DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE: visitor attractions
photoS: © Heatherwick Studio
The park will offer a variety of open spaces with exercise paths and picnic areas
Al Fayah Park Abu Dhabi, UAE Opening: 2017 Plans have been unveiled to build a 125,000sq m (410,105sq ft) desert oasis in the shape of the Al Fayah Park in the city of Abu Dhabi. The park will offer a variety of open spaces with exercise paths and picnic areas. There will also be organic fruit and vegetable gardens, which will be used to supply the various restaurants and cafés in the park. Heatherwick has designed the park to protect the plants and foliage from the powerful desert heat: “Al Fayah Park incorporates a series of very special column 34
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK 2015-2016
structures, like the cracked pieces of a desert surface, which gently raise to form a three-dimensional landscape across the site. These elevated pieces create a perforated canopy of partial shade under which a lush garden can grow, protected from the hot desert sun.” Due to Abu Dhabi’s rapid rate of expansion and transformation there is a desire to provide a public space devoted to the wellbeing of the people in the city and the new designs aim to achieve this. The Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation is behind the scheme and is “committed to creating sustainable contributions that enhance the UAE community’s wellbeing”. Al Fayed Park is being hailed as one such contribution. ■■ http://lei.sr?a=j4x7D
it is devoted to the wellbeing of the people
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