Landscape Magazine June 2015

middle east JUNe 2015

2 i www.landscape-me.com i June 2015


This month Landscape Middle East is celebrating our eighth anniversary and it seems that we aren’t alone in this respect, as many of the Middle East’s landscape industry professionals are also marking their own achievements. One such success, is that of Khatib & Alami, CEC. On

page 34, the design studio shares their latest projects that they are undertaking, including the Green Community at Dubai Motor City, Gate District Towers, Shams, Abu Dhabi and Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai.

Over on page 50, Akar Technical Services Company reflects on the history of the business and discusses the future of landscaping companies across the GCC. Current key projects for the company include the 22 million dirham Palm Park project for Dubai Municipality.

Our columnist Jean-Claude Melone reviews the Smart Landscape Middle East Summit 2015 which recently took place in Dubai on page 14. The Senior Landscape Consultant discusses the Oman Botanic Garden Project and the importance of identifying various plant species via their botanical names.

On page 22, we take a look at the need for personalising personal spaces in cities to form communities, with a special focus on Abu Dhabi projects. We also examine the progression of government nurseries in Qatar in order to establish a greener environment on page 28.

Until next time!

John Hampton

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EDITOR’S NOTE

middle east JUNe 2015

June'15 Issue.indd 1 6/3/15 11:22 AM

I Managing Partner: Ziad Maarouf Amine I Copy Editor: John HamptonI Sales Manager: Boushra Dinnawi I Administrative Assistance: Sarry Gan I Art Director: Ramon Andaya I Contributors: Jean-Claude Melone, Rajaram Subedi, Aaron Schemeck, Majeed Ali, Walter Bone, Alessandra Gucci, Saresa Anthonissen I Printed by: Al Nisr Publishing LLC I Webmaster: www.pdinventive.com

Landscape is distributed free of charge in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Eqypt, and Lebanon by Emirates Post UAE

The opinions and views contained in the articles in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily of the publishers. The publishers cannot be held liable for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

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interview with Jeremy spencer, General manager of desert landscapePersonalising public spacesGovernment plants nurseries in QatarNew horizon, Khatib & alamiadres project, italyArtificial Turfinterview with mr. adnan Nalwala, managing director of akar technical

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News & Events

Our knowledge of horticulture, soils, plant pathology, entomology and plant physiology, water chemistry as well as our engineering

capability to provide an environment best suited for plant growth have all been combined to ensure the success of this new venture. We have seen too many greenhouse operations fail because of the lack of education and training in one or more of the above disciplines and were determined to have all the right elements in place before setting off in this new direction. We are equally committed to growing our vegetables using organic fertilisers in a sterile environment where there is no need for the use of pesticides at all. Our products are pesticide free.

A common misconception is that organic vegetables sold in the supermarkets are pesticide free. It is highly unlikely that is the case. Most organic vegetables are sprayed with some form of pesticides which must be well washed off the produce before cooking and eating. For example there are over 20 chemicals commonly used in the growing and processing of organic crops that are approved by the US Organic Standards. Many organic pesticides that are used by farmers are used more intensively than synthetic ones due to their lower levels of effectiveness. The top two organic fungicides in common use for example, are copper and sulfur.

Our new hydroponics production unit, in combination with the newly constructed greenhouses, is both high technology and capital intensive. The regulation of the aerial and root environment is a major concern in such an agricultural system, and the vegetable production takes place inside greenhouses where it is possible to control the light, water, plant nutrition, air and root temperatures and whatever adverse climatic conditions there may be that affects the growing of outdoor, soil based crops.

Our patented computer control systems are able to provide fully integrated control of temperature, humidity, irrigation and fertilization, carbon dioxide, light and shade levels for virtually any size growing facility. Precise control over a growing operation enables us to realize savings in energy, water, chemicals and pesticide applications. Computer controls normally result in

greater plant consistency, on-schedule production, higher overall plant quality, and environmental purity.The principle advantages of our new facility include high-density maximum crop yield, crop production where no suitable soil exists, an indifference to ambient temperature and seasonality, more efficient use of water and fertilizers, minimal use of land area, and suitability for mechanization and disease control. A major advantage of hydroponics, is the isolation of the crop from the soil, which often has problems of disease, salinity, poor structure and drainage issues. Julian Lee, Managing Partner Desert Group, states that with the rising cost of imported fresh produce, Desert Group is well placed to be a local provider of fresh, high quality vegetables.

The principle disadvantages of hydroponics, relative to conventional open-field agriculture, are the high costs of capital and energy inputs, and the high degree of management skills required for successful production. The risk of a pest or disease (fungal or bacterial) contaminating the entire green house or irrigation solution, necessitating the shutdown of production and sterilisation of the entire system with the loss of the crops until a new seed batch can be sown, should not be underestimated. Capital costs may also be especially high if the structures are artificially heated in the winter and cooled or air conditioned in the summer.

There is a technological imperative driving development of greenhouse production efficiency. As with any form of manufacturing, it moves toward higher-technology, more capital-intensive, manpower efficient solutions to problems. It is both highly productive and suitable for automation. Desert Group is taking a lead position in developing technology that is climate appropriate and regionally relevant.

The future growth of controlled environment agriculture depends greatly on the development of systems of production that are cost-competitive with those of open field agriculture. We have not arrived at that point yet. Desert Group has pioneered the landscaping industry in the UAE and has now embarked on a huge diversification strategy that includes growing vegetables in the region, says Michael Mascarenhas, Group CEO at Desert Group.

Desert Group has been growing the biggest selection of plants in the UAE for over 27 years. We have finally made the move to vegetable growing and are proud to announce the opening of our first purpose built, controlled environment hydroponic vegetable farm.

Hydroponics system

Left photo: Michael Mascarenhas CEO, Desert GroupRight photo: Dr. Sultan Bahadur in charge of the Hydroponic vegetable pilot programme



The leading company in glass mosaic manufacturing was chosen to design the swimming pools for the island’s first Hard Rock Café Hotel.

News & Events

The formula is both suggestive and appealing in equal measure: Ibiza, the Mediterranean, luxury and glamour, a five-star hotel plus

swimming pools tiled by Ezarri Mosaics. The result inspires relaxation and fun with designs that combine elegance and safety. Ezarri has successfully completed its project of tiling the pools of the Hard Rock Café Hotel. Located in Ibiza, it is a luxury five-star hotel and the first one that the well-known chain has opened in Europe.

Palladium Hotel Group announced the creation of this new hotel which would be part of the popular Hard Rock International brand. The partnership between these two groups has resulted in the first Hard Rock Hotel resort in Europe. This spectacular hotel opened its doors in spring 2014.

Ibiza by Ezarri Mosaics

guest feels “like part of the sea”. It has two complete rows of sunbeds which, like the pools in the resort, have been tiled with a special blend supplied by Ezarri.

The circular Splash Pool is located in the club area next to the main stage. It is also freshwater, just like the previous pool. According to the management of Hard Rock Café Ibiza, it encapsulates “the more refreshing side of the hotel”.

The amenities are rounded off with three Swim-Up pools, for those who are enjoying their stay in swim-up suites and rooms. The owners of Hard Rock Café Ibiza have expressly declared that they are “extremely satisfied” with the result.

One of the most rewarding tasks faced by Ezarri was the creation of the Hard Rock

Hotel logo at the bottom of the enormous circular Splash Pool. It turns into a focal point for guests as it is located next to the main stage where stars are invited to give the very best performances and concerts.

