2016 february landscape middle east magazine article

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14 I www.landscape-me.com I February 2016 15 I www.landscape-me.com I February 2016 Rootball Fixing System D-MAN System @ Of�cial Distributor E: [email protected] T: +971 4 8860 700 F: +971 4 8860 701 LATIPUS TREE ANCHORING SYSTEMS Piddler Irrigation & Aeration System ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT L andscape architecture is the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social- behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. This involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and soil conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome. The scope of the profession includes landscape design; site planning; storm-water management; environmental restoration; parks and recreation planning; visual resource management; green infrastructure planning and provision; and private estate and residence landscape master planning and design; all at varying scales of design, planning and management. In an exclusive reach-out to some select Landscape Architects in the region, Landscape Middle East Magazine realised that the UAE, like most of Middle Eastern countries, is set in a challenging ecological environment and the lack of lushly vegetated areas provides opportunities to create an oases within the built environment. Among Building for the Future Designing in a challenging ecological environment other things, psychologists suggest that plants and green spaces offer a sense of rest to workers thereby making them more productive. Views of plants reduce job pressure, headaches, improve air quality and increase job satisfaction among employees they say. Landscaping has evolved into an integral part of the UAE’ culture and plays a crucial role in the quality of its environment, affecting economic well being, physical and psychological health. No wonder, landscaping and design have become a trafficable industry. According to Walter Bone, ASLA CLARB, Manager - Urban Design at Khatib and Alami CEC, the future of the industry is very dynamic and constantly expanding. He said, “landscape

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Page 1: 2016 February Landscape Middle East Magazine article

14 I www.landscape-me.com I February 2016 15 I www.landscape-me.com I February 2016

RootballFixