The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East
MIDDLE EAST
MAY 2020
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EDITOR’S NOTE In this issue, Over the past few months, our gratitude and the media’s attentionand rightly so, has been on focused on the frontline medical workers who are saving lives while putting their own lives at risk during this global pandemic. However, a somewhat unforgotten group or unsung heroes if you like, has been our children. These little human’s have adapted to a whole new way of life without fully understanding why, their once daily ritual of playing in the park, seeing friends and going to school has been taken away from them without any warning. Our veteran Landscape contributor Geoff Sanderson pens a reflective piece in this issue touching on the reasons why we, as landscape architects and urban planners, got into the business in the first place and when you consider it through the eyes of a child, it’s pretty simple! See page 18 Laila Alawneh of pandemic article, gives a European perspective on designing during a pandemic and how smart urban planning and ‘smart cities’ such as Abu Dhabi in the UAE can become role models for other cities around the world to take a quality of life first approach to city planning and ensure they are better equipped to deal with future global pandemics. See page 8 We also feature some of the world’s most interesting design projects including Shenzhen Terraces in China and in Baotou City, the Baotou Vanke Central Park, which was transformed from a former wasteland into a lush landscape with a freshwater lake, picturesque hills, meadows and gardens.See page 22 A public square that has reinvented parts of the Kremlin wall in Kolomna, a small Russian town three hours away from Moscow is featured on page 26. For much more, scroll through our online edition free of charge!
We hope you enjoy the issue!
Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine Copy Editor: John Hampton Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan Art Director: Ramon Andaya Contributors: Geoffrey Sanderson, Daan Ton, Jimena Martignoni, Laila Alawneh, Yoyo Lau, Olga Scherbakova, Mohamed Omar, Jun Zhou, Walter Bone, Tala Alnounou Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com
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22 CONTENTS 8 May 2020 - Issue 155
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Digital Transformation
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Times are changing, and so is how we live
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A Future Without Limits Remembering the little things Uniting Communities Born Identity Connecting Cairo An Urban Living Room
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Secret Valley Golf Resort fight Water Reduction with PBS150 Secret Valley Golf Resort, Cyprus, managed by Troon Golf, has used PBS 150 from Aqua Aid Europe to combat a lack of water caused by climate change. Cyprus is one of the hottest countries in Europe and has average temperatures nearing 30 C from June to September. During this time the average rainfall is 0mm with a small reprieve in September when it rises to 3mm. Recently, rain during the winter months has reduced, leading to reductions in water around the island. This has caused Golf Course Superintendent, Derek Smith, to focus on methods of reducing hydrophobic conditions on the course. Derek’s employment history has seen him work in warm climates before, but a lack of water to manage heat, similar to what was experienced in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2018, was a challenge he had to address quickly. Derek explained: “Due to climate changes the winters have changed in Cyprus with less and less rainfall falling. The dams are running at under 30% and they are our only source of water, so reductions from the water authorities have left us struggling for water. “I have always been very water efficient as I truly understand how this is affecting the turf industry. Because we could not spend the value of water in our budget due to the cuts, we decided to use some of that money to help the plant in other ways. One by using a highquality wetting agent and another by using growth retardants. “We had already started using OARS HS and from my experience using them, I trust Aqua Aid products and their longevity. After meeting a representative from Aqua Aid Europe and explaining our issues it was decided that we’d try PBS150. We applied it once in the middle of May and during the summer months we saw a water reduction of around 30% and I’ve seen a much better sward density and far, far less isolated hydrophobic areas. For us, saving water is beneficial enough, but by not having to spot water we have reduced labour costs. I also hope that by using PBS 150 we can work on our very poor river silt soil and turn it into a healthier environment.” PBS 150, or polyfunctional branched surfactant to use its full name, utilises multi-branched molecular technology to address the source of erformance loss biodegradation of the surfactant molecule by soil microbes. It is designed to reduce hydrophobic conditions on a sustainable basis for five months or more, encouraging a pattern of hydration and re-hydration that improves the amount of available water in the soil profile to meet the metabolic demands of the plant. The 3D Multibranched technology helps to even-out moisture difference in multiple directions, providing a great tool to give more control over moisture conditions. By doing this the uniform movement of water into and through the soil matrix is restored and the stress tolerance is improved along with the turf quality and colour.