The architect César Alonso created his own blendsThe Madrid architect César Alonso is head of design at Hard Rock Café Ibiza. He is a specialist in planning and designing holiday resorts.

Designing the pools demanded in-depth knowledge of the wide range of collections offered by Ezarri Mosaics, as well as use of the Mix Generator, which is available on the Ezarri website (www.ezarri.com), when designing the special blends used for the pools and sunbeds.

The pools make up five areas - the Eden Pool, Splash Pool and three Swim-Up pools - which create an atmosphere of luxury, glamour and hospitality within a unique five-star complex. The first, the so-called Eden Pool, is a large freshwater infinity pool that sits alongside the hotel tower. It has been designed so that the


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News & Events

The striking garden, created in honour of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, has been designed to

evoke the ancient Spice Routes of the Arabic empire, as well as taking its visitors on a contemporary, yet sensory journey through Islamic and Arabic culture. Kamelia Bin Zaal beautifully accomplishes this through the magnetic blend of poetry, scents, calligraphy and a bewitching mélange of plants that add an arresting atmosphere to the garden.

Kamelia Bin Zaal explains, “I am absolutely thrilled to have won a Silver Gilt medal, and so delighted to be sharing this great honour with everyone who has made this wonderful garden possible. Taking part in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been a truly memorable experience, and I am fortunate to know that

Kamelia Bin Zaal’s debut garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Al Barari’s The Beauty of Islam, has been awarded a prestigious Silver Gilt Medal at the esteemed annual horticulture event.

About Kamelia Bin ZaalKamelia Bin Zaal is the Creative Director of Al Barari, a sustainable luxury development in the UAE renowned for its beautiful gardens with 80% of the land dedicated to landscape, while the villas combine Islamic and contemporary architecture. The residential estate owned and developed by her family marks a true celebration of plant diversity and heritage in the United Arab Emirates. In the same way The Beauty of Islam show garden also reflects the concept of sustainability, Arab culture and Islam. Al Barari’s sponsorship of the garden this year is in honour of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s legacy of greening the UAE and to continue his relationship with the most prestigious flower show in the world, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

About Al BarariFirst envisioned by Emirati businessman Mr. Zaal Mohammed Zaal in 2005, Al Barari is the flagship development of the Zaal family. Literally meaning ‘wilderness’, Al Barari was designed to be a true desert oasis. Eighty per cent of the development’s 18.42 million square feet is made up of green, lush space that envelops 189 Al Barari residences and 28 bespoke luxury villas of The Reserve. Ashjar, a collection of 300 elegant apartments in three distinctive categories, and Seventh Heaven, an exception collection of 157 homes including exclusive duplexes, penthouses, sky villas and garden homes, are currently under development. Recently launched is The Nest, an exquisite collection of 99 villas. The estate features its own health and fitness centre, Body Language and signature restaurant, The Farm. A total of six themed gardens with over 16.4 kilometres of naturally landscaped lakes, freshwater streams, cascades and waterways make Al Barari the lowest density development in the UAE and more akin to a botanical garden than a residential community. Garden maintenance and landscaping services are provided onsite by Al Barari’s partner Green Works.

I am returning to Dubai having made friends for life in so many of the people I have got to know along the way. I am delighted that I achieved my intention of making The Beauty of Islam a true celebration of heritage, art, design, culture and for all the plants to reflect the diversity of the UAE’s plant life. If I know that through the garden, I have inspired even just a handful of people with my culture, then I leave Chelsea a very happy person indeed.”

http://albarari.com/



News & Events

Francine Houben

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will present this year’s Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize to Francine Houben,

founder and creative director of Mecanoo. The oeuvre prize is awarded annually by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds to a person or institution with an outstanding track record in the fields of culture and the environment. It is one of the most prestigious cultural awards in the Netherlands. The ceremony takes place on Monday, 30th November 2015.

The Board of Advisors of the Cultuurfonds have awarded the prize to Francine Houben for her achievements as a leading international architect over the past thirty years. In particular, the board has noted the combination of aesthetics, friendliness and hospitality that characterises her work.

“Francine Houben’s buildings are rare examples of a people-centric architecture which is consistent with the local culture. As creative director of Mecanoo, she is considered one of the most influential architects of the moment. She brings together urbanism, landscape, architecture, restoration and interior design in a coherent way.”

Her work can be found all over the world. The Bruce C. Bolling Building in Boston, a municipal office of great significance for the district of Roxbury, was opened in March 2015. Currently, she leads the revitalization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington DC. Her design for the largest cultural complex of Asia with a concert hall, theatres and an opera house is under construction in Taiwan and will open in 2016. In 2014, the critically acclaimed Stirling Prize-nominated Library of Birmingham was named Britain’s favourite new building by viewers of the BBC.

In the Netherlands, her projects include the recently opened Delft train station, the Delft University of Technology library, the Montevideo residential tower in Rotterdam and the Netherlands Open

Francine Houben wins prestigious Dutch cultural prize

Air Museum in Arnhem. She also curated the first International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam in 2003.

Francine Houben has received major international acclaim for her work. She is a member of the Akademie der Künste Berlin and the Society of Arts of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. The UK Architects’ Journal named her ‘2014 Woman Architect of the Year’

The Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize is awarded to individuals or institutions that have made an exceptional contribution to the fields of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, history, literature, heritage conservation, culture, or the environment. Past recipients are Johan Simons (2014), Piet Oudolf (2013), Li Edelkoort (2012), Anton Corbijn (2011) and The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century (2010).

Francine Houben

http://www.cultuurfonds.nl/nieuws/nieuwsberichten/prins-bernhard-cultuurfonds-prijs-voor-francine-houben



News & Events

When securing transplanted semi-mature or mature trees on-structure, such as on roof tops, podiums

or shallow planters, consultants and contractors have been faced with using either heavy, deadman solutions such as concrete kerbstones as anchor points or risk the water proof integrity of the planting area by using expanding eyebolts. The new, light weight Platipus D-MAN system offers an innovative solution which gives security and stability to the transplanted tree using cells, made from re-cycled plastic, placed on top of the water proofed slab, as anchor points. This system can also be used to anchor trees planted over utilities on pavements where Percussion Driven Earth Anchors (PDEAs) cannot be safely installed.

The D-MAN is composed of a strong, compact cell with a distinctive letter-box style anchor point providing excellent stability to the tree. Its design incorporates four unique cups that can retain valuable moisture essential for tree growth and root development. The D-MAN achieves equivalent or better loads than most traditional deadman solutions and is much easier for contractors to move around the site and the planting area. On roof top gardens or in-door podiums the total weight is also drastically reduced.

The D-MAN cells can be connected together easily to cover entire planting areas or stacked to create a structural system. In this manner trees and large shrubs can be secured in any location and catchment water can drain beside and underneath the cells leaving the balance of water in the cups. This system complements the Platipus PIDDLER irrigation and aeration system which uses a special below ground membrane to deliver water and air evenly and laterally around the rootball targeting the root zone.

Planting a tree using the D-MAN system

The complete anchoring system comes with the D-MAN cells, made from 100% injection moulded recycled plastic, wire tendons, wire rope, two-way ratchet tensioner and Plati-Mat, a reinforced mat which offers optimal protection to the rootball and improves the stability of the tree.

Firstly, insert each of the wire tendon fixing discs through the centre, letter-box shaped slot in the cells creating the individual anchor points and space the cells equally in the planting pit.

