future. Here we see how forward-thinking design, coupled with new techniques and technology are really pushing the boundaries of what has been achieved before in Saudi Arabia.

There are, however, examples of more traditional buildings that showcase highly sophisticated and unique design. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia is an elegant building that uses natural light to enhance all facets of its experience. Beautiful mosques have been built with the layering, the form and the rhythm all being created in a way that makes people pause and look closer at what is there. These buildings are sophisticated, and bring an altogether more subtle, yet meaningful, aesthetic to the landscape.

On the other side of the coin, the King Abdullah Financial District presents a complete contrast: it is deliberate in its difference. It is at once both bold and brave, that is what makes it powerful and interesting. When it comes to designing buildings for the future, the aim should not be to make a pastiche of what came before, but to use these forms in a unique way.

The discussion spans more than the design and the aesthetics though, buildings have to cater to practicalities and functions as well. For example, cooling a house is not simply about putting the air conditioning on, it is impacted by the orientation of the building and the use of basic strategies that take into account the components and design of the building.

So, designing the new normal has to take all elements into account.

At this pivotal point in development, there must also be recognition that the country is steeped in heritage and history.

There has been a great deal of sound urban planning that has grown organically in the past. The buildings of the future, will take heed of the country’s roots, so that the new normal is delivered sensitively and with the understanding that whilst there is a need to cater for future societies, there is also a need to take influence from the past.

Our clients have a vision that sets the direction for how this will play out. Marrying this vision with consultants and advisors helps realise the ambition. Their fingers are on the pulse of new trends around the world. Architectural language is broadening, and there is a notion that the world is becoming more connected; at the touch of a button we can use our smartphone devices to see and learn about iconic developments happening globally.

What we also see when we look at designing the new normal in Saudi Arabia is a focus on elements such as sustainability, and creating communities with sustainability at their core. As people worldwide become a lot more aware of the impact of humans on our planet, there is recognition of a level of responsibility upon

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us and expectation from the younger generation that we slow the pace of negative changes to natural environments and resources.

As we master plan these new built environments, we will need to create communities where all amenities are on our doorsteps, therefore starting to reduce the need for as much polluting car travel, and in turn reduce the level of pollution affecting the environment.

Technology has given us tools so we can demonstrate ideas more quickly and more visually to our clients. It informs our design process, helping us plan for the physical environment in a positive way. Master-planning is a holistic process, firstly we need to understand how people get from one place to the other, how do people travel? How do they get to and from school or work? Where are their leisure destinations? Through the answers to these questions we can build environments where people live, work and play in close proximity, designing true mixed-use communities.

This mixed-use community does not always have to be centred on the residential. Wider afield we see examples of where the community is centred on the industry. In Bourneville in the UK for instance, there is a whole community that was built up around local industry, with the opportunity for employment attracting a workforce and therefore residents living within the immediate proximity of their workplace. We see this same model demonstrated across the Middle East also.

What is most exciting to us is that all of these learnings on the international stage are influencing the future of the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has the opportunity to be bold and ambitious. It has an opportunity to set a benchmark for the world to follow. There is a strong impetus behind the transformation, and technology is having a huge impact. As new generations come through there will be a different and higher expectation that will need to be met.

They will bringing with them new innovation and ideals, and we’ll see the ‘new normal’ continually redefined.

I sustainable development

Retail Therapy By: Jimena Martignoni São Paulo in Brazil is among the seven largest cities in the world and is the biggest in South America with almost 22 million people living in the metropolitan area and more than 11 million in the city proper.

For the foreign visitor, even for a citizen of any other large metropolis, the city is an overwhelming experience - endless lines of cars, clusters of massive tall buildings, luxury and poverty living side by side, highways, bridges, large museums, new and old, all of them designed by renowned architects and people, always people, mostly moving in cars, trains, buses and of course the subway, which moves every day, three million people underground.

In this very special urban context, appears another important component for the city: the shopping mall. It’s a place where locals from the middle and upper classes in the city of São Paulo spend time, especially during the week. When the weekend begins, large caravans of cars move them to the countryside or the coast. The city offers a great number of these huge kinds of impersonal buildings, where acclimatized spaces put people literally away from any natural conditions. Paradoxically, these spaces represent almost the only areas within the city, with exception of some now blooming small neighbourhoods and a few fancy commercial avenues, where the pedestrian experience is really possible.

This seemed to lead to an obvious solution – at least for an important developer in São Paulo - that would combine pedestrian spaces and green areas with the shopping mall and all the activities that socially advantaged locals can perform there. The city is known as the fashion centre of Latin America and has a very significant role in the international scene, therefore the big name design houses are established here.

As a reference for this novel project in Brazil, the client brought to the architects’ table the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami, USA, and when meeting with the landscape architect and interior designer during early stages he was clear about the idea of courtyard-gardens that would exude, in this case, the flora, colours and perfumes of Brazil.

Maria João D’Orey, the landscape architect, and Arthur Casas, the architect that was commissioned for the design of all interior details, both agreed on the idea of the large green spaces and worked together with the same objective. Maria João’s specialty is large landscape projects outside the city and she has a great deal of knowledge about complex planting processes like the shopping mall turned out to be.