www.aquaaid.eu
Aqua Aid Europe B.V. Distributor in GCC:
DESERT TURFCARE P.O. Box 37579, Dubai, 3 UAE Tel: +971 4 323 6300 Email: sales.desertenergy@desertgroup.ae
Digital
Transformation
Photo Credits: LWK + PARTNERS, isBIM
By LWK + PARTNERS
Today more than ever, placing design and architecture high up on the global urban development agenda urges us to utilise technology as a tool to enhance our everyday lives. As mother of the creative arts and the stage for the perpetuation of human culture, architecture has always sought to be experimental and adopt to change. Clearly, the way that projects are delivered is changing, but so are the way that architectural practices are run.
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LWK + PARTNERS multidisciplinary platform of design specialities and collaborators forms a trove of knowledge and insight that has led us to many transformational schemes, creating digital twins and piloting projects globally that set the fundamentals of design future, which come into sharp focus in these uncertain global times. The power of data helps us to predict, plan and manage with
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Reimagining how you bring together people, data and processes to create value is at the heart of digital transformation. Big data platforms via common data environments, integrate the features and capabilities of numerous data application and utilities within a single solution. Switch from analogue to digital technologies and massive growth of data are some key aspects that will drive the flip into digital transformation for architecture and infrastructure, delivery and procurement and the management and enhancement of assets long term. It is time for organizations and clients to harness the advantages of big data to eventuate new and better opportunities and outcomes.
Photo Credits: LWK + PARTNERS, isBIM
real-time feedback mainstream processes making them much more efficient, sustainable and responsive. Simply digitising the traditional processes does not work. We seek to harness technologies to do things in a different and more integrated manner, and this is what we believe digital transformation represents. The firm became a pioneer when it decided to experiment with BIM in 2004, representing a paradigm change throughout the workflow and thinking process. We face challenges in the process daily, but we persist to develop a single source of understanding for each project for optimal outcomes. In this new (and lasting) digital-first world, tools that
just connect us are not sufficient. The paradigm will necessarily be switched from clients passively watching / listening, to clients actively interacting with their projects. Interactive experiences in which customers are put in the driver’s seat help to focus attention, provide true engagement and accurate knowledge, and result in much greater project efficiency, reducing project costs and improving long-term certainty and choice for clients.
LWK + PARTNERS employ its own bespoke Common Data Environment (CDE) and use it as the single platform to integrate, gather, manage and distribute documentation, graphical model and non-graphical data for the project team. This includes all project information created in Building Information Modelling (BIM) or in a conventional data format. Creating this single source of information enabled smoothly into a collaboration
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I TRANSFORMATION institutions and public sector internationally. It is a cherished collaboration which the company will continue leveraging to deliver premium projects around the globe for building smarter cities. Our creative process focuses on encouraging digital data mapping, informed research, understanding interactions between people and their environment and going beyond addressing existing needs. Fostering possibilities – that’s how we make a difference, and this is one of the reasons that we are one of the 40 largest architecture practices in the world. We live in a fast-changing world where digital technology is
Photo Credits: LWK + PARTNERS, isBIM
medium, avoids duplication and decreased error margins significantly in addition to manifesting significant cost savings during construction and facilities/asset management. We have successfully implemented digital transformation strategies on several projects including: Digital Twin of Central Kowloon, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Innovation Tower, Guangzhou –Shenzhen -Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Hong Kong Airport Terminal Expansion and Rolling transformative collaborations out across the MENA Region. Currently we are actively collaborating closely with the government bodies and significant early adopter stakeholders
across the MENA Region developing and managing the formation of ‘Digital Twins’ of significant development initiatives that will enable the use of project data to assist the delivery of project program in addition to full BIM capabilities from 3D to 8D all within our CDE that allows full integration of multiple software, classifications and outputs. LWK + PARTNERS’ success in BIM is buttressed by a strong partnership with sister company isBIM, which specialises in 3D technologies to provide professional consulting services to leading
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establishing new paradigms of communication and challenging perceptions of traditional communication, urbanism and architecture, now is not the time to retreat. Transformative technologies will be able to carry considerable value, conveying meaning through digital metaphor to the physical environment and embody cultural understandings by aiding in creating places for all to cherish. It’s time for bold leadership and active engagement. Projects Digital transformation to create true client engagement and powerful project data is an immediate imperative.