Then cover the cells with soil (minimum of 300mm) and compact by foot, keeping the wire tendons exposed for connection. Place the rootball in the centre of the tree pit so that it sits above the D-MAN cells. Then place the Plati-Mat on top of the rootball and thread the ratchet wire through each of the anchor points and back through the two-way ratchet tensioner which sits on top of the Plati-Mat. The ratchet is then tensioned tightly.

Now back fill and compact the remaining soil in layers. The tree soil must be compacted right up to the nursery line for the D-MAN system to be fully effective. Once the tree has settled in the planting area the ratchet tensioner should be exposed and tightened once more and then covered up. No further maintenance is required.

Platipus invented the first below ground tree anchoring system with no unsightly stakes or guy wires more than 30 years ago, and thanks to continuous innovation the company has developed a range of solutions for all tree planting situations. AutoCAD drawings and installation videos are available on the website www.platipus.ae.

As a specialist mechanical earth anchoring manufacturer Platipus also provides slope stabilization and erosion control solutions, buoyancy control to pipelines and anchoring to shade structures.

D-MAN Cells in the planting pit

Platipus D-MAN System

PLANTING TREES ON STRUCTUREAn innovative, light weight anchoring solution

http://www.platipus.ae

http://www.platipus.ae


Salon de Pinos, Madrid

Cover on-structure planting areas & protect waterproofmembranes

Allows catchment water to drain underneath cells

Cells capture & store valuable water

Secure trees & shrubs in any location

Connect & stack cells to build up planting areas

According to E.C. Harris, these governments would like to diversify their economies by increasing their tourism and business

industries in order to decrease their reliance on oil and gas reserves. “Major programmes” are defined as construction programmes that cost more than US$1billion and need to be delivered in a relatively short period of time, the projects mentioned in the GCC will need to be completed by the year 2030.

These projects include a combination of leisure, real estate, retail, health and education asset developments as well as

transport, communication and supporting social infrastructure systems and will have massive implications on the future of the economy as well as the image of the landscape.

Due to the heavy human and material resources, as well time constraints required to undertake such enormous tasks, architects, government entities and developers made the decision to meet to discuss business opportunities, industry trends and to also explore the potential that the MENA region has to offer during the “Leaders in Architecture MENA 2015” summit. The event, which was held on the 20th-21st April 2015 in Dubai, attracted

Heads of top-tier, global architecture firms have all convened in Dubai to discuss the GCC countries planned development of 177 major construction and infrastructure programmes, costing in excess of US$1 trillion across the region.

the top 150 international architecture firms and provided a platform for a wide range of architectural, business, as well some controversial, discussions to flourish.

“It gives some of the senior people in the design professions the opportunity to actually interact more with each other and look at their mutual interests and look at how they as a group can contribute to the development of the region,” said Michael Fowler, the Managing Director M.E. of Aedas. When asked about his thoughts on the region, Yausif Albaker, Principal of Albaker Architects said: “I think nowhere in the world would you have an opportunity as an architect, I would say, to work on projects that you would in the Middle East and deal with issues that are very unique to this specific location.” “Leaders in Architecture MENA” was organised to address issues that might hinder the progress of these 1$ Trillion Mega projects, in the MENA region, by forecasting foreseeable challenges and finding solutions to optimize building/design methods, as well encourage new innovations and business partnerships.


LocaLLy occuring

It is this time of the year again, spring when Mother Nature looks her best. It is also at this time that one reflects over the latest Smart Landscape Middle East Summit (2015) in Dubai. Guest speakers,

senior landscape architects and professors came from all corners of the globe. Arriving from as far a field as the US, Singapore, Scandinavia and Australia, these experts gave to an increased audience some insight on the latest global feature projects and rationalisation philosophy. Topics revolved around sustainable design and engineering in the landscape trade.

Fatima Al Muhairiy, the dynamic Head of Dubai Municipality Landscape Section, General Projects Department, presented a pilot smart park project. “Green energy” in the form of solar power was successfully utilised for the lighting and all other electrical devices to generate energy savings and substantially reduce the running costs of this recently renovated public area. This park will now become the benchmark for DM’s Public Realm recreational facilities expansion.

Several manufacturers of artificial (manmade) grass were exhibiting their products in the lobby of the Sofitel the Palm and the debate:

synthetic versus natural lawn was re-ignited. The writing had been on the wall for quite sometime and the green walls were back in force. Green fingers were now pointing from the ground towards the vertical panes. We were encouraged to cover external and internal walls with lush planting by using the latest customary products and techniques. Those of us, guilty of having indulged in abundant turfing, could now redeem ourselves and redirect our naturally soft inspiration towards the building facades, traditionally treated with acrylic coating.

One of the most interesting presentations,

What’s in a name?

Green walls are most effective indoor when natural light if available. After a period of tests and tries with various drought resistant plant species, recent green wall projects have shown encouraging results on external facades, in the middle east region.

By: Jean-Claude Melone


Jean-Claude Melone (JCM for his friends) is a Senior Landscape Consultant. He arrived in the Gulf in the early eighties for a temporary replacement, fell in love with the Emirates and has been an active and enthusiastic resident ever since. Having dedicated over three decades to the reconciliation of mankind’s ambitions with Mother Nature’s requirements, he never lost his sense of humour. Here Jean-Claude gives us his expert view on Landscape Design matters with an interesting and refreshing point of view.

in my mind, was the new Oman Botanic Garden project. The plant photographs used in the slides and the graphics looked very professional and were well presented. For a while we were all prepared to throw back to the sea on which it travelled to reach Dubai, the extensive palette of exotic plants used on the Palm Island. We became convinced to use almost exclusively native species for all our future projects. Large specimens of Adenium obesum, reaching tree sizes in Oman, were suddenly becoming as attractive as their exotic cousin, the Plumeria obtusa. Although the Adenium flowers do not provide any scent noticeable to the naked nose, both these plants belong to the Apocynaceae family. Every year, the flowers of the single Plumeria I own reconcile me with the hot May weather by dispensing the most exquisite seasonal fragrance. The victim of a sudden joint attack of mealy bugs and black fungus last year, my Frangipani friend owes its rapid recovery to Julian Lee’s sound horticultural advice. Julian prescribed a natural spray with a filtered concoction of garlic and chilli powder in warm water which worked as a treat without killing any bee or nesting bird in the process.

One of the aspects I appreciated most from the Omani flora presentation, was the accurate and fluent use of Latin botanical plant names by Andrew Anderson. Like a nice cup of cardamom gahwa, the Arabic coffee symbol of local hospitality, which needs to be appreciated sip by sip, Greek and Latin rooted names were not thrown at us by the bucket full but displayed accurately in large letters and expressed verbally in small doses to let the audience digest them.


While perhaps being perceived as pedantic when carrying out Peer reviews of landscape design documents prepared by colleagues, I usually make a point that, whenever possible, the correct spelling of plant names ought to be respected. English is recognised worldwide as the business language and it allows us to communicate despite our different origins and mother tongues. Scientists and Botanists, on the other hand, have used Greek and Latin for centuries to record a specific name for each animal and vegetal creature living on the Planet, often using their own family name with rooted pride in the naming process. Unfortunately some of these creatures since their discovery are now extinct. Plants common names do vary from country to country and from region to region but botanical names are universal and allow us to accurately identify plant species. As professionals, it is our role to use the appropriate terminology.

