Cut Costs and Time Without Cutting Hardscape
Go wire-free with the Wireless Valve Link! Using advanced radio technology, this innovative system makes it easy to connect valves without running wire or cutting into hardscape. Designed for Hunter ICC2 and HCC Controllers, it saves time and money with simplified installation, quick station expansion, and reduced maintenance. When complex landscapes pose a challenge, go wireless!
To learn more, visit hunter.info/ WVLem
LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION | Built on Innovation® Learn more. Visit hunterirrigation.com
It’s officially summer, and the heat is unmistakable across the region. But with the rising temperature comes a renewed focus on the spaces that cool, comfort, and connect us.
In this issue, we feature five projects and profiles that reframe the role of landscape in contemporary life. From a lakeside retreat in Jumeirah that merges daily living with elemental luxury, to the sculptural precision of a Muscat garden rooted in travertine and shadow, landscape emerges not as ornament, but as architecture in its own right.
Our cover story this month, Cooling the City, takes a deeper look at how urban heat is reshaping public space design, exploring how water features are becoming vital tools in combating the Urban Heat Island effect. This is a critical topic for cities facing rising temperatures, and one that landscape architects are addressing head-on.
We speak with Wijdan Almamari, a bold new voice in environmental justice, and with Alma Gardens founder Sara Aji, who shows how storage, sunlight, and smart layouts are transforming mid-market design in Dubai. Finally, we spotlight the next generation of designers through the 2025 Student Award, an initiative redefining the future of landscape in the Middle East and beyond.
Enjoy the issue
Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine
Copy Editor: John Hampton Phillip Higgins
Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan
Art Director: Ramon Andaya
Contributors: Arham Kidwai, Beatrice Franceschi, Luke Maiden, Raquel Meireles, Sejal Nagjee, Sara Aji, Wijdan Almamari, Ying Li, Jason Prior, Amer Mneimneh, and Patrick Gulliver
Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC
Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com
For free subscription and to view the magazine please visit our website: www.landscape-me.com
The First Specialised Landscape magazine in the Middle East
Our magazine is available in app store and google play, search under Landscape Middle East.
Majid Al Futtaim has announced two key milestones in the delivery of Ghaf Woods, its forest living community in Dubai: the launch of a dedicated tree nursery and the appointment of Innovo Build as main contractor for the first two phases of development. The new nursery will play a central role in shaping Ghaf Woods’ biophilic design, with over 30,000 trees and 350,000 shrubs set to be cultivated. Located off Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road near Global Village, the nursery currently houses 10,000 trees, increasing to 20,000 trees and 105,000 shrubs by May 2026. All plant material will be relocated across the development to establish shaded corridors and a functioning forest ecosystem.
Barari Natural Resources, part of Mawarid Holding Investment, has been awarded the AED 49 million nursery contract and will manage propagation, care, and growth of native and climate-resilient species including Acacia, Citrus, Ficus, Melia, Phoenix, Tecomella, Ziziphus, and the UAE’s national tree, the Ghaf. Species have been sourced from Egypt, India, Thailand, and the UAE.
Majid Al Futtaim also confirmed the appointment of Innovo Build to deliver 13 residential buildings across three clusters, Celia, Serra,
NURSERY TO GROW OVER 30,000 TREES AND 350,000 SHRUBS TO SUPPORT
PROJECT’S FOREST ECOSYSTEM
Majid Al Futtaim advances ‘Forest Living’ at Ghaf Woods with tree nursery launch and contractor appointment
and Lacina, as part of Phase 1 and 2.
The AED 1.7 billion contract covers construction and completion, with a focus on integrating built form with the surrounding natural environment.
Ahmed El Shamy, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “Ghaf Woods reflects our commitment to sustainable living and longterm environmental value. The tree nursery is a major step in creating an immersive natural environment, while our partnership with Innovo Build ensures that quality and sustainability are embedded at every stage of delivery.”
Kashif Shamsi, Group CEO of Mawarid Holding Investment, added:“This nursery forms the ecological foundation of the development. Our focus is on biodiversity, resilience, and long-term impact, in one of the region’s most ambitious community landscapes.”
Spanning 738,000 sqm, Ghaf Woods will offer over 7,000 premium residential units with forest-inspired living at its core. Features include 8km of walking trails, a 3.5km cycling loop, wellness amenities, family parks, and Distrikt, a curated mixed-use hub for retail and dining.
As climate urgency reshapes the built environment, landscape architecture is undergoing a generational shift. At the heart of this change is the Landscape Middle East Student Award, a regional platform now gaining global traction for celebrating emerging talent in sustainable design.
Launched in 2024 as part of the Landscape Middle East Awards & Conference, the initiative attracted over 45 student entries across the region, many accompanied by compelling video presentations that revealed a nuanced understanding of ecology, placemaking, and community impact.
A Rising Force in Global Student Recognition
Around the world, student awards have become critical springboards for the profession, encouraging early-career designers to tackle pressing environmental and social challenges. From the UK and Australia to Hong Kong and the US, such programmes have elevated innovation, critical thinking, and climate-responsive design. The Landscape Middle East Student Award now stands alongside these global benchmarks, placing regional voices within an international conversation on sustainability and cultural identity. These platforms are more than accolades, they are catalysts. Participation often unlocks mentorship, visibility, and career-defining opportunities. For Middle Eastern students, this award signals an
NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION:
The MiddleLandscape East Student Award
important moment: a chance to lead on the world stage while shaping the urban future of their own cities.
Presented in partnership with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), the Saudi Society of Landscape Architecture, the Oman Society of Landscape Architects, and the World Green Infrastructure Network, the award fosters deeper ties between academia and professional practice. In 2025, this global dialogue expands through a studentfocused webinar offering submission tips, case studies, and expert insight. A QR code will link readers directly to registration.
Introducing the 2025 “Next Generation” Award
Rebranded under the theme Next Generation, the 2025 award sharpens its focus with five guiding questions, prompting students to articulate their design intent, sustainability strategies, and societal impact. Submissions remain flexible—whether narrated videos, PDF portfolios, or image galleries.For the first time, AI-assisted tools will support the judging process. The technology will streamline entries, summarise responses, and ensure consistency, leaving the jury free to focus on creativity and vision. Importantly, decisions will remain fully in human hands. Judging criteria will centre on innovation, integrity, and relevance, with every shortlist and final selection made by a panel of experienced professionals.
An International Jury with a CrossCultural Lens
Joining the 2025 jury is Dr Ying Li, Chargée d’Affaires for Student Awards Networking at IFLA. With a background spanning
urban design, landscape urbanism, and international business, Dr Li brings two decades of cross-disciplinary expertise. Her academic tenure includes roles at the University of Greenwich, Birmingham City University, and the University of Gloucestershire, and she now serves as Professor of Architecture at Tianjin University.
Dr Li’s experience bridges Eastern and Western landscape traditions, offering a global perspective to the panel. A musician as well as an educator, she frequently explores the intersections of culture, music, and placemaking, enriching her understanding of landscape as a sensory and cultural medium.
