59 4.3 Focus on uses and users: The repor t of the site visit Dubai downtown being home to the tallest tower in the world is assumed to be easily accessed from every nook and corner of Dubai, but a first-time visitor can’t reach the area without falling victim to the confusing maze of highways and bridges around the destination. It is preferable to traverse through the downtown ring road by private vehicles than using slow mobility options. The easiest way is to get off at the Dubai mall metro station and walk for about a kilometre using the skywalk (see image 13). The entrance to the downtown is flanked by tall, glass skyscrapers on either side of the street gradually decreasing to low-rise vernacularly imitated buildings. Right in the middle of the street is the track for non-functional Dubai trolley and their stations (see image below and the trolley stations in image 20, 21 and 22). The roads are designed with huge pedestrian boulevards of typical Arabic palm trees on either side (see image 17). The pedestrian pathways are furnished with abundant urban street furniture and kiosks that could change their theme seasonally. The pathway is usually crowded with residents, employees of the restaurants and boutiques and tourists. Walking along the right side of the street will lead the visitors to a large public square that opens to the view of Burj Khalifa with the extravagant fountain at its foot. This is a completely pedestrianized zone where one could see people skating, riding their bicycles and guardians strolling with baby prams.
Site visit finds Non functional Dubai trolley (Source: Author, Sneha S Kumar)
Joint work