In this new and exciting era of instant information, where plant images appear on our laptop screen by the hundreds if we

Louis-Antoine comte de Bougainville.De Bougainville was a noble man, a militay man, an explorator and a circumnavigator. The popular exotic plant was discoverd in Tahiti and named after him by a member of his team of scientists and botanists.

Solar and wind powered lighting. The latest technology includes smaller and more discreet integral solar panels.

- Adenium obesum (bottle tree). Better known as smaller specimen and utilized in landscape projects as a ground cover / flowering shrub, Adenium obesum grows as a tree with a distinct blown up shape trunk in its natural habitat.

Google them, it is important that accurate information is provided. Plants used in the region’s landscape including name explanations can be found in Julian Lee’s book, ‘The Plants of Arabia.’ This book is a remarkably put together work document. I use it often and still learn a lot of valuable information from its content. Julian and his support team are already working with sustained passion and dedication on the next edition.

Of Latin origin myself - my paternal great grand-father was Italian - I was fortunate to learn the basics of the Latin language in a French school during my formative years, although I was not fully convinced at the time. Working later in Italy and Brazil at the start of my professional career, I had to practise the local languages deeply rooted in Latin. This made it easier for me to appreciate the meaning of some otherwise obscure plant names such as Vitex rotundifollia (basket with round leaves) or Senecio cineraria (old man covered with ash). All of a sudden, strange plant names, when literally translated, like Evolvulus glomeratus “Grandiflorus” (unravelled clustered large flowers), can sound almost as poetic as “Land of the long white cloud” the translation of Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand.

My family name owes its humble origins to a fruit, very popular across Mediterranean and Arab countries. No noble blood like Count De Bougainville, Google has confirmed it. This fruit bearing plant was also not discovered by one of my forefathers and named after him. I am however, grateful for my Latin ancestry and for the letter “e” at the end of our name. Although Milano or Malone may sound more exotic and appealing, it’s nice when it is spelled and accented correctly.

LocaLLy occuring



Tell us about your past experience in the GCC region?I am British-born but I was raised in South Africa. I have a diploma in landscape and I have worked in the industry since graduating in 1994 and been in the UAE since 1998.

When did Desert Group first set up business in the region? Desert Landscape Company was founded by Julian Lee and HE Saeed Al Ghaith in 1988. It has since developed into a leading landscape services provider encompassing all aspects of the landscape industry through multiple companies that now form Desert Group.

What are the company’s main activities and services?We are a provider of turnkey landscape solutions. We develop residential, commercial and governmental landscape projects from the design concept through to the construction

phase and to final product delivery to our clients. Following which, we provide ongoing professional maintenance services.

What are the special features of each of your products? Our primary focus is the delivery of unique landscape projects and solutions through innovative designs, unique horticultural initiatives, providing an extensive array of trained and highly experienced staff and above all we have a passion for the industry we work in.

In each of our golf and sports, commercial landscape, residential and government landscape units we employ some of the leading and most experienced staff in the region who are uniquely positioned to understand client requirements and translate those into a living reality on the ground. By employing young, talented and dynamic

interview

Jeremy Spencer General Manager Desert Landscape

Desert Landscape Profile


designers we are able to come up with unique and truly innovative ideas that satisfy our customer’s design demands and that are not only deliverable, but sustainable within the confines of the harsh UAE climate.

With over 1.2 million square metres of nurseries we are the market leader in terms of being able to deliver not only an extensive array of plant species but also large mature and semi-mature trees and specimen that provide customers with the option of having an instant garden, rather than having to wait for years for their garden to mature.

How has your business expanded since its inception?Desert Landscape Company was the mother company for what is now Desert Group. Through its recognised ability to deliver unique and innovative solutions a number of industry specific sister companies have developed. Desert Group CEO Mr. Michael Mascarenhas has been instrumental in driving successful growth in the group companies such as the nurseries (Wahat

Al Sahra), Design (Desert Ink), Pools and Water Features (Desert Leisure Swimming Pools), Maintenance (Desert Turfcare), Interior Landscapes (Plantscapes), Garden Centre (Dubai Garden Centre), Florist (House of Flowers) and Carpentry (House of Timber).

By being able to offer this multitude of professional landscape related services, Desert Landscape Company has positioned itself as a forerunner in the UAE landscape market and delivers projects of all sizes from private villas, parks and palaces through to the construction of major sports venues including football and rugby pitches as well as a number of successfully completed and ongoing golf course construction projects.

What are the main challenges of doing business in the current Middle East market?The single most challenging aspect of landscaping in the UAE is the obvious lack of rainfall and water, debilitating summer temperatures and the very poor quality of local soils. However, through

research and development, trial and error, experience and longevity in the market, Desert Landscapes has the know-how to develop a multitude landscape solutions through innovative horticultural science, irrigation and other technical solutions and a genuinely experienced and passionate staff.

How important is it for the regional landscaping industry to adhere to international standards when completing projects?International standards are important across the Desert Group. In the past, the industry has lacked specific standards by which practices are monitored and controlled. However by adopting international standards internally, being ISO certified and compliant we believe we are able to deliver international standards, if not world class projects. The continued application of international standards through every component of our works is part of what we believe sets Desert Landscapes apart from its competitors.

Left photo: Jeremy Spencer General Manager Desert LandscapeRight photo: Michael Mascarenhas CEO, Desert Group


Desert Group strives to improve the quality of not only workmanship but technical and managerial services.

Desert Landscapes is a great advocate of sustainability and as such is always looking for and partnering with manufacturers and suppliers of products and technologies such as green or living walls, green roofs, water saving products, native or adaptive plant species. We are committed to being part of the UAE’s 2020 Vision by developing a new team that specialises in hospitality, recreation and tourism projects. We are committed to society and are honoured to be the recipient of the Princess Haya Award as one of the winners in the category of Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence.

interview

What are some of the major projects that you have been involved with in the past years?We have worked on projects such as Jumeirah Golf Estates Golf Courses, One and Only Royal Mirage, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Sofitel The Palm Jumeirah and Ritz Carlton Hotel to name but a few.

What is Desert Group’s position in the market and your current projects?Desert Group is truly the market leader not only in the UAE but the region in terms of being able to offer a complete array of services. We genuinely believe our staff are our most valuable asset and employ recognised leaders in the industry in every division of the group. This ability to offer such a wide range of services under one roof through regionally experienced and technically highly trained staff is what sets us and will continue to set us apart from our competition.

To enhance our capabilities and to strive to deliver even better services in the future, Desert Group has employed the services of an internal city and guilds qualified trainer. Through structured training programs



pubLic pLaces

By: AAron Schemeck Landscape Architect

Personalising public spaces

and rudAynA ABdo urban Planner


For decades, public space has been an integral part of any community. Zones are dedicated to social interaction to make movement easily accessible.

These areas can be linked to roadways, sidewalks, parks and plazas. Typically areas adjacent to government and privately owned buildings become such spaces as well. It is these undefined open spaces, situated strategically within the context of cities that provide the greatest opportunity for citizens to engage with and take ownership over their communities.

Embracing and personalising the public realm allows citizens to further define their city’s identity.

Many international cities have begun investing in their public realm. In return, cities have recognised overall social involvement and awareness increases as these parcels develop into meaningful places within a community. Examples of this can be seen with the artistic take on block letters within a public space such as in the city of Amsterdam with the tourist attraction, ‘I am Amsterdam’.