A Platform with Purpose
The Landscape Middle East Student Award is more than a competition, it’s a call to action. It offers students the chance to engage with global standards, gain mentorship, and contribute to the future of the profession.
With new technologies, global partnerships, and a growing network of academic collaborators, the 2025 edition promises to elevate young voices shaping the sustainable cities of tomorrow.
If you’re a student with a bold design vision, the Next Generation Award invites your ideas. Scan the QR code to register for the webinar and be part of a movement shaping the future of landscape architecture.
Shaping the Future of Urban Life
Prior + Partners Deepen Their Middle East Commitment and Launch
Digital Innovation
An interview with Jason Prior, Amer Mneimneh, and Patrick Gulliver of Prior
With a global portfolio that spans transformative urban masterplans, economic strategies, and placemaking visions from London’s Euston Station and Google’s Moffett Park to the cultural landscapes of AlUla and Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, Prior + Partners has rapidly established itself as one of the most influential planning and design consultancies of the decade.
+ Partners
Now, with the establishment of a new office in Dubai, the firm is reaffirming its long-term commitment to the Middle East. This expansion marks a significant milestone in their evolution, strengthening client relationships and enhancing collaboration across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.
“We’ve officially launched our Dubai office and it’s a clear signal of our commitment to the region,” says Jason Prior,
CEO and Founding Director. “It allows us to work more closely with clients and foster deeper collaboration between our UK base and local partners.”
Alongside this regional expansion, Prior + Partners is embracing the digital future of urban development. At the heart of this evolution is Place Insights an AI-assisted, interactive platform that delivers dynamic, data-driven analysis of place. Designed to simplify complexity, it supports clients and communities in making faster, smarter, and more inclusive decisions.
“We can paint portraits now of places using data in a way that was impossible even a year ago,” Prior notes. “These tools democratize information and allow for better planning decisions from day one.”
For Prior + Partners, technology and local insight go hand in hand. Whether working on the restoration of ancient Wadis in AlUla or planning the infrastructure for new cities across the Gulf, their approach is deeply rooted in collaboration and cultural awareness.
“Our strength lies in bringing the right people together urban designers, economists, digital analysts, and local voices all working in sync,” adds Patrick Gulliver, Director of Economics. “It’s how we ensure every plan is robust, relevant, and ready to evolve.”
In this exclusive feature, we explore the philosophy and ambitions behind Prior + Partners’ regional strategy. From their signature multidisciplinary approach to their growing digital capabilities and their commitment to landscape-led thinking, this is a company that doesn’t just design places they help shape the social and economic future of cities.
In Their Own Words: An interview with Jason Prior, Amer Mneimneh, and Patrick Gulliver of Prior + Partners
Let’s start from the beginning - what inspired the formation of Prior + Partners, and what gap did you aim to fill in the planning and master planning landscape?
Jason Prior - Prior + Partners was founded in 2017 to bridge the space between architecture, planning, placemaking, and
infrastructure. Our goal was to create a practice that integrates these domains with a clear emphasis on economic strategy and the infrastructure of place. We saw an opportunity to build custom world-class teams for each project by forming collaborative forums that bring together the right expertise at the right time.
You describe your purpose as “unlocking the full potential of every project”, how does this translate into your dayto-day work and long-term planning?
Amer Mneimneh - Our process is rooted in a deep understanding of context cultural, economic, and environmental. We embed ourselves in the local narrative and work to align the client’s vision with what is economically viable and sustainable. It’s not just about delivering a plan, but about shaping places that resonate with their communities and can adapt over time.
Can you speak about your cultural curiosity as a value?
How does that mindset shape your approach when working in the MENA region versus the UK or US?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - Cultural curiosity is at the heart of our practice. With over 100 team members representing 27 nationalities, we bring a truly global mindset. We always work in local partnership, regardless of geography whether it’s the Middle East, Bhutan, or the US. The MENA region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, already reflects immense cultural diversity. We embrace this by listening carefully to our clients and communities, building relationships that allow us to cocreate with authenticity and respect.
How do you ensure design excellence and commercial pragmatism go hand in hand across diverse geographies?
Jason Prior - Design excellence must always be grounded in economic reality. We begin every project by understanding the financial, social, and environmental drivers. Pragmatism is not a constraint it’s a condition for success. If a vision can be funded, built, and maintained, then we know we’ve found the right balance.
Your services span strategic planning, masterplanning, place economics, landscape design, and spatial analytics how - do these interconnect to create cohesive outcomes for your clients?
Jason Prior, Patrick Gulliver, and Amer Mneimneh - Our strength lies in how we blend these services. Place economics plays a pivotal role, ensuring every place is economically viable and future-ready. Spatial analytics has also revolutionized how we work our digital tools allow us to present data visually and intuitively, making complex strategies easier for clients and communities to engage with. It’s about integration, not silos
The firm has a strong emphasis on community and stakeholder engagement. What does successful engagement look like to you, and how do you embed it into large-scale plans?
Jason Prior - You can’t design in isolation. Community engagement is about truly listening going beyond consultation to collaboration. Success is when people see their voices reflected in the plan. It’s about understanding daily life, not just grand ideas. And when feedback leads to real change, you know the process has worked.
How does Prior + Partners differentiate itself in today’s competitive planning and design sector, particularly with major players expanding into digital and AI-assisted tools?
Jason Prior and Patrick Gulliver - Our digital focus goes beyond visual modelling we’re harnessing AI to understand demographics, economics, and environmental systems in real-time. This allows us to generate actionable insights and create dashboards that democratize data. Internally, we
bring all disciplines together under one roof urban designers, planners, economists, and digital experts collaborate closely, providing a depth and speed of response that’s hard to match.
Can you share a bit about your internal studio culture and how it supports innovation and inclusion within your teams globally?
Patrick Gulliver - Our studio culture thrives on diversity of experience, background, and perspective. That diversity drives innovation. We foster a collaborative, inclusive environment across all our offices. It’s how we maintain creativity and deliver added value for our clients.
Let’s talk about a flagship project like the Olympic Park Legacy Masterplan or Moffett Park. What were the transformative lessons learned from these city-scale initiatives?
Jason Prior - Projects like the London Olympics taught us to plan for change. Success lies in thinking long-term, designing for flexibility, and focusing on quality of life. The Olympic Park today is a hub of culture, innovation, and ecology it evolved faster than expected, because the masterplan allowed for adaptation. That’s the core lesson: build plans that can breathe and grow.
You’ve worked extensively in AlUla, Musaffah, and Saadiyat—what do these projects reveal about the evolving identity of cities in the Middle East?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - These projects represent national development, not just urban design. They show how cities in the Middle East are embracing integrated, sustainable, and inclusive strategies. There’s a clear ambition here to innovate, to attract talent, and to create places that reflect cultural heritage while looking forward. The scale of investment and speed of delivery are unmatched globally.