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I ENVIRONMENT
Pandemic and Urban planning By: Laila Alawneh Associate Urban Designer Design + Planning and Economics
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The frequency and severity of pandemics cannot be predicted, but it is a known fact that pollution and poor air quality has a negative impact on our immune systems. Air pollution in some cities across the world is less than half of what it was a year ago according to new data that has been documenting the impact of the lockdown as a result of Covid -19. Paris has seen nitrogen dioxide drop by 54 percent, while Madrid, Milan and Rome have seen a drop of nearly 50 percent according to scientists from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, who have been monitoring air pollution over Europe using data from the Tropomi instrument aboard the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite.
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In Dubai, there are multiple air quality measuring stations, air pollution in Dubai in certain areas of the city has dropped below 50 percent as a result of the lockdown. One of the strategies to decrease air pollution and lift people’s wellbeing is to allow individuals to avoid peak hours, which in response lowers traffic density during these hours. In some places around the world, a light form of lockdown has been adopted due to: -Harsh climate -Cost of built environment in major cities -Imbalance between influx towards major cities and provision of housing or office space -Project teams living miles away from each other -Lack of local skills in a specific geographical area -Lack of space in leased facilities for businesses to grow under one roof. -Globalization of services and products -Social and medical sector needs to reach out to patients and individuals in need.
Copenahgen
In many cases some professions leveraged from virtual workspaces by giving a freedom to build teams that work well together without being
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Saudi women cycling
challenged by distance, creating diverse teams from all parts of the world that work in synergy and create state of the arts solutions that are lifesaving or simply entertaining. During the 90s if any party wanted to establish a profit or nonprofit organization, they needed to upload a website that is hosted by a data provider to reach out to interested individuals and clients. Bigger operations needed to run complex interactions on servers, such as banks, stock market, or businesses that provide services remotely to individuals around the world. Many can apply and grant a bank loan while sitting at home and conducting all the paperwork online, including legal meetings with lawyers and bank personnel. The remote work style encouraged people to start small businesses from home. In 2005, I wanted to start my own home office after my bachelor studies to kick off my career in Architecture. All it took, was to launch a website where clients could see my work and the services I was offering. Before that I registered the company on a government entity
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website, giving information of the type of company, number of employees, expected annual income, and the name of the company for government listing. This was all done from my apartment in Tampere, Finland. Such remote operations became a must to keep up with everyday pace and momentum of advancement, but most notably to the lack of space in dense cities and slow public transportation expansion to absorb the growing need of mass transportation which is still mainly dependent on fuel operated vehicles. Alternative living and working styles might have picked up earlier in Europe, but evidently has been adopted promptly in the Arab Gulf Region, which proves that the region has been ready for it a long time ago for a wide range of business and industries. Remote living doesn’t only include remote working or studying, on a social level, the average marriage age in 2020 is between 32 and 38 for young people living in cities, who usually
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Masdar Institute Neighbourhood, Design by AECOM
work long hours and in most cases have a long commute, a study in northern Europe showed that single person households are on continuous rise. As city life expenses keep on rising, many operations of companies around the world were outsourced to operate remotely such as accounting, product localization, hardware manufacturing, among many others, by dispersing operations in less crowded cities. During my work in Finland, our division was developing a research-based method for optimizing workspace aided by a government funded research (VTT). Businesses wanted to know details about the best work environment, but also best locations to locate their offices. A study showing the locations of where most of the employees are living and where the majority of children’s schools are, showed concentration in suburbs and certain neighbourhoods in the city. This is where new head offices chose to position their premises, in order to cut down on time and energy consumed on commuting, to allow employees to get back home to their children earlier.