The question is however, what do these spaces become? This task can sometimes be as simple as adding new street furniture to a run down park or planting a tree near a local bus stop to provide shade. While not everyone sees the promise of these spaces, education and a change in attitude can make a difference. Often, the most successful spaces were previously the most under developed, not to mention spaces many would not consider as an opportunity. However by revitalising abandoned spaces such as sidewalks, rundown parks, lifeless underpasses and dismal alleyways, these areas have become keys to enhancing a community in recent years. Well-designed public realms not only have a visual impact but they can also generate economic benefits and function of space. A city with successful public space promotes social connectivity, which in turn establishes more cohesive and energetic neighbourhoods.

So what does this mean for the city of Abu Dhabi and how apparent is the concern for these spaces? In general, Abu Dhabi is still a new city in comparison to most major cities, analysing and interpreting the need for the public realm is at the forefront of development. The layout of street networks and pocket communities have had years to blossom in cities such as New York and London, defining their city’s character, but Abu Dhabi is still learning how to occupy and inhabit public spaces. In recent years, the municipality design standards and regulations have helped transform the public realm of the emirate with select projects within the city to serve as catalysts in establishing its identity.


Located in the city proper, the Central Market Plaza (OTAK) sits adjacent to the recently completed World Trade Centre development. Surrounded on three sides by residential apartments and a multi-story shopping mall, this public space offeres an opportunity for relaxation. The park was designed to promote human scale within an otherwise towering environment. Palm trees and steel structures provide shade as a bubbling water fountain lets children play in the sun.

pubLic pLaces

The pilot project, W-10 Khalidiya (KEO) which is introduced to an otherwise chaotic residential and commercial zone, provides and defines the pedestrian realm. The urban rehab aims to provide safe and navigable sidewalks by introducing flush curbs and raised vehicular tables, to prioritise the pedestrian experience. Redefining traffic patterns, upgrading parking conditions, as well as providing outdoor play areas create a well-defined community dedicated atmosphere.


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Potential exists throughout Abu Dhabi to activate otherwise overlooked public spaces. Inserting program and activities into open areas helps unite the urban fabric. The most neglected spaces present the greatest challenges yet yield the greatest return. The success of a certain public space is not only in the hands of the architect, landscape architect, urban designer or city planner; it ultimately relies on citizens to take ownership, initiative and interest in their public spaces. People make places, more than places make people.

Large land area + Residential = Exercise opportunities


pubLic pLaces

Small land area + Business = Social opportunities

Medium land area + Mixed Use = Commercial opportunities

When it’s the people of the community making these places, potential areas for additional public realm enhancement in Abu Dhabi present themselves. The opportunities for redevelopment can be defined based on plot size and adjacencies. As a general typology, areas can be defined as: large, medium and small

The examples may not be relevant in all situations but it is the realisation of these spaces that is important. Recognising the unlimited potential and prescribing meaningful solutions is the ultimate goal for these pieces of public realm. Cultivating ne w ideas is part of the process that makes these parts of the public realm so intriguing, vital and successful within a community. Ultimately each area represents what the end user requires.

It is important to understand that public spaces are open to everyone, regardless of age, gender or ethnic origin, and as such they represent a communal forum for citizens and society. When properly designed and maintained, they bring communities together by providing passive and active meeting places that foster social ties. These spaces shape the cultural identity of cities and provide a sense of place and community.



pLant nurseries

Government plants nurseries

in QatarIn the world of landscaping there are essential

elements required by landscapers to enable them in the application of their innovative ideas

and to fulfill the requirements of the society in developing the greenery concept to an

advanced stage.

By: Majeed Ali Senior Agricultural consultant engineer

Public Parks department ( PPd)


Government nurseries are one of these essential elements; this was the conclusion of the Qatari government in its intention

to expand the landscaping movements within the areas of Qatar. They realised that the local government nurseries could be the best source of both native and naturalised plants and it should be able to help the officials in raising the slogan of green Qatar. Hence, a serious consideration is being given to establish and to develop government nurseries and to support them to play the required role in developing the landscaping in Qatar.

We will address the major points regarding these nurseries and will highlight the achievements in this specific field which will clarify the target behind the governments support. This will help us to understand the sense of this conclusion for a country which tries to set a long term strategy in all fields, and landscaping is one of these important fields.

Government nurseries Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning have established three major government nurseries, the central nursery, the airport nursery and the maintenance nursery with different tasks assigned to each to enable them to make their contribution to the concept of a green Qatar.

The maintenance nursery was established to manage the needs of different kinds of plants for government projects, especially shrubs and ground cover plants. It works actively to produce different types of these two plant categories for the supplementary issues of local municipality’s daily needs from these plants.

The airport nursery was founded to apply a wider concept of increasing public awareness about the importance of landscaping via support given to the families in Qatar to build their own landscaping for their private gardens. This was done in terms of design and offering different types of house plants for low prices below the production cost. It offers them fruitful, native and naturalized trees, common shrubs, ground covers and seasonal flowers for their own gardens along with expert consultancy in an attempt to help both the citizens and expatriates spread beauty in Qatar.

The Central Nursery accommodates one of the latest technologies in producing seasonal flowers or seedling plants through the usage of automatic nursery systems. This modern technology is run by experts in this field and enable the Public Parks Department to produce millions of seasonal flowers or trees from seeds every season. The outputs of these agricultural processes find the way immediately to local municipalities to plant them in all government projects, meanwhile, another related processes of producing naturalised flowering trees are taking place in this nursery following a scientific field trial for these species to make sure that it can thrive in the environment of Qatar and can tolerate the harsh climate in Summer. This

process works to enrich the Qatari flora by adapting plants with high landscaping value and also assists the municipalities to refrain themselves from importing these trees from abroad. It facilitates to host students from Qatar Schools to teach them about the different types of plants and various agricultural techniques like trimming, grafting and propagation of these plants.

Breeding nurseries There are many governments’ nurseries that specialises in the breeding of different types of plants to the various landscaping sites like the Nursery of Um Garn.This nursery handles the process of accommodating the outputs of trees

The Central NurseryThe major government nursery in Qatar was established on a land of more than 90000 square metres and handles the major task of producing trees. The native trees as these types of plants can’t be found in the major international plant sources in commercial quantities. This in effect might be an obstacle in applying the new public realm guidelines of Qatar or the smart concept of Qatar Sustainability and Assessment System (QSAS). These guidelines are based on planting native trees or low water demand plants to help the government to move forward in increasing greenery while saving the precious irrigation water and to preserve the native strains of the Qatari fauna.


produced by the Central Nursery and plants them in the ground to create spaceman trees ready to be used in the landscaping projects. It also contains a mother plant stock area to enable the engineers to get cuttings or seeds for the propagation process and ensures consultants get the right species for their designs.

Policy of coordinationThis major management part of government nurseries is handled by the Public Parks Department, the highest landscaping authority in the country which is responsible for both the design and implementation of government landscaping projects in Qatar. This department runs all the government

nurseries and sets the priorities of plants production based on the need of the planned future projects and issues instructions to start production of specific species and sizes according to the projects specifics to make sure that the required specified plants and sizes are available when these projects reaches the plantation stages.

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Scientific Agricultural curriculumThe Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning (MMUP) supports these nurseries with experts, botanists and agricultural engineers who have the necessary experience and the knowledge in managing plant nurseries in terms of propagation or plant breeding. It aims to develop the manpower within these nurseries by arranging seminars and training courses in the major fields of agriculture to keep staff updated about the latest techniques in this field and to ensure that production processes are complying with the international standards. There is a strong cooperation with other neighborhood countries to get benefits from the regional experiences, expertise and plants sources.