How do you measure the success of a masterplan once it’s been delivered or handed over?
Patrick Gulliver - Success is both qualitative and quantitative. We look at population growth, economic performance, and quality of life indicators. But equally, it’s about how places feel how they evolve, how people use them, and whether they foster the kind of community we envisioned. These are measured at the outset and tracked long after delivery.
In projects like Mina Zayed and the Cultural Oasis in AlUla, you’re balancing heritage, tourism, and modern growth. How do you approach that complexity?
Jason Prior - It takes sensitivity, deep listening, and collaboration. Balancing heritage with modern development isn’t about compromise it’s about creating something new that respects what came before. We design in layers, allowing for unexpected discoveries as projects evolve. Engaging local talent is vital they carry the soul of the place and help us make better decisions.
Place economics is a unique offering can you explain what that means in practice, and how it shaped projects like the Musaffah Revitalisation Plan?
Patrick Gulliver - Place economics is about understanding how a city earns its living. It’s a foundational layer of our work shaping visions that are economically credible and investment-ready. In Musaffah, this approach allowed us to define a regeneration strategy grounded in real employment trends and future industries. It’s this economic narrative that attracts investment and makes the plan sustainable.
What are some of the most exciting live projects you’re currently working on in the MENA region, and what stage are they in?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - Our portfolio spans national parks, city extensions, and entirely new cities. In AlUla, we’re restoring Wadis and ancient settlements while planning future
developments. We work at every scale from regional policy to neighbourhood design and across verticals, including tourism, regeneration, and industrial repurposing. The diversity of work is a reflection of the region’s ambition.
What’s the vision for Prior + Partners’ physical presence in the region particularly with plans to establish a UAE office?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - We’ve officially launched our Dubai office, led by Amer, and it’s a clear signal of our commitment to the region. It allows us to work more closely with clients and foster deeper collaboration between our UK base and local partners. Growth in Saudi Arabia is also on the horizon this is only the beginning of our regional chapter.
How do you see your firm’s capabilities evolving in the next 5–10 years? Are there new service areas, digital tools, or partnerships on the horizon?
Patrick Gulliver - We’re doubling down on digital services developing new tools, expanding geographically, and enriching our existing disciplines. The future is multidisciplinary, data-informed, and globally networked. Our ambition is to deliver this integrated model to more clients, in more places, with greater impact.
If you had to describe Prior + Partners’ ambition in one sentence to a new client in the Gulf, what would it be?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - We are trusted advisors committed for the long haul, open-minded, culturally attuned,
and relentless in pursuing the best outcomes for our clients. We build relationships on trust and deliver with integrity, from day one through to completion.
How does Prior + Partners approach the integration of nature into urban environments - not just in terms of aesthetics or ecology, but as a driver for community connection and well-being?
Jason Prior and Amer Mneimneh - Nature is foundational to our work. As a trained landscape architect, I’ve always seen landscape as more than backdrop it’s climate adaptation,
city cooling, and the key to healthy, happy communities. Embedding indigenous environments into our designs helps people connect with place in meaningful ways. It’s a design philosophy and a social imperative.
What role do you believe international firms like Prior + Partners should play in nurturing local design talent and advancing landscape-led thinking in the Middle East?
Jason Prior - Events like the Landscape Middle East Awards are vital platforms for sharing and learning. They elevate
the profession and celebrate progress. International firms must mentor, not dominate supporting local voices and collaborating openly. That’s how we all grow, raise the bar, and shape a better future for our cities.
Looking Ahead
As the Middle East continues to redefine its urban and environmental identity, firms like Prior + Partners play an essential role in shaping places that are inclusive, sustainable, and connected to both heritage and future opportunity. This year’s Landscape Middle East Awards and Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi, provides a powerful platform to celebrate this evolving narrative. The 2025 theme ’Nature and Community’ is one that resonates deeply with the firm’s ethos.
‘There’s no better reflection of the place you’re in than the landscapes and environments that you create,’ says Prior. ‘We believe that embedding nature into urban design is fundamental not just for climate and ecology, but for human connection and wellbeing.’
The team at Prior + Partners expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming event, recognising it as an opportunity to share best practice, engage with peers, and inspire new approaches to landscape-led planning.
As cities across the region continue to grow, reshape, and reimagine themselves, one thing is clear: the future belongs to those who plan with purpose, partner with care, and design with community at heart.
Designing for Justice and Belonging
Wijdan Almamari’s Vision for the Middle East
By: Wijdan Almamari Landscape Architect
Across the Middle East, as cities grow and modernise at an unprecedented pace, a new generation of landscape architects is stepping forward to recalibrate the balance between nature, equity, and identity. One such voice is that of Wijdan Almamari, an early-career landscape architecture apprentice at Hoehler + alSalmy, whose work and ethos signal a hopeful shift in how we approach public space in the region.
Wijdan’s entry into the field of landscape architecture was sparked by a deep-rooted passion for environmental science. But what began as an interest in ecological systems soon transformed into a mission to use design as a tool for social change. “My vision has evolved to see design not just as form-making,” she explains, “but as a method of advocacy, stewardship, and empowerment.”
Her work is driven by a powerful mission: to promote positive change through design by fostering comprehensive and sustainable environments that unite people of diverse backgrounds. In her view, landscape architecture should be more than aesthetic, it should be a foundation for justice. “Access to clean air, shade, water, and safe mobility routes is not a luxury, it’s a human right,” she asserts.
This philosophy is particularly timely as it aligns with the theme of the Landscape Middle East Awards 2025: Nature and Community. For Wijdan, this isn’t a conceptual pairing, but a lived experience. “Nature and Community” represents the symbiotic relationship between land and people, an interdependence that calls for empathy in every design decision. Whether she’s envisioning an urban plaza or helping shape a desert trail system, her goal is to create spaces where ecological diversity and communal life flourish side by side.
Her recent work on the Augustus Nature Park project in LA reflects this ethos in action. In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, Wijdan helped reimagine a
degraded site as a dynamic public landscape, one that blends restoration ecology with cultural storytelling. The vision included native planting schemes, inclusive gathering spaces, and interpretive zones designed to celebrate both natural history and community heritage. “Sustainability wasn’t just about using local plants,” she says. “It was about creating a place where everyone could find meaning.”
Wijdan’s approach to environmental justice is both practical and visionary. She believes that in the Middle East, design must reconcile tradition with innovation, honoring local knowledge while addressing urgent ecological and social needs. Public spaces, she argues, should become democratic grounds for cultural and environmental resilience, cool, green sanctuaries in a warming world, accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Part of her strength lies in her ability to draw from diverse sources of inspiration. She admires global landscape figures like Sara Zewde and Kongjian Yu, whose practices are grounded in narrative, justice, and
ecological insight. Closer to home, she finds inspiration in traditional Omani crafts, each curve and thread an archive of adaptation, beauty, and community resilience. “There’s so much to learn from the ways our ancestors shaped the land,” she says. “Those stories belong in our cities too.”
