landscaping trends insight
VERDANT VISIONS
How important is landscaping and what are the latest design trends in the UAE? Oliver Ephgrave speaks to a landscape architect and a master planner to find out more
The arid climate in the Arabian Peninsula poses a dilemma for developers, master planners and landscape architects. With sustainability now on the agenda, should the industry perpetuate the luxuriant landscaping model which relies on extensive irrigation, or look for an approach that is more in keeping with the desert environment? John Wigham, director for the Dubai office of landscape architects Cracknell, explains that the landscaping model in the
UAE has evolved in recent years. He says: “Not long ago, landscaping in the UAE was all about lushness – the creation of luxuriant, tropical, green landscapes as a relief from the scorching arid emptiness. The next step was to make things more artistic – not just extravagant – with quality paving and finishes. Now the requirements have moved towards sustainability. We are now asked to achieve very high standards in ratings such as LEED or Estidama. “A problem we face is that the most sustainable plants are pretty harsh looking – some of them look like scorched barbed wire. A balance is needed to provide relief from the harsh, dry environment. What we as landscape architects are doing is moderating the environment – we’re creating shade, shelter and spaces that have a human scale and quality. “Dubai doesn’t have a desert culture – it has more of the feeling of an oasis or the desert fringes. So we look at dif-
ferent models, not just the desert model. You can still be very true to the region’s vegetation and the Arab culture.” The urban oasis model is used in the upcoming US$1 billion Al Zeina project in Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi, which
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is master planned by Sydney-based Esquisse Design Studio. Director Allan Stevens says: “Al Zeina has been designed as an oasis. It’s a place where the desert will bloom using ancient falaj irrigation systems in combination with the latest in ‘xeriscaping’ – landscaping for dry climates. It’s a low density, low impact master plan where homes shelter between oasis palms and native planting.” He adds that the designs will be steeped in Islamic culture. “It will
combine traditional Islamic design with innovative design interventions, such as the cooling of spaces. These will create a comfortable yet elegant landscape that evokes the gardens of Andalusia and Persia. “The gardens are formally arranged according to traditional Arabic
patterns, using native UAE species of trees, plants and flowers, to create a complex series of exploratory places moving from large public gathering spaces to smaller and more intimate contemplation spaces. There will be intricately detailed paths filled with traditional plant varieties.” Naomi Fry, director, Esquisse Design Studio, adds: “The public realm is culturally important and must be visually rich and varied. Public spaces and garden areas will contain accepted landscaping strategies such as groves of trees, water channels, pools and mosaics. The garden should appear to have grown organically over a period of time – as such, a variety of colours and finishes are to be utilised.
“Designers and planners must always look at the natural context – such
as location, climate and materials – and also the human context – the history of a place, the socio-economics, and the values of a community. We’re trying to capture the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi. Stevens says that traditional passive cooling strategies are to be
used. “Cooling methods include tree-covered courtyards and shading devices such as pergolas, gazebos, colonnades and pierced decorative screens. The structures will ameliorate adverse climatic conditions and add to the relaxed and sheltered atmosphere.” He adds that water is used as a soothing device. “The gardens and courtyards
will contain modern resort pools with the inclusion of reflective sheets of water, lily ponds, gentle water jets and other types of water feature.”
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ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Cracknell’s Wigham notes an increasing awareness of water conservation in the Middle East. “We can create water features that use ground water – we have done this in Dubai’s Zabeel Park. It’s water that is already there – if you dig a deep hole in the desert then it will fill with water.” He adds that it is possible to re-use surplus irrigation
water. “We use a water collection system in projects in Abu Dhabi such as the Sheikh Zayed Stadium and the hotels on Yas Island. The surplus water that is used to irrigate the grass flows back into a tank and can be used again – not a drop is wasted. We also try to use solar collectors to generate the electricity to operate irrigation pumps. “We seek plants that give the best effect with minimum
water and use indigenous vegetation wherever possible. There aren’t actually that many and they’re quite difficult to establish. When we design a scheme we tend to devise a planting palette – a range of plant materials that we can use – and the starting point is the local ecology. We may look for similar plants that will also grow well in the same environment but are perhaps more attractive.” He continues: “A good example of this approach is our landscaping strategy for Al Sahra Desert Resort outside Dubai – it’s based around natural vegetation. Also in our landscape design for the new Abu Dhabi airport terminal we address the client’s needs by creating an impressive place for people that are arriving into the country, but at the same time we have created a model of sustainability because it’s right next to Masdar.
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/apr-may 2010
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