Many businesses in Finland introduced the work from home policy up to two days a week. The aim behind this was to increase their employee’s productivity by increasing their quality time with their families which clearly affected their productivity. Concepts such as sustainability, data driven design, and smart city management that were treated as buzz words for a long time, are becoming crucial to apply to city planning. Optimally governments would start adopting these concepts and stand as a role model for the rest to follow. There are many good examples around, such as Helsinki in Finland, Copenhagen in Denmark, and Abu Dhabi in UAE. These cities introduced re-formulation and implementation of these concepts with the goal of improving the quality of life of current generation while securing a healthy future for the next one. The need to increase resilience of regional and urban forms and systems is urgent for societies to take control over human lives. Covid-19 proves that practices of how we live our lives and consume resources are outdated.
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I ENVIRONMENT
Masdar Central Park, Design by AECOM
That brings us to understand major factors that build resilience for implementing new urban strategies and policies: Diversity: Designing urban infrastructure that allows a wide range of lifestyles to co-exist and interact together, such will reshape the dynamics of groups and enhance economy, in addition a balance in using resources. One form city and one lifestyle fits all is not realistic, designing Infrastructure to consume resources based on peak demand is causing depletion in resources that couples up with negative environmental impact. Connectivity: Connection across urban centres provides synergy. People require polynuclear urban districts that interconnect, with regular momentum of communication among as many districts as possible, it cuts down on unnecessary vehicular trips (reducing carbon emissions) and allows easy access of services by vulnerable groups. Holistically, it allows individuals to enhance productivity and quality of services, due to smooth King Abdulaziz Historical Center, KSA flow of data and information provided in real time.
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Data recycling not only saves on resources but improves economies. Health and happiness: City planning that responds to human biological needs and provides autonomy on how we live and work. Homo sapiens biological formation is still the same as it was thousands of years ago, it doesn’t develop or adapt to fast ecological or industrial changes, we are still born to walk, sweat, be outdoors, breath clean air, and eat clean food, a lack of these basics would have a negative impact on our health and psychology. The simplest example is having the luxury to walk or cycle to work, to school, to social hubs, globally this has proven positive impact on health, it also reduces traffic trip generation on roads which lowers pollution and saves on unnecessary consumption of resources. Optimizing our current cities to respond to these factors, could generally increase our health and happiness, and at the same time allow us to respond in agility to future pandemics.
In Ground Power Units, excellent for open air areas with events and exhibitions where temporary power is required.
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In Ground Power Units Delivering Solutions Transforming Cities
WTB Middle East FZE Jebel Ali Free Zone, P.O Box: 261378, Dubai, UAE T +971 4480 9397 | f +971 4886 0701 Burdens Middle East Trading LLC Dar Al Salam Building, oďŹƒce 962, Nr Al Lulu St, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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A Future Without Limits By: 10 DESIGN
10 DESIGN Expo Pavilion
10 DESIGN developed a concept for an Expo pavilion to respond to the idea of communicating openness, hospitality and change. The pavilion is organised to allow visitors to connect with the people and the chronology of the country by discovering its rich history and culture, experiencing its hospitality and landscape, and contributing toward its future. “10 DESIGN’s vision was to create a memorable pavilion that celebrates the country today, and shares the hopes, achievements, and creativity of the future.
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By removing the pavilion walls, we are removing barriers to interaction, allowing spaces to flow and movement to be fluid and relaxed,” explains 10 Design Partner, Paul Rodgers. The formal proposition is inspired by nature and delivers a journey without walls where visitors are welcomed in to experience the country through an undulating landscape. The landscape reflects its topography and geology and contains a discovery hall with spaces for innovation, creation, and contemplation.
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Expo Pavilion Diagram Sketch
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I EXPO PAVILION
Expo Pavilion Diagram Cloud Base
The landscape contains activities for children, refreshment and relaxation areas, and is organised around a ‘Hakawati’ zone, reflecting the ancient tradition of storytelling, emphasising conversation and connection, and is shaded by a dream cloud symbolising the future. The landscape gently rises to meet the future cloud, leading visitors upwards and creating a fluid link between the present and the future. The future cloud would contain four areas themed around the senses: sight, scent, sound, and touch. Content from around the pavilion would be broadcast and displayed for visitors to experience.