But Wijdan is also a voice for her generation, one she describes as “urgent, collaborative, and unapologetically values-driven.” She believes that younger practitioners bring a fresh, critical lens to the field, challenging outdated norms and placing justice at the core of the design process. “My message to the industry is this: sustainability isn’t enough. Design must also be inclusive, just, and rooted in listening. It’s time to move from ego to ecosystem.”
Looking ahead, Wijdan envisions a career where design and community engagement go hand in hand.
She hopes to lead cross-disciplinary teams on projects that regenerate landscapes and uplift underrepresented voices. She also aspires to share her knowledge through mentorship and community workshops, including her concept for Night Craft, a series of creative classes that blend landscape, art, and local tradition.
Her final message to the region’s communities is a poetic one: “Nature is not separate from us it is our collective memory and our future. Invest in shared spaces that welcome the many, not just the few. Because when landscapes are inclusive, resilient, and rooted in place, they become more than green they become sacred grounds of belonging, healing, and connection.”
In Wijdan Almamari, the future of landscape architecture is not just promising, it is principled, passionate, and deeply human.
Protecting the night sky
BEGA pole-top luminaires with BugSaver® technology protect nocturnal fauna by reducing the color temperature from 3000 Kelvin to an amber color around 1800 Kelvin, which reduces the light attractive effect. The color temperature and output can be controlled dynamically. bega.com/bugsaver
READING THE LAND:
How Aperture Studio Grounds Urban Growth in Ecological Intelligence
For Luke Maiden, Founder of Aperture Design Studio, design is not just about shaping space, it’s about shaping experience. As the UAE continues to grow and evolve, Luke and Aperture Design Studio remain committed to ensuring that development never loses sight of the human scale or the natural rhythms that sustain it.
From the coastal boardwalks of Marsana to the heritage parks of Al Ain, Luke Maiden’s design journey in the UAE tells a story of deep engagement with place, people, and purpose. Luke, the Founder and Director of Aperture Design Studio, and his team have shaped some of the region’s most communityfocused public spaces while navigating the balance between environmental sensitivity and urban ambition. This year, the studio marks its 10th anniversary, a milestone that reflects a decade of thoughtful practice and enduring impact.
“I never set out to be a business owner,” he admits. “It was creative freedom that drove me. I wanted to take ideas, ours and our clients’, and bring them into sharp focus.” This sentiment, embedded in the name Aperture, defines the philosophy behind the studio: to capture, refine, and transform concepts into enduring, people-centered design.
With nearly two decades in the UAE, Luke has not only seen the region change, he’s also been part of shaping that change. At the heart of his practice is a belief that public spaces must be both environmentally attuned and actively used. “A park on its own isn’t necessarily sustainable,” he reflects. “It’s only when it adds value to the community, when it’s used and loved, that it truly becomes a sustainable place.”
In this interview, Luke shares his journey, design philosophy, and vision for the UAE’s evolving urban landscape and reflects on why, even though he misses the surf and beach lifestyle of Australia’s coast, Abu Dhabi has become home.
The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East
I INTERVIEW
What inspired you to start Aperture Design Studio?
Creative freedom. After years working for others, I found my ability to innovate was limited by constraints. I didn’t start the studio to be the boss it was about having the freedom to focus ideas into real, usable design. The name Aperture reflects that like a camera lens, we bring vision into clarity.
How has your time in the UAE influenced your design approach?
Designing for climate is critical here. You have to think about how people use spaces differently in winter versus summer. That seasonal lens informs everything we do, from layout to shade strategy.
What makes Abu Dhabi the right base for your practice?
It’s home. I’ve been here since 2006, got married here, my kids were born here. There’s also a more structured, thoughtful approach to development compared to other cities. That planning culture allows for better design integration.
How does your studio respond to the theme Nature and Community?
We focus on places that people can inhabit and enjoy. Sustainability isn’t just about materials, it’s about whether a space is used. We also work with the environment, not against it: borrowing shade, studying wind and sun, making passive design choices that improve comfort and use.
Can you give an example of a project that reflects this?
Marsana on Al Hudayriat Island is a great example. It’s a vibrant public space that helped catalyze further development in the area. We’re also working in Al Ain on sensitive projects that tie into historic sites and oases, treading carefully to balance culture with innovation.
What are the biggest design challenges in the region?
Heat is a constant challenge, so we have to consider how to make spaces usable in extreme weather. Early in my career, it was also a battle between aesthetic expectations and environmental logic. But we’ve come a long way in designing for the local context.
What does success mean to you, personally and professionally?
It’s internal. It’s the satisfaction of knowing we delivered something meaningful and of high quality. Everyone in the studio defines success differently, and I support that individuality. But for me, it’s about doing things right, not just checking boxes.
How does the idea of ‘aperture’ influence your design process?
It’s about focus. We begin with broad ideation, then refine those ideas into a single, clear design solution. Our process is structured but open to evolution all the way through to delivery.
Can design be a tool for social change?
I think design can encourage interaction, break down barriers, and build social cohesion but I don’t position us as social reformers. If people engage with our spaces meaningfully, we’ve done something right.
Who or what inspires you?
My team. Their passion, ideas, and commitment. I don’t look up to celebrities I look across the table. Many of our team members have been with Aperture since the beginning. Their loyalty, creativity, and shared journey continue to inspire me every day.
Has your view of urban life changed since arriving in the UAE?
Definitely. The region has become more inclusive and open. In 2006, there were segregated parks and access restrictions. That’s changed dramatically, especially in places like Saudi Arabia, and it changes how we design.
How do you approach community feedback and consultation?
Formal consultation isn’t always part of our projects, but we learn by revisiting built work. Seeing how spaces are actually used or not used tells us what to do better. Maintenance feedback is also a great learning tool.
What’s your dream project?
A UAE botanical park. Not a traditional garden, but a landscape that represents the country’s natural diversity wadis, oases, deserts, and mountains in one interactive, educational park. I’ve pitched it a few times. Still waiting for the right opportunity.
How do you stay creatively grounded amid business pressures?
I go back to what started the company delivering great design. When things get tough, I remind myself that if we keep producing quality, everything else will follow.
The First Specialised Landscape Magazine in the Middle East
Cooling The CityThe Battle Against Urban Heat
By: Justin Hauad Senior Associate - Crystal Fountains & Marc Cote Design Associate -
Cities are heating up at an unprecedented rate. As urban areas expand, dense infrastructure and heat-retaining materials amplify temperatures, making public spaces less inviting and, in extreme cases, uninhabitable. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is forcing cities to rethink how they design outdoor environments.
For Landscape Architects, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. It is a chance to transform urban spaces into climate-responsive landscapes that prioritize cooling, comfort, and
Crystal Fountains
sustainability. In regions like Toronto (our home city), the Middle East, where we’ve been part of numerous projects, and Singapore, where we’ve recently opened an office, city policies are pushing for integrated cooling strategies in urban design. Landscape Architects are at the forefront of this shift.