Future strategyIn order to apply the future government policy and to satisfy the requirements of the coming international events in Qatar, such as the World Cup 2022, the Public Parks Department intends to establish one of the biggest government nurseries in the Middle East on a land of more than 80 hectares. This nursery would be established near Doha and will specialise in producing both native and naturalised trees and large shrubs, as the new greenery policy will start to depend on the visible landscaping elements to save water and to beautify the roads, plazas and public realm. PPD Staff accomplished the designs and the implementation of the project will start

soon. The major target expected from this nursery is to satisfy the requirements of government landscaping projects until 2025 and it will contain specific logistics and facilities to be the mother nursery of Qatar.

Agricultural station for researchAs part of the new nursery, there will be an agricultural station for researchers to analyse and study existing local plants to be propagated efficiently and enhance the quality of growth as well as the function for ornamental uses. These also include the introduction of new plants species to be acclimatised within local conditions. Many of the selected plant materials have been introduced

from other countries and have been in the process of trial and some of them have been successfully growing within our environment.

This station will not only handle research about the plants genomics but also the study of types of soils, soil conditioners and other additives for planting growth and irrigations systems.

In a nutshell, the government nurseries of Qatar can be the lead element in beautification and landscaping movement since it became officially a part of the infrastructure and as it complies with the Qatari needs and the modern perspectives of green Qatar.

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Landscape architecture

New horizons

By Walter BoneASLA CLARBLandscape Design ManagerKhatib & Alami

Exciting things are happening in the Landscape Architecture Studio at Khatib & Alami, CEC. The Studio is comprised of staff from numerous nationalities that forms a strong cohesive group of varying backgrounds and experiences. Head of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, Peter Scott, is committed in creating

a group and studio setting that is harmonious in nature and produces sound designs that result in beauty, sustainability and socially acceptable solutions.

Three projects previously produced and currently on the drawing boards consists of Green Community at Dubai Motor City, Gate District Towers, Shams, Abu Dhabi and Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai.


Green Community - Motor City, Dubai The Green Community at Motor City is a residential and commercial development by Union Properties. Khatib & Alami’s design approach to the project was designed as a “resident friendly” project to provide a comfortable living environment supported by recreational activities and a commercial centre for the residents.

The residential accommodations consist of luxury villas, family villas, bungalows, townhouses and terraced apartment blocks, all master-planned around extensively landscaped greenbelts and open spaces. The vision for Green Community at Motor City is conveyed in the creation of an integrated, livable, active and attractive neighbourhood oriented residential environment. The master planned GCMC features upscale crafted and spacious housing clusters, extensive landscaped open space and lakes woven throughout the community, several neighbourhood recreation facilities commercial hubs, replete with outdoor dining facilities that overlook one of the lakes.

Green communities are renowned for their natural beauty and landscapes, hence the name ‘Green Community.’ Five terraced lakes provide a beautiful visual amenity and present cascades and waterfalls with spectacular night lighting effects of the many geysers of water peppered throughout the water bodies. The landscapes are lavish with plantings of trees for visual spender, separation, shade and wildlife.

The green belt open space is directly accessible to all residential areas and designed for active and passive use. The open spaces provide amenity areas for children’s play, sports and picnics and barbeques. Clubhouses with swimming pools and recreational facilities are distributed to serve all the residents.

The large areas of green open space incorporate pedestrian and bicycle paths to allow residents to move around the community without using cars. Full car access is allowed to all residential and commercial units but residents are be encouraged, by the style of development, to move around on foot or by bicycle.

The central lake was designed as an iconic water feature in the project while serving as a storm water detention basin. The lake uses natural groundwater as the primary water source with pumping facilities provided to maintain a constant water level. Modeling was done to minimise algae growth and maintain water quality.



Gate District Towers, Shams, Abu DhabiThe Landscape Master Plan for Shams was designed to create a unique world class community. There are two parts to the Master Plan - the ground plane and podium landscapes, with each having unique design criteria and experiences.

On the ground plane, care is given to set the tone of the project so that it can be perceived from a distance. The first perceptions of the

project will come from the approach where the streetscape design for Shams is a formal row of date palms that course along the perimeter of the project. The row of palms continues through the central median of the loop road and across the street for towers T1 and T2.

The podium is a large landscaped courtyard. Within the oval created by buildings T7 and T8 there is a hotel portion of the podium and the rest is used by a general residential population. The hotel portion has three swimming pools, two pools for adults and one for children. The hotel also has an outdoor café as well as an area for tables and chairs shaded by a trellis between the pool and café.

There is a great lawn that has a formal setting. The lawn is a large oval of turf surrounded by a band of decorative pavement also in an oval, given a three dimensional form by a row of


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date palms ringing the pavement. The great lawn has a capacity for an event of up to 500 people.

On the roof deck over the convention centre there are three tennis courts for use by hotel guests. These would have lighting to allow them to be used at night. Around the tennis courts is a walkway and there are two small plazas with seating for those people that wish to be outdoors in a quiet location.

The roof deck over the commercial area is more active. There is a pool for adults, basketball courts, and a volleyball court. Across the roof deck are numerous lawn areas, and there is also a fountain. The two fountains, with decorative pavement in between, will help to connect the two main roof deck areas.



Jumeirah Golf Estates, DubaiJumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, is an upscale luxury golf community, where it welcomes one stop of the European Golf Tour every year. Khatib & Alami was selected to design two parks and the streetscape design for one village. It consists of numerous residential villages, golf courses with clubhouses. Themed landscapes exude luxury living and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Working closely with the Jumeirah Golf Estates Landscape Team, is Dr. Khaleel Abu Swai, Landscape Manager and Shambhulingesh Malakannavar, Landscape Engineer. The first park sits between Whispering Pines and Olive Point villages and is immediately accessible to the local residents. The park consists of one large playground that is contemporary in nature and complements the Jumeriah Golf Estates theming.

Terraced gardens line one side of the walkway set out in curvilinear forms integrating seating nodes with topiary olive trees as accents. Tall shade trees line both sides of the park to provide not only cool environment to relax in, but also to provide filtered views in to and out from the villas. Flowering trees accent distant views for park users and the lure of hummingbirds fill the air. Colourful plantings fill the planters in contrast to the accent

topiary olive trees creating a beautiful, but yet recreational park.

The second park and streetscape design was prepared for Flame Tree Village. Flame Tree Village consists of upscale single family homes. Park space was integrated in to street islands and roundabouts to create a visual and physical link throughout the streetscape. The streetscape design provides shaded pedestrian circulation and glorious displays of colour enhancing the resident’s experience. The first park is a passive park integrating a geometric patterned walks, shaded seating and shade trees to filter the views and create vertical features to break up the distant views along the street corridor.



internationaL project

An exclusive project by Paghera

AdresT

he project is underway and the building site is expected to close by the end of 2015. Planning as a whole is up to a Dutch agency: Paghera focused on planning beach, green areas, outdoor

lighting, floorings and outdoor furniture.

There are two mockups of the residential area totally surrounded by green areas.

Beach area, the aim was to create an area to be common for the 40 villas from the refreshment point of view, as well. Customers requested to


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wPc protect primeval forest. our first objective was to develop the technology to create a composite

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introduce very important and exclusive elements. It has been possible to achieve this effect by creating a swimming pool with sea sand so that children could have a swim safely as if they really were at the seaside in salt and very low water.