Expo Pavilion Diagram Axo
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Expo Pavilion Diagram
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10 DESIGN Expo Pavilion
PROJECT DATA Project Name: EXPO Pavilion Type: Cultural & Civic Site Area: 7,070 sqm GFA: 4,922 sqm Scope by: 10 DESIGN Architecture, CGI Status: Design Photos: 10 DESIGN
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I MEMORIES
REMEMBERING
THE LITTLE
THINGS Geoff Sanderson
Senior Associate Landscape Architecture, Building and Places, AECOM Dubai
Life often throws us challenges – no one expected a global pandemic in 2020 - but sometimes it is in these moments that we find rewards. 18
Simple kids play
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More things to look at
As the world is in lockdown due to Covid-19, we can choose to find joy and opportunity in times of struggle, or we can fall into the pattern of complaining. Those with children at home may take note of their whims and fancies, the noise, the mess, the arguments and fights but the inventive amongst us can also find ways to foster independent play or take part in frivolous, creative moments. In my case, I cherish fond memories from my childhood and what it was to find small pleasures, tiny rewards and laughter. I can recall smells, sounds and tastes from my home, the garden, my grandparents’ farm, my grandma’s kitchen. I remember the animals, long walks, extraordinary school grounds, daring adventures and special outings.
How well do our memories serve us when there are places for us to design for others? Places can potentially offer much to distract but they can be - and usually are - boring adult places that are neat and tidy and clean. As adults we can be unforgiving and selfish, often depriving children of
Kids play
places where they can laugh, be creative, get muddy and even break things. I have spent my spare time this week sketching cartoon animals and emailing them to my grandchildren and inviting them to add colour and ideas. The results are strikingly creative. One four-year-old has been watching a red squirrel searching for food including vegetable seeds just placed by his father, who was hoping to one day eat the produce. Instead of sharing his father’s fury, the child decided to make a special safe spot for the squirrel, hiding nuts under some soil and putting the pot where the creature would continue his search. If we consider the enterprise and the props, the squirrel needed to live somewhere inviting and the four-year-old needed to have the resources to attend to him.
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I MEMORIES
A silly sheep such a comfortable place to sit and be molested by kids
Street things
Colourful birds
Have to stop and look
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How easy is it to design and build places that offer no resources for kids, no opportunity to make a squirrel feel welcome, nowhere to stimulate play, only a place for adult gratification? Pristine places have nothing to smell, nothing eccentric, nothing natural to climb, nothing to intrigue, nothing to remember with fondness. Given the chance we now have to observe, to remember, to laugh about and recall with good feelings, lets take careful note of just who it is we design for - children, squirrels and grandma’s. Then contemplate the stereotypical residential development and its swept, trimmed and raked sameness, the event free streets, the master planned immaculate, sanitized parks and wonder where we went wrong and why we ‘grew up’’.
Nice smells
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Water Conservation - UAE Highest Priority Water is a precious and finite resource that must be carefully used ensuring adequacy for generations to come. AustraBlend®Mutli Mineral Root Zone Conditioner innovates cucumber production at greatly reduced water application. Consistent with the National Food Security Strategy (NFSS), AustraBlend® Pty Ltd, along with Polyclean LLC Dubai, is working with major food production entities of key vegetable crops including capsicum, cucumber and tomato as well as alfalfa and grain crops grown at reduced water rates by as much as 50%, complying with water saving initiatives and crop intensifications in support of the NFSS. AustraBlend®MMMRZC has the capacity to increase the nutrient and water use efficiencies of local soils resulting in significant increases in crop yields, supporting the UAE Food Basket Initiative aimed at increasing domestic production and water conservation.
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AustraBlend® UAE Distributor Polyclean LLC, Dubai Tel: 971 050 635 9026
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I CENTRAL PARK
Uniting Communities
Baotou Vanke Central Park in Baotou, China transformed a former wasteland into a lush landscape of lake, rolling hills, meadows and gardens. The design was shaped by an extensive community process ZAP Associates LLC by and is now celebrated as an important destination and centre for Baotou City.