How can water features contribute to this movement? And what role do design, technology, and policy play in shaping cooler cities? Let’s explore.
Water Mirror at Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE
Understanding Urban Heating
Why Urban Cooling Can’t Be Ignored
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is making cities 4°C to 7°C hotter than their surroundings as hardscape materials trap heat. By 2050, global cooling demand is projected to surge by 300%, increasing carbon emissions and energy dependence.
As temperatures rise, public spaces are emptying out. A Harvard study found that excessive heat reduces pedestrian activity, changing outdoor behaviour and cutting engagement with public areas. In Germany, a survey of 2,253 residents after the 2022 summer heatwave showed fewer than 20% visited green spaces on hot days, despite their cooling potential.
Urban heat mitigation is no longer an afterthought; it is an essential design priority shaping the future of cities. Water features can be a critical tool in this effort, not just for their visual appeal but for their ability to actively lower temperatures and enhance public well-being.
How Cities Are Responding - Policies Drive Change
Governments worldwide are embedding urban cooling into policy, recognizing the urgency of mitigating rising temperatures in public spaces. The Toronto Green Standard (TGS) mandates that Landscape Architects incorporate sustainable site design in Toronto. This includes increased tree canopy coverage, reflective paving, and the promotion of various shade strategies to combat urban heat. The city is also expanding cool pavement initiatives, lowering surface temperatures in high-traffic public pedestrian zones. Internationally, policies are also being implemented. The Landscape Replacement Policy in Singapore ensures that lost green space is compensated through rooftop gardens, vertical greenery, and climate-adaptive infrastructure. The Landscaping for Urban Spaces and HighRises (LUSH) program promotes water-integrated cooling strategies, seen in developments like Gardens by the Bay, where misting systems and shaded reflecting pools help regulate temperatures. These policies set a new standard for public space design.
I WATER FEATURES
Water Features As A Cooling Strategy
Water is crucial in cooling urban microclimates, particularly in dense city environments. Through evaporation and convection, the presence and movement of water generate a noticeable cooling effect on surrounding spaces.
Evaporation
Evaporative cooling occurs as water absorbs heat from the air, lowering ambient temperatures. This effect intensifies with increased water movement. Turbulent and aerated water effects expose a greater surface area to the air, accelerating evaporation and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Convection
In addition to evaporation, moving water promotes convective cooling by disrupting stagnant warm air layers and replacing them with cooler air. The increased air circulation generated by water movement further enhances the cooling effect, making nearby spaces more comfortable.
What Works Best? Water Features We’ve Worked On That Promote Urban Cooling
What Works Best? Water Features We’ve Worked On That Promote Urban Cooling
Fog Systems
Evaporative cooling can take many forms in urban water features, offering a highly effective solution for mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Cities worldwide have begun integrating misting systems into public spaces to enhance thermal comfort. This approach is especially useful in transit hubs, where misting corridors provide cooling relief to large numbers of pedestrians without leaving them wet. When paired with shade structures, misting systems become even more efficient by reducing evaporation rates and maximizing their cooling effects.
Interactive Water Features
Interactive water features offer both direct and passive cooling. Through physical interaction, visitors experience immediate relief from heat, while passive cooling occurs as water evaporates, absorbing heat from the surrounding air and naturally lowering ambient temperatures. These features engage users and contribute to creating more comfortable and livable spaces.
Aerated Water Elements
Aerated water elements, such as cascades, waterfalls, water walls, and rain curtains, promote evaporation, convective cooling, and air circulation. Their versatility allows them to fit seamlessly into various urban environments. Linear ground-level installations work well in transit-heavy areas, while vertical water walls are ideal for dense urban spaces with limited footprints, adding functionality and visual impact.
Shallow Streams & Channels
Shallow, narrow streams and channels that wind through urban parks or plazas introduce a gentle cooling effect. The continuous movement of water encourages
evaporation and convective cooling, while textured stone surfaces along the channels help dissipate heat further. These elements can be functional and beautiful, blending natural cooling with urban aesthetics.
Each of these strategies can be adapted to the unique context of a city’s urban fabric. Thoughtfully integrating water features in the right locations can transform transit hubs, gathering spaces, and green corridors into comfortable, engaging environments that benefit entire communities. To explore how water features can enhance your next project, we invite you to contact us. Whether designing urban oases, integrating low-flow systems, enhancing patron engagement, or achieving precise lighting and colour matching, we’re here to discuss tailored solutions that align with your vision.
Bell Tower Green, Salisbury, NC, USA
Crown Fountain at Millenium Park, Chicago, IL, USA
Daytona Beach Riverfront Esplanade, Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Domino Park, Brooklyn, NY, USA
STONE, LIGHT, AND LIVING
FORM: THE SCULPTURAL GARDEN OF A PRIVATE VILLA IN MUSCAT
Beatrice Franceschi, PhD.
Landscape Architecture Greenscape LLC, Muscat b.franceschi@hotmail.it
In the ochre-hued folds of Muscat, Oman, a private villa rises as an ode to geometry, material, and light. Designed by GAS Architects, the home embodies a restrained modernism, fluid, contemplative, and rooted in the desert landscape. Yet it’s the garden, crafted by landscape architect Dr. Beatrice Franceschi, that gives this residence its pulse.
A Dialogue in Travertine and Green
The villa is structured around three elemental gestures in travertine: a raw, arched wall; a semi-polished, semi-curved form; and a sleek horizontal band. These lines progressing from rugged to refined form the architectural rhythm. Franceschi echoes this sequence in the garden, translating material expression into botanical form, guiding the experience from arid austerity to lush serenity.
The Designer: A Sculptor of Landscape
With decades of experience across continents, Franceschi brings a painter’s eye and an ecologist’s mind to landscape design. Based in Oman, her work is known for sculpting plant life into spatial experiences gardens that are architectural compositions in their own right. In Muscat, she draws with shadow and foliage. Each plant is placed not for decoration, but for contrast, reflection, and texture.
Three Landscape Movements
Just as the villa articulates space through three travertine expressions, the garden unfolds in three choreographed scenes.
I. The Arch: Desert Abstraction
At the villa’s entrance, the rough travertine arch wall anchors the house to its site. Franceschi responds with a dry, gravel-based composition of native Omani flora Boswellia sacra (frankincense), wild olive, and heat-hardened succulents. This is a landscape of restraint: architectural cacti and drought-tolerant species rise from gravel in tones that echo the travertine, casting shifting shadows that animate the stone.
It is a sculptural terrain raw, precise, and meditative. The plants act as living forms, structured yet organic, creating a dialogue of verticals and voids.
II. The Semi-Wall: A Courtyard of Reflection
At the heart of the villa, the semi-polished wall signals transition from weight to light, from opacity to reflection. Here, Franceschi introduces a tropical courtyard centred around a koi pond. Water stills the air. The light glints and refracts. Time slows.