The swimming pool is connected to the beach by means of a jetty designed in glass and steel in order to make the nigh lighting be very spectacular. At night the jetty is also animated with water features made with fountains: at the end of the jetty there is a central space for wellness with a continuous massage with fresh water.


The common green area is dominated by a centuries-old olive tree which has been kept purposely trying to make the most of the area of this tree placing a bar which almost surrounds the tree. The vegetation of green areas is luxuriant and Mediterranean, but also exotic as if we would try to create again an oasis with Mediterranean scrub. Privacy for the 40 villas is guaranteed: they are characterized by a light flooring, outside, and by the vegetation which surrounds them without changing the view over the horizon of the sea.

External floorings are light in order to actually respect the typical colors of Bodrum as well as for their impact on the environment to be as soft as possible. The effort was made to keep a continuum in the landscape from inside out the complex, introducing the built area into the landscape as a deeply integrated element. The building hosting the restaurant is a two-floor one: the ground floor represents the area for the restaurant, upstairs a wide terrace with solarium, relaxing area and an “aromatic” area with a thick vegetation.



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Villas are almost hidden by a scrub which often represents a way to cover the external walls choosing a vegetation which falls down in order to break purposely the very geometrical and sharp lines of the building. In any case and for each villa, the front view towards the sea is free: only a natural barrier has been created made of rock and tree essences between one villa and the other to ensure the greatest privacy with no invasive building interventions on the look of the whole.The underground garages are hidden and connected with the houses by means of tunnels which take light through architectonic cuts. As far as vegetation is concerned, we opted for perennial plants as much local as possible following Paghera style: for this project 12 varieties of Bouganvillea have been chosen.



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Your Paghera gardenThe value of the endless elegance

Paghera family, five generations of nursery people who, one after the other, studied in depth nature thus catching each of its secrets. This story is fixed in the genetic code:

pagher, in the ancient Brescia dialect means fir and, in a wider sense, forest. Landscape architects, architects, the protagonists of complex interventions for the recovery and the transformation of territory.

To create landscape is a wonderful job, an activity aiming to make something tangible and real. Our intervention tools and the gardens we transform with passion, the very starting points, are real, too.

The job turns into art when the results take form and life, touching our souls with their beauty. To renovate, to keep jealously and to

safeguard, to make live and revive, to make shine again gardens, natural and cultural heavens in their wonderful reality which is changing and free, majestic and mysterious: this also represents our job, to create landscape signed Paghera.

Paghera’s style, a style which from planning gardens, terraces and swimming pools, results in a urban and engineering survey of living places up to interior design; from landscape architecture to outstanding works of environmental recycling and safeguard, through challenges and missions which are often considered as impossible, won with perseverance, knowledge, observation deeply respecting nature all the time.

Landscape, the synthesis of balance between nature and human interventions, is the noble cultural result whose value varies and increases over the time, taking historical features Fine Arts merger in the landscape architect’s work in order to

create an harmonious coexistence between nature and buildings, between landscape and house, applying one’s work to any scale. From the small heaven on a terrace, which often turns into the urban oasis where you can find a shelter, to the biggest garden, a unique scenography which puts on nature and poetry. Regardless the dimension of his project, he equally does all he can do in order to achieve this precious balance. Delicate geometries which draw connections between architectonic structures and open spaces next to them.

Botanical knowledge, sense and sensibility. These are the qualities which drive the creative process for planning gardens by Paghera, thanks to its 150 year old activity always characterized by important successes.

Your Paghera garden, the value of an timeless elegance, a unique scenography for its colors and scents which engenders magic sensations that only Nature may offer.


A recent installation - Sherborne Qatar enjoys new sports surfaceSituated near Education City, to the West of Doha, Sherborne Qatar caters for children from the international community and with a curriculum taught in English, British sports are very popular. Accredited by the Department of Education as a British School Overseas (BSO), the rigorous academic programme is supported by sport, drama, music and art – and requires the facilities to make this possible. When the school sought a new outdoor sports and play area, TigerTurf had the solution.

With growing focus on the use of smart technology for public spaces, the region is beginning to take a closer look at the merits of artificial grass for both landscaping and

sport applications. With this considered, here we take a look at some complete projects by leading artificial turf manufacturer TigerTurf UK, and how these solutions overcome some common issues faced by the region.

Turf’s UpSherborne invested in TigerTurf’s Soccer Real 50 XQ football surface – a result of breakthrough polymer processing that eradicates weak points which may occur in the yarns as a result of the shape, therefore producing unrivalled split resistance.The third generation synthetic turf system is 50mm in length and comprises two unique profiled fibres; part-filled with rubber and sand which enhance ball roll.

The school also plans to make the 85 x 28m pitch by utilising cross-play opportunities by splitting the turf into two smaller pitches. TigerTurf worked with their trusted contractor, Nakheel Landscapes on the installation which overcame the challenges of landscaping on an existing concrete surface, including extensive repair and compaction work. Always consider cross playRanjeet Singh, Sales Manager at TigerTurf commented: “It’s encouraging to see schools such as Sherborne considering cross play at the specification stage to make the most out of their pitch, as there are some important considerations that should always be factored in.

“Firstly, the amount of usage needs to be considered during the planning process, particularly given the profitable opportunities leasing the pitch out to other users can bring. The length of a pitch is always marked in its entirety to accommodate rules, but cross play occurs when it is also split into sections widthways to accommodate numerous games at one time - five-a-side football being the most popular at Sherborne. Catering for cross play generally increases the amount of players on the pitch at any one time which, naturally, maximises usage. This is undoubtedly a benefit for schools who aim for the sports facilities to be enjoyed by as many pupils as possible.

“Cross play can however have adverse effects on the life expectancy of the pitch, if it is not planned effectively; this needs to be considered at the specification stage. Importantly, but often forgotten during pitch design is how the layout of the pitch will influence usage. It may sound farfetched, but factors such as

artificiaL turf

“Finer blades of grass which are durable enough to offer long-term elite level performance without damaging aesthetics.”

Artificial Turf


the position of the entrance may have a dramatic effect on usage in particular areas. If it is positioned towards one end of the pitch for example, it is more likely players will use the area nearest to that entrance rather than playing at the opposite end. I’d encourage investors to consider creating two entrances to the pitch to encourage a more even spread of usage, or if one pitch has only a single entrance, try to rotate playing areas in order to achieve even wear across the surface and a prolonged lifespan.

“There is often a misconception that synthetic turf is a ‘maintenance free’ product, which is not the truth. The reality is that a synthetic surface requires less maintenance than a natural equivalent. Whilst this is something an investor may be aware of, it is absolutely essential that they allocate a budget for maintenance – both in terms of equipment and staffing – to keep their pitch in optimum condition. This can be factored in at the specification stage. “Ultimately, as with every consumable product, a pitch has a life expectancy which can depend upon factors ranging


from the materials used to manufacture the surface, the number of people using it regularly, and the level of maintenance. I’d encourage investors to compile a strong business plan in advance to ensure they ultimately benefit from a pitch which is the perfect fit for them.”

Doha College and Evolution Sports Academy enjoy synthetic turfDoha College collaborated with nearby Evolution Sports Academy, Qatar to install a synthetic sports surface to meet a variety of the establishments’ extracurricular requirements. As Qatar’s fastest growing multi-sports provider for children and young adults aged 3-18, the surface needed to be of a quality high enough to hone the talents of some of the region’s most talented players. The duo opted to install a Soccer Real 60 XQ surface from TigerTurf to host football, rugby and more general physical activities.