By: ZAP Associates LLC
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Situated on 22 acres between Baotou Wenhua Road and the Qingshan freeway - design and sustainability come together in this project to produce a new type of urban landscape that is active, innovative, resourceful and ecologically rich. The sustainability of the parks can be measured not only in terms of ecology, water, energy, and materials but also in terms of social vibrancy as places that promote the health and
wellbeing of the people who experience them. The most dramatic aspect of the site transformation has been the restoration of its ecosystem – new green spaces were created, and a new freshwater lake was added to bring Baotou’s water into the open. New forest types and amended soils respond to the design’s microclimates and showcase a diversity of species specifically suited to each area. Along with the existing watershed terrain and the alignment of the
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lake integrates to create diverse flow patterns which are characteristic of natural water systems, creating ecologically valuable, natural and diverse habitats for biodiversity. It not only conforms to the watershed terrain, but also creates a rare large open water surface in Baotou.
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In addition to the diverse activity space along the shore, the lake is built to reflect the image of the front elevation of the tourist centre, facing the main entrance of the park. Walking through the plaza, the winding shoreline, the undulating architectural reflections and the rich layers of canopy lines, together form a
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gorgeous and modern artistic painting. The Crescent Bay besides the bridge shows the charm of exquisite modern design with a simple flowing curve. The project offers a new model of sustainability for similarly scaled projects - one that carefully balances environmental and cultural considerations. Developed in close collaboration with the city, Vanke team and community, the park’s range of social spaces include areas for quiet contemplation, a large community gathering space, and inclusive play area for all ages and abilities. The project specifically promotes human health through a series of walking trails and loops. www.zapmla.com
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I PARKS
Born Identity It was important for Basis Architectural Bureau to preserve the identity of the historical place when working on a small square near the walls of the Kremlin in Kolomna - a small Russian town located three hours of Moscow. “As architects, we wanted to convey a home-like atmosphere and characteristics of a small county town. Therefore, we kept the human scale in the proportions and used warm, natural materials,� explains Ivan Okhapkin, Basis Architectural Bureau.
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That is why a clinker brick imitating the brick from the Kremlin wall is used in the paving. The shape of wooden lamps for the landscape lighting is taken from the elements of the Kremlin towers. Landscaping is a unique feature for the new space: the brick paving gradually transitions into the fresh lawn, and the
preserved mature trees provide comfortable shade. In the evening, the space is transformed by the built-in spot lighting. The square with a scattering of lights against the background of the Kremlin wall becomes a new must-see attraction in the tourist route of Kolomna.
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Connecting
Cairo
Redesigning Cairo City through mixed used developments By: Mohamed Omar Landscape Architect
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The new mixed use development is considered to be a project that will bring a new and innovative urban experience to the city of Cairo. The goal is to create a scheme that features administrative offices, shopping and dining areas, concessions and cultural/educational facilities to be used day and night.
The concept depends on four main aspects which are to learn, shop, entertain and dine. It is a premiere location for retail, offices, dining, entertainment, and residences and calls for a central square that enhances the district’s emerging position within a greater social, political, environmental and economic context. The design
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offers some iconic features, landmarks, large outdoor event screens and comfortable spaces for everyday life. This new surface enables pedestrian movement, a space for socializing and pretty views while also greatly increasing the greenery through some vertical elements as well as lining the perimeter of the project with tree canopying the side walk. Sustainability is a key factor in the design proposal – the project will have a green roof and solar panel applications.
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I SUSTAINABILITY
An Urban Living Room
MVRDV for Shimao Group has been selected as the winner in a competition to design the 101,300-square-metre, mixed-use Shimao ShenKong International Centre.