The planting becomes lush but deliberate: Traveller’s palm, banana, raffia palm, and Plumeria alba rise in bold architectural gestures, softened by the low movement of lemongrass and asparagus fern. This is no jungle, it’s a composition of shadow and breeze, a contemplative interior cloister open to the sky.
The koi pond acts as both anchor and artwork, reflecting movement through the house. Glass walls dissolve thresholds, allowing the garden to flow inside, integrating with the architecture’s spatial rhythm.
Riyadh 2024
I INTERVIEW
Designing the In-Between
How Raquel Meireles is Shaping the GCC’s Urban Landscapes
You’ve worked in the UAE for over a decade. What makes landscape architecture here fundamentally different?
Designing in the UAE means working with an extreme desert climate and, often, a blank slate, flat, barren land or elevated podiums in dense cities. Unlike temperate regions, where you build around existing ecosystems, here we’re creating greenery from the ground up. The scale is vast, timelines are tight, and there’s a constant push for standout, user-friendly designs. Shading, cooling, and comfort are essential, making landscape architecture in the region both challenging and creatively rewarding.
How do you balance bold ideas with technical feasibility in such demanding conditions?
It starts with collaboration. From day one, we coordinate closely with architects, engineers, and specialists to ground our concepts in technical reality. That early input helps refine ideas without losing their essence. Keeping up with construction methods and materials suited to the climate also ensures our designs remain both resilient and imaginative.
Mega-projects in the region are highly complex. How do you ensure the original landscape vision is preserved?
Working in a multidisciplinary studio helps. At Kettle Collective, we align on the design vision early across architecture, planning, and landscape. That shared foundation carries through each phase, so the
landscape isn’t an afterthought, it’s embedded in the project DNA. This kind of integrated thinking keeps the identity strong as technical demands grow.
Is there still a gap between design and delivery in the GCC?
In some cases, yes. Strong concepts can lose impact if landscape consultants aren’t involved during construction. There’s also a tendency to prioritise aesthetics over detail. But execution matters just as much, good detailing makes or breaks a project. Bridging that gap requires more attention to technical stages and continued involvement through to delivery.
What technical oversights in landscape design tend to cause the biggest issues in the UAE?
Material durability is often underestimated. Heat, UV, and sand can quickly wear down surfaces and fixtures if they’re not chosen or detailed properly. Water features and slab planting pose risks too—wrong materials, poor waterproofing, or insufficient soil volumes can lead to structural or horticultural failures. And in a region this hot, forgetting user comfort, like shaded walkways or non-reflective paving, can make spaces unusable during peak hours.
How do you factor in flash floods and water runoff in desert cities like Dubai and Riyadh?
Stormwater management is now essential, especially after recent extreme weather. We use a mix of surface and subsurface drainage, swales, retention ponds,
bio-filtration systems, often disguised within the landscape design. These not only handle runoff but add ecological value and visual interest, helping cities adapt to increasingly erratic weather.
Given the demand for greenery, how do you balance lush aesthetics with sustainability?
It’s about thoughtful zoning. We concentrate denser planting where people gather, near seating, pools, or entrances, then transition to native or droughttolerant species in less active areas. Using shade structures and wind corridors also reduces water demand. Clients are becoming more open to this layered approach, which respects the climate without sacrificing beauty.
How can landscape design better reflect local culture in GCC cities?
There’s a growing appetite for landscapes that feel
both modern and rooted in place. We draw from local references, date farms, wadis, and traditional craftsmanship, and reinterpret them through contemporary materials and forms. Placemaking also plays a role. Outdoor majlises, privacy screens, and regionally inspired detailing help ground a project culturally while staying functional and current.
What role should landscape architects play in shaping the next chapter of urban development in the UAE?
We should be leading the conversation around humancentred, climate-adapted public space. As cities race ahead with new technologies and architectural icons, landscape architects must ensure the spaces between buildings support wellbeing, community, and ecological health. That means designing walkable, inclusive environments that feel good to be in, now and into the future.
A LAKESIDE SANCTUARY: WHERE LUXURY, LANDSCAPE, AND LIFESTYLE CONVERGE
By: Sejal Nagjee CEO, Milestone Landscaping LLC
When you stand at the threshold of this fivebedroom villa in Jumeirah Park, you don’t just see a home, you experience a lifestyle transformation. This is not merely a landscaped garden or a swimming pool, it’s a living extension of success, serenity, and soul. Perfectly positioned to capture the shimmering lake of Jumeirah Islands and framed by the dramatic skyline of Jumeirah Lake Towers, this villa blurs the line between nature’s artistry and architectural precision.
Designing for the Senses and the Soul
The homeowners came to me with a vision: a home where their connection to nature was as profound as their connection to family. They wanted expansive windows that didn’t just offer a view, but an immersion. From the first conversation, I knew this project must embody my core belief: true luxury is a living experience, not a static design.
The entrance sets an immediate tone of quiet prestige. A minimalistic water feature ripples gracefully, flanked by two majestic Washingtonia palms living sculptures that frame the villa’s narrative. Around them, perennial green borders create a restrained yet rich palette, designed to be savored from every indoor window.
Cultivating Nature’s Pantry
This landscape is more than ornamental; it’s deeply personal. We curated a selection of fragrant, functional plants, lemon and olive trees, frangipanis, lemongrass, mint, and raspberry, each offering a sensory invitation. These aren’t just design elements; they’re daily rituals. The owners harvest fresh ingredients directly from their garden, reinforcing my belief that nature and lifestyle should be inseparably intertwined.
The Pergola: A Stage for Celebration
At the heart of the outdoor living space is a pergola that does far more than provide shade, it orchestrates experiences. Engineered for yearround comfort with waterproofing and ambient lighting, this pergola is an architectural statement. Beneath it, a Cal Flame outdoor kitchen with a four-burner grill, hibachi, side burner, and ice chest, supports everything from intimate family dinners to lavish soirées.
We envisioned this pergola not just as a structure, but as a stage where stories unfold, connections deepen, and moments become memories. It’s a space that effortlessly transitions between a quiet morning coffee and a lively evening of entertaining 20 guests.
A Pool That Mirrors the Sky
The 15-meter-long swimming pool is designed to evoke both calm and grandeur. Clad in beige-toned aqua porcelain, its finish is masterfully chosen to reflect the sky’s natural hues transforming from serene blues by day to a shimmering jewel box by night. The large shallow step invites relaxation, while deeper sections support the homeowners’ active swimming routine.
Framing the water are five towering Washingtonia palms, standing guard like nature’s own sculpture gallery. At dusk, RGB lighting accentuates the pool’s curves, casting ripples of color that dance across the garden proof that thoughtful lighting is the silent sculptor of every luxury space.
Lighting: The Unsung Hero of Luxury
In every Milestone project, I emphasize one truth: a landscape’s transformation is only complete when day turns to night. Here, concealed LED strips along planter boundaries and pergola beams create a soft, welcoming glow, while targeted uplighters celebrate the form of each
I LUXURY LIFESTYLE
plant and tree. The swimming pool, with its dynamic lighting, becomes a centerpiece of nighttime glamour turning casual glances into moments of awe.