The surface was chosen for its durability and its ability to withstand temperatures of over 45°C, high humidity and intense

UV-levels. Since the surface was installed four years ago, the school has put it to good use and it is used by an average of around 300 children over a period of six hours every day.

Ranjeet Singh, Sales Manager at TigerTurf commented:“When opting to work with TigerTurf, not only can investors be sure they are working with a supplier with the infrastructure in place to carry out the installation, but they can also be assured that the product is of the highest standard, manufactured in Britain and backed by the reliability of TenCate yarns. All TigerTurf products are tested under demanding conditions of exposure for UVA/ UVB stability; something that is crucial in the Middle East market due to consistently high temperatures. These assurances are of high value for investors such as Doha College and Evolution Sports Academy, so we would encourage investors across the region to look for these marks of quality to invest in a surface that is future proofed for years to come.”

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i n t e r v i e w

Tell us about your background education and experience in the GCC area? I have a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Arizona State University were I graduated with honours and a master’s degree in business administration with a focus on strategy and business analysis from Boston University. My father started this business 20 years ago in Dubai, and I have been part of the business for the past decade. I am currently the Managing Director at Akar Technical and my primary responsibilities include business development, team building and implementing management practices across the company to support long-term growth of the organisation.

When did Akar Technical Services Company LLC first start business in the GCC region? Akar was established in 1994 as a landscaping contracting company. Over the last 20 years we have been associated with several prestigious projects across the UAE. We have also added an electro-mechanical division to our portfolio of services. We currently have a team of over 800 members.

How do you see the future of the landscape industry in GCC countries?There are several large scale developments across the GCC region. Places like Qatar, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia are striving to develop tourism in their respective countries. As a result several resorts and luxury hotels are being built. There is also an increase in the number of free hold properties in the UAE region which include villas, town houses and communities that tend to have large landscaping requirements. Many

Spotlight on Akar Technical

developers have also realised that with a high quality landscaped property, their potential to attract investors significantly improves. Customers want a nice play area for their children, ornamental gardens, jogging tracks and recreational swimming pools. All of these requirements will increase the need for specialist landscaping contractors and we offer the complete landscaping solution.

What distinguishes the landscape designs here in the Middle East compared to other areas?Landscape designs in the Middle East have a higher percentage of hardscaping specifications. This has primarily got to do with the weather in this part of the world, access to different plants and the cost of watering the softscaping. This also directly impacts the cost of the irrigation systems that are used in the projects and the irrigation component tends to become more expensive. Plants and shrubs that are generally planted here can withstand extreme heat and have lower watering requirements so this automatically gives the designers a limited option for the selection process.

What are the main challenges of doing business in the current GCC market post-recession?In general the challenges in this industry have remained the same. As contractors we are a lot more selective about the people we have to work with. Some of the challenges are to execute projects within tighter budgets and shorter schedules. Since this is a niche domain in the construction industry, getting specialists to do both the engineering work and also field work is a challenge. The nature of work and complexity of each project is

Some of the challenges are to execute projects within tighter budgets and shorter schedules

Private Villas at Emirates Hills, Dubai

Adnan NalwalaManaging DirectorAkar Technical Services Co LLC


increasing therefore it is vital that the client representative and the design consultant are aware of the practical challenges involved in executing these projects.

What changes need to be adopted in the GCC landscaping industry to become on par with the rest of the world?Client representatives and consultant teams should have a member who has been a contractor so that they are able to visualise the possible constraints contractors face. In this part of the world, clients and consultants tend to apply the same conditions of contracts that they apply to a main civil contractor. Landscaping projects generally are shorter in nature and payment terms stipulated are not in favour of the landscaping contractor. Most of the contract durations are short - let us assume a contract has to be executed in three months then the landscape contractor only receives the interim payment after the contract is completed. The consultants need to be more sensitive to issues in order to safeguard the completion of the project on time. The defect liability period (DLP) is useful in mechanical and civil structures where there is an engineering element. In landscaping projects, the softscaping element consists of living plants. There are many factors that could impact the survival of these plants - heat, water and soil are factors beyond the contractors reach. The DLP clause in the contract for the softscaping component of the project must be revisited. Do you think that the international standards for the landscaping industry are too rigid and unrealistic or can they easily be applied when executing projects?International standards as far as the softscaping specifications are concerned are not necessarily applicable in desert environment. Even cars are made with different engine specifications. For example, cars made for Europe do not have the same radiators as the cars made for the GCC area, as the weather does not permit that. So consultants and clients are fairly aware of these constraints.

What is the most challenging aspect of your work and the most rewarding?Most jobs need to be completed in tight budgets and within a stipulated time frame. As a contractor we would like our clients to pick any two out of the three standard requirements. Those three requirements

are price, speed and quality. Clients want to execute projects at a low cost and be completed in the shortest period of time with the highest quality of material and the best workmanship. The challenges lies to deliver on all three fronts as a contractor. However the most rewarding part is when the project is completed and the visual site itself makes the clients happy and all three requirements have been fulfilled.

Tell us about your latest projects.We are currently working on four major projects. We are executing the Palm Park for Dubai Municipality which is worth nearly 22 million dirhams, and is scheduled to be completed in December 2015. This

Jumeirah Golf Estate - Ring Road Dubai

Atana – Musandam Resort, Khasab


interviewpark covers nearly 106,000 Sqmt area which includes hard landscaping, soft landscaping, irrigation, lake, buildings and shade structures, perimeter fence and nearly 1300 palms that grow in the Middle East. We are also working on the entire external landscaping works for the 2200 villa project in Meydan. The project covers 95,000 Sqmt area and is nearly a 25 million dirhams project and is scheduled to complete in August 2016. Other projects include executing the entire landscaping area for the Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi and is expected to complete in June 2016. The project covers nearly 110,000 Sqmt area and is worth 30 million dirhams. Finally we have also started a new project called Meraas Outlet Village which is a fast track project and has to be completed in the next five months.

What do you see as the main challenges we face in landscaping in the near future?Clients have become a lot more cost conscious and they also want projects to be completed in shorter durations. This is largely driven by the fact that these projects earn revenue and as result the liquidity damages clause comes into play in case of delays. Keeping this in mind I feel clients and contractors need to be more realistic about the project completion dates. Clients should have an ex contractor in their teams so that the possible constraints can be visualised to safeguard both parties. Payment schedules should also be adhered to in order to safeguard the projects. Unlike the main civil contractors who subcontract a significant portion of the work, landscaping contractors will fail if not paid on time. They have no financial leverage and possible delay of payments will only result in failure of completion of the project in time. Conditions of contracts cannot apply in the same way as civil contractors to landscaping contractors. Both the consultants and clients need to show more flexibility specifically for issues like payment terms and also defect liability and specification stands on softscaping items.

Where does Akar Technical Services Company sit in the market?As a company we are gearing up to take on larger scale projects and have recruited specialists from the industry. We have also established a detailed QA/QC policy that will control the materials that are used in the

project as we do not want to compromise on that at any cost. We have several in-house onfield training sessions for all our workers with a check list in order to improve the workmanship on all our projects. We are also in the final stages of implementing an ERP system which will give us real time data on the project status. This will not only enable us to monitor the cost but also the actual progress on site. We would like to be the market leaders in our field and that is why we are taking on more challenging projects which will enable us to maintain our reputation of being top notch and a one stop shop landscape contractor.

Atana – Musandam Resort, Khasab

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Documents

Landscape Magazine June 2015