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Located in Universiade New Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, MVRDV’s Shenzhen Terraces was selected from 27 entries by international design firms. Designed with sustainability as a focus, the completed project will form the core of the thriving university neighbourhood, acting as a new three-dimensional urban living room with more than 20 programs, including a small gallery, library, and outdoor theatre. MVRDV’s Shenzhen Terraces aims to bring vitality and innovation to the area through a seamless integration of landscape, leisure, commerce, and culture. Located in the heart of the Longgang district at the meeting point of high-rise housing, commercial complexes, and sports and educational facilities, the site is ideally located to serve as a defining public space within the region. The central concept of Shenzhen Terraces is to merge the existing landscape with the new development by using stacked plateaus for its various buildings. The predominantly horizontal lines of the terraces contrast with the vertical lines of the surrounding highrises to bring about a sense of tranquility through their slow curving shapes. Combining a pedestrian-friendly landscape with a mixture of functions and public transport, Shenzhen Terraces is poised to become a sustainable hub for the surrounding area. The abundant planting and water features reduce the local temperature and provide habitat for urban wildlife, while gardens and rainwater collection generate food and water resources. The concrete used in the buildings themselves will be made using recycled concrete as the aggregate, and photovoltaic panels will adorn extensive portions of the rooftops. The terraces are adapted to serve a diversity of functions: large overhangs shield the visitors from the hot sun, while offering places to sit and enjoy the view. These shaded terraces create places for plants and water basins that cool the verandas and create a climate buffer to the interiors. The edges of the terraces dip at strategic points to form connections
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between the various floors and to double as small outdoor auditoriums. In other places, the facades are pushed inwards to emphasize entrances and create recognizable places within the scheme to help visitors orient themselves. The largest building – containing among other things a bus terminal, conference centre, and entrepreneurship centre on the east of the site – is carved out in its centre to form an open-air atrium. Finally, bridging elements are introduced between the various buildings, turning the second floor into a continuous route and connecting it with the surrounding developments. These connections knit Shenzhen’s newest urban living room into its context, making it one with the city and offering access for all.
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“Shenzhen has developed so quickly since its origins in the 1970s”, says MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas. “In cities like this, it is essential to carefully consider how public spaces and natural landscape can be integrated into the densifying cityscape. The urban living room of the Shimao ShenKong International Centre will be a wonderful example of this, and could become a model for the creation of key public spaces in New Town developments throughout Shenzhen. It aims to make an area that you want be outside, hang out and meet, even when it is hot – a literally cool space for the university district, where all communication space can be outside. It will truly be a public building.” The design’s landscaping, developed in collaboration with Open fabric, echoes the pebble-like forms of the terraces above to create patches of greenery and public programming between pedestrian routes. These patches host planting that imitates the sub-tropical natural forests of the region, mixed alongside features such as grassy hills, palm tree-filled plazas, public art, reflective pools, and activity zones for pursuits
such as climbing or table tennis. The landscaping also extends to the roofs of the buildings, with a green lawns that are accessible to the users occupying the areas that are not covered with photovoltaic panels. Facts Project Name: Shenzhen Terraces Location: Shenzhen, China Year: 2019 Client: Shenzhen Shimao Xin Li Cheng Industry Co.,Ltd. Size and Programme: 95,000 m2 mixeduse Credits Architect: MVRDV Founding Partner in charge: Winy Maas Director: Gideon Maasland Associate Design Director: Gijs Rikken Design Team: Sanne van Manen, Irgen Salianji, Shengjie Zhan, Luca Beltrame, Katarzyna Maria Ephraim, Cas Esbach, Hengwei Ji, DongMin Lee, Yannick Macken, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Siyi Pan, Sen Yang, Jiani You, Daan Zandbergen Images: © Atchain Copyright: MVRDV 2018 – (Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries) Partners Landscape architect: Openfabric Cost Calculation: Shanghai Xinyuan Construction Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd
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I NEW PROJECT
Designing for Future Leaders A smart new design for the University of Richmond By: Walter Bone
Senior Landscape Architect
HG Design Studio collaborated with SMBW Architects on the site design for the new admissions Center at the University of Richmond in Virginia, US. The complex geometries of the site are tightly connected to the geometries of the building, therefore the site needed to be developed with an integrated approach. In addition, the site’s topography was a challenge and required extensive study to determine the siting and orientation of the building. A curving pathway and low wall lead visitors to the front door from UR Drive and the parking lot across the street. The pathway passes through an alley of Serviceberry trees and leads to the entry plaza. The plaza will act as a meeting point for tour groups of prospective students who come to visit the campus; while other group activities will be held in the cloister courtyard. The bluestone-paved courtyard features a central panel of Bermuda Grass with arching stone bands, creating a pattern that plays off some of the detailing of the building. A fountain and aerial hedge of Fastigiate Hornbeam enclose the courtyard on the far side. They add an amenity for this space, which will be used for donor functions as well as prospective student gatherings.
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Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA Client: University of Richmond Architect: SMBW Landscape Architect: HG Design Lead Landscape Architect: David Gerstenmaier, ASLA RLA
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