A Villa that Elevates Living
This villa is more than a home, it’s a private resort designed to enhance every aspect of its owners’ lives. The addition of a sauna and steam room with sweeping views of both pool and lake elevates the wellness experience to a new level of indulgence. Each space flows effortlessly into the next, creating a unified environment that nurtures both body and spirit.
The owners shared their joy at seeing their vision come to life: “We dreamed of creating a retreat that reflected who we are, now, it feels like every day is a holiday.”
This project exemplifies what I champion in every design: a harmonious dialogue between prestige and presence. Every palm tree, every tile, every beam of light is chosen with precision, not merely to beautify, but to transform. Because true luxury isn’t just seen, it’s felt, lived, and celebrated.
In the end, this villa stands as a testament to a simple yet profound truth: when landscape design is done right, it doesn’t just change your environment, it elevates your entire way of living.
Image credit: Orkun Orcan
FROM THE INSIDE OUT: DESIGNING FOR REAL LIFE AT ALMA GARDENS
In Dubai’s ever-evolving residential landscape, few developers are rewriting the rules of mid-market design quite like Alma Developments. At the helm is Sara Aji, Managing Partner and the design force behind Alma Gardens, a boutique project in Liwan, Dubailand that elevates everyday living through craftsmanship, spatial intelligence, and a resolute focus on the end-user.
In this exclusive conversation, Aji shares how family heritage in joinery, a deep respect for landscape, and a handson approach to construction have shaped a residential experience that feels both artful and instinctively livable.
Alma Gardens is described as redefining modern living through craftsmanship and design. Can you share how this philosophy has shaped everything from material selection to spatial planning?
At Alma, craftsmanship isn’t just about finishes, it’s about how a home functions and feels every day. We approach design from the inside out, starting with how people use a space. Material-wise, we’ve prioritised high-quality,
durable finishes that hold up over time but still offer a refined aesthetic. From stonework to joinery, everything is designed and built in-house by our team of experts at Al Meera, which has been run by our family for over 40 years, and means we’re not just choosing materials for show, we’re curating them for long-term liveability.
Landscape architecture is often an afterthought in many residential projects. What role did landscaping play in the conceptualisation of Alma Gardens, and how did you ensure outdoor spaces were integrated into daily living?
We designed Alma Gardens with the belief that greenery should be part of daily life, not just something seen from afar. The development directly overlooks a community park with green open spaces, which shaped our entire approach to planning. We wanted residents to feel connected to nature, whether they’re looking out from their balconies or stepping outside for a walk. Internally, we collaborated with landscape consultants to create shared green courtyards, shaded paths, and outdoor spaces that people will use, such as BBQ areas, a children’s play area, and a tranquil Zen Garden that allows residents to relax rather than just admire. It’s all designed to support a slower, more grounded pace of life.
As an experienced designer leading a development company, how do you balance aesthetic ambition with construction pragmatism, especially in a climate like Dubai’s?
That balance presents a daily challenge, but it’s also the most exciting part. Being involved from design to delivery enables us to make smarter decisions early on. We ask: Will this material withstand summer heat? Will this detail be easy to maintain? Design must serve the reality of the environment, so we don’t chase trends; we focus on longevity, efficiency, and comfort.
Your family legacy in joinery and interior craftsmanship spans over four decades. How has this hands-on knowledge influenced the interiors at Alma Gardens, and what details might go unnoticed but make a real difference to residents?
The legacy comes through in the things you don’t see straight away. It’s the quality of a drawer that glides smoothly, or a wardrobe that’s properly ventilated. We’ve designed kitchens and joinery with deep understanding of how people live, storage that actually fits suitcases,
wardrobes with internal lighting, and hidden charging stations. With social media shining a spotlight on beautifully organised homes, more people dream of having smart, functional spaces, but many think it’s hard to achieve. At Alma Gardens, we’ve made it easy. From day one, our homes come ready with thoughtful builtins like a concealed coffee bar, dedicated utility space with smart hangers, dresser drawers with outlets for hair appliances, and custom shoe racks. It’s everything you need for a clutter-free, comfortable life, just bring your personal things and start living. These are the little things that quietly elevate the experience of living in a home.
Storage is one of the least glamorous yet most crucial aspects of home design. You’ve prioritised it in a way that most developers overlook. What prompted this focus, and how did you technically achieve up to 75% more storage space without compromising on layout?
Storage is something most people don’t think about until they move in, and then it becomes a daily frustration. At Alma Gardens, we saw it as a design opportunity. Because we manage everything in-house, from structure to joinery through our sister company Al Meera, we have the freedom to reimagine how storage can be integrated into the home.
We’ve created layouts that offer 55–75% more storage than the average Dubai apartment of comparable size, without cluttering the space. We embedded storage seamlessly into walls, behind panels, and within dead spaces that typically go to waste. This includes deeper cupboards, more overhead shelving, and built-ins that don’t feel bulky.
We also modelled each unit with real furniture to ensure the flow isn’t compromised. The idea was to deliver homes that work beautifully from day one, requiring no extra carpentry or refurbishments once you move in.
From a construction perspective, what sustainable building methods or materials have been implemented at Alma Gardens, and how do they contribute to both environmental and end-user value?
For us, sustainability isn’t a marketing term, it’s a design principle. We’ve focused on practical sustainability, things that lower energy use and improve durability. We’ve used thermal insulation, reflective roofing, and low-flow water fixtures to reduce energy and water consumption. But it’s also about building for longevity. Because everything is produced in-house, we know exactly what’s going into each unit, and we’re offering five-year warranties on all joinery and interiors. That’s our way of ensuring quality and reducing the likelihood of waste or refurbishment down the line. We believe in doing things once and doing them right.
Alma Gardens is a boutique development within a fast-growing, mid-market community in Dubai. How did you approach designing a high-spec product for a more value-conscious buyer?
We made some clear choices early on. By keeping the development at just 71 units and executing most of the work in-house, design, fit-out, and even procurement, we’ve been able to control costs without compromising on quality. We also didn’t add gimmicks. Every feature in Alma Gardens serves a purpose, whether it’s comfort, longevity, or ease of living. That’s how we’re delivering a high-spec product at a more accessible price point. We made a conscious decision to serve end-users, not just investors. For example, all our 1-bedroom units come with a study room, and our 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units come with a maid room and laundry room, making them more appealing to families. Prices range from AED 1.08 million for a one-bedroom to AED 4.4 million for a penthouse, with projected rental yields of 9–10%. That’s a strong proposition for buyers who want both quality and value without the hassle of post-handover upgrades or hidden costs.
What smart home technologies have you chosen to integrate at Alma Gardens, and how did you ensure these weren’t just flashy add-ons but genuinely useful features for residents?
Smart tech should simplify life, not complicate it. We’ve integrated systems like remote-controlled AC, multitemperature lighting, and water heating, along with keyless entry and app-based community access. But we’ve been selective, everything has to work intuitively. We didn’t want tech that’s impressive on day one but confusing on day three. It’s all been tested in real conditions and designed with ease of use in mind.