She says, “The first stage lasted three months and I went to the site every day watching and taking care of every detail. But the first two days and nights, when all the large trees arrived at the site in special trucks, we just stayed in the shopping centre.”

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Arthur Casas, on the other hand, who is the architect who designed the Brazilian Pavilion for the World Expo held last year in Milan, Italy, paid special attention to the materials and the finishing of the spaces that would frame the gardens. “We wanted to use light colours that would match with the idea of the local jungle, using only the brown of the trunks, in different hues, and not including any other colour that would disturb the concept of the Brazilian Mata.”

The layout of the shopping centre is based on a double circulation developed around five aligned central courtyards, all of them with the same width of 14 meters, four of which are now luxuriant gardens. The one in the centre, with a length of 20metres, is roofed with glass covering the main restaurant. The two located at opposite ends of the building – each measuring 18 meters in length were partially closed with plastic sheets and the two largest and most central remained open, with a length of 30 meters each.

Maria João says, “I said that if they closed all the gardens plants would die, especially the large trees that were growing up so well, looking for the light in the upper floors. So the client agreed to preserve these spaces.”

The plant selection is not very diverse and the focus was set on using plants and trees for shady spaces, except for those species planted on the upper floor or terrace. In this sense, the

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I sustainable development

trees worked out perfectly and only some of the smaller plants on the ground floor had to be changed or replaced over time. The two central and larger gardens are planted in natural soil and the other two are roof gardens, built above the underground parking.

Approximately fifty trees were planted, including the central open gardens and the terrace. Those planted in the gardens were all brought from fazendas (haciendas or land saved for plant production and cultivation) located outside the state of São Paulo, some as far as 600 km away. The plants were under special care and preparation over a period of six months before the scheduled planting and after that were moved by special trucks, each of one transporting only two trees, all at the same time to be planted all at once. The most difficult part of the planting process, according to Maria João, was to haul and to set the adult trees –some of them reaching up to 36 feet of height in their positions with very large cranes that had to lift them up over the four-storey building and move them into the courtyards.

When being asked about a less stressing method and probably more sustainable since all this transportation process meant very high costs both for the construction budget and probably for natural losses. She says, “There is no other method to do this. We wanted to bring the green into the building and provide a natural environment, so we knew we had to do it this way. We were very careful at all stages and now the trees look great. It’s actually very interesting how they adapted.”

The large trees are all Caesalpinia peltophoroides, or false Brazilwood (known as Sibiripuna in Brazil). The crowns of these trees fill out the space and conquer the central area of the third floor in both gardens. On the second floor, one can see the twisted trunks stretching up in search of sunlight. And while going up via the wooden stairs that seem to float into the green setting, the visitor can move in and out of the plants and get up close to them.

At the corners, where there is more space, clusters of palms add a clear tropical image and help to frame and visually contain the open areas; the soil height varies from 60cm for the smaller plants to one meter for the palms.

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of four trees symmetrically planted offer some shade. These are Myrciaria cauliflora or Brazilian grape tree, known as Jabuticabeiras in Brazil. “They are beautiful native fruit trees and they grow perfectly here on the terrace where they receive sun all day long”, explains Maria João.

The incorporation of thick strips of vining plants (Jasminum Messnyi or Primrose Jazmin) falling downwards along all the balconies mark the perimeter of the courtyard, and makes the green picture look complete and inspiring. I can be seen from the upper floor, where the plants grow better and full of life and the building appears as a natural green construction.

On the ground floor intimate designs combine large shrubs, groundcovers and pebbles with comfortable chairs for visitors to relax.

The wood used for the stairs is a variety of Cumaru, or Brazilian teak, called Cumaru champagne, chosen to create a neutral environment.

On the terrace, the trees and plants are different, they are sun loving species. In this case, the landscape architect had to add large planters because they didn’t have any possible options of extra height to accommodate the soil. Platanus accidentalis or Sycamore trees, chosen to match those of the large residential complex where the shopping mall is enclosed, are planted in 1.20 x 1.20 x 1.20 metre wooden planters, also designed by Arthur Casas especially for the project. In some more intimate spots of this last floor, from where the views over the city of São Paulo are quite impressive, groups

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Of course the maintenance of this project is high. Maria João’s team works at the shopping mall on a daily basis, with a group of five men under the directions of an agronomist. Also, there are some things that appear paradoxical in this so particular urban place: in a project where the kick-off idea was to offer and highlight the pedestrian experience for the people of São Paulo, the only way to arrive at the site is by car. The shopping mall was always planned to be adjacent to one of the busiest avenues in the city, and no pedestrian entrances were possible to be incorporated.

When being asked about this, both the landscape architect and the architects, shrugging in an almost resigned and at the same time loving way, say: “This is São Paulo.”

Location: City of São Paulo, Brazil Date of Completion: 2008 and ongoing process Shopping Center’s Area: 72, 000 m2 Landscaped area: 11,319 m² Landscape Architect: Maria João d’Orey Posser de Andrade Architect (Interior design and courtyards): Studio Arthur Casas; project Manager: Regiani Khristian and Vanessa Martins Architecture: Pablo Slemenson Client: JHSF Incorporações S/A Photography: Leonardo Finotti and Jimena Martignoni

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