Looking ahead, how do you envision Alma Developments evolving? Will future projects continue to focus on the intersection of construction integrity, refined interiors, and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces?
Alma Gardens is just the beginning, it’s our proof of concept. We believe there’s a huge opportunity in the market for developments that prioritise real end-user needs without sacrificing beauty or build quality. We’re already planning for our next project, and we’ll continue to bring together our construction roots, design DNA, and resident-first mindset in everything we do.
For more information on Alma Development’s innovative turnkey projects, visit www.almadevelopments.me
I BOOK REVIEW
BOOKS OF INTEREST
Gardens for the Desert
The book Gardens for the Desert tells the story of how bödeker, a German landscape architecture firm, grew from a single seed planted by its founder, Richard Bödeker, into a strong and thriving tree. In the 1970s, Richard Bödeker brought his expertise in arid landscapes to Saudi Arabia, where his innovative designs laid the foundation for transformative projects like the Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter and many others. These projects became deeply intertwined with the city’s development, reflecting a commitment to sustainable urban greenery and a profound understanding of local needs.
Highlighting the many people who supported and shaped this journey, the book also includes perspectives from some of the firm’s partners. They share unique insights into the collaborative efforts that define bödeker’s success. Today, the firm is led by a partnership of six dedicated individuals who continue to develop its core design philosophy, creating new ideas and concepts for the future. This collaborative spirit has fostered significant growth, with the firm now employing 140 team members and continuing to expand.
For anyone interested in the history of landscape architecture in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh’s urban evolution, Gardens for the Desert provides a captivating perspective on the development of iconic projects and the expertise behind them.
The book is not freely available. But if you are interested, you can sign up for our newsletter, where we will be sharing the book as an audiobook in installments.
(bodeker.com/ab-sign-in)
Publisher: German|Ulmer; Englisch|bödeker
Texts: Stefan Leppert
Pages: 289
FREE Audiobook Ger/Eng (bödeker Newsletter)
LANDSCAPE CONSULTANTS
JC Melone Landscape
Design FZ LLE
T: +971 50 6410715 jcmelone@gmail.com
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR
Zaid Al Hussain Group
T: +971 4 3296630 info@zaidg.com
Green & More
T: +971 4 8830100
T: +971 4 8830101 info@greendmore.com www.greendmore.com
Proscape LLC
T: +971 4 277 0244 info@proscapeuae.com www.proscapeuae.com
Desert Group
T: +971 4 5904000
T: +971 4 3404441 group@desertgroup.ae www.desertgroup.ae
Basatin Landscaping LLC
T: +971 2 2077729 info@basatinlandscaping.com www.basatinlandscaping.com
FOUNTAINS
Fluidra Middle East
T: +971 4 8835505
F: +971 4 8836761 info@fluidrame.com www.fluidrame.com
Aquashi
T: +971 4 3208777 sales@aquashi.co.uk www.aquashi.co.uk
WATER MANAGEMENT
NDS (By NORMA Group)
E: infoEMEA@ndspro.com www.ndspro.com/eu
TURF/LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS
Polyclean LLC (Turf Division)
T: +971 4 338 8226
F: +971 4 338 8785 babiker.khateeb@polyclean.ae www.polyclean.ae
SOIL ADDITIVES
Gulf Perlite
T: +971 56 1235248
T: +971 55 1539640 info@uaeperlite.com www.gulfperlite.com
Zeoplant LLC
T: +971 4 4473588
F: +971 4 4473587 info@zeoplant.com www.zeoplant.com
INDOOR LANDSCAPING, POTS, PLANTS & GREEN WALLS
Plantscapes Indoor
Plants Trading LLC
T: +971 55 724 6193 plantscapes@desertgroup.ae www.plantscapes.ae
LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS
Tanseeq LLC
T: +971 4 3617199
F: +971 4 3607966 info@tanseeqllc.com www.tanseeqllc.com
Sirkap
Tel No.: +971 54 3592070 +971 55 5651426
Email ad: yawar@sirkap.ae Website: www.sirkap.ae
Ventana LLC
T: +971 4 3231603
F: +971 4 3806957 info@ventanallc.com www.ventanallc.com
IRRIGATION
Hunter Industries
T: +001 760 591 7114
F: +001 760 591 7194 Hanna.Zaidan@hunderindustries.com www.hunterindustries.com
Middle East Agrculture Company (MEAC)
T: +971 4 8861151
F: +971 4 8861152 www.meac.com.sa
METTS FZC
T: +971 4 4470927
F: +971 4 4470928 info@mettsfzc.com www.mettsfzc.com
Alwasail Industrial Co.
T: +971 4 8886987
F: +971 2 6733565 hashim@alwasail.com www.alwasail.com
Ventana LLC
T: +971 4 3231603
F: +971 4 3806957
SWIMMING POOLS
Aquaverde
T: +971 4 4538469
T: +971 50 8763630 info@aquaverde.com www.aquverde.ae
Fluidra Middle East
T: +971 4 8835505 F: +971 4 8836761 info@fluidrame.com www.fluidrame.com
Pentair
T: +971 4 320 8777 malikhan@mettsfzc.com www.mettsfzc.com
Satma International L.L.C.
T: +971 4 2956088 F: +971 4 2956077 satmaint@emirates.net.ae www.satma.ae
Water in Motion LLC
T: +971 4 277 0244 info@waterinmotionllc.com www.waterinmotionllc.com
PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS / HARD LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS
Consent LLC
T: +97143472011
F: +97143472957 sales@consent.ae www.consentblock.com
LIGHTING
BEGA GantenbrinkLeuchten KG
T: +49 2373 966-0
F: +49 2373 966-216 info@bega.de www.bega.com
TREES & HERBS
Acacia LLC
T: +971 4 265 3397 info@acacia-ae.com www.acacia-ae.com
SPORTS FACILITIES/ PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENTS
Tanseeq Projects LLC
T: +971 4 361 7199 info@tanseeqprojects.com www.tanseeqprojects.com
WT Burden
T: +971 4 8860700
F: +971 4 8860701 streetfurniture@wtburden.ae www.wtburden.ae
METAL FABRICATOR
Metaline LLC
T: +971 224 3369 info@metalinellc.com www.metalinellc.com
OASE FOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY
Our engineering moves water. Our creativity moves hearts.
Creating unique urban landmarks, setting world records, designing contemplative quiet zones or attracting millions of enthusiastic visitors - whatever you have in mind, OASE Fountain Technology makes your architectural water vision come true.
Innovative and high-quality German technology paired with a passion for extraordinary creations and the experience gained from over 100,000 unique projects worldwide - this is what makes OASE one of the world’s leading specialists for fountain systems.
With our global network of qualified partners, we are at your sidealso here in the Middle East, at our office in the Dubai Design District.
www.oase-professional.com
Nature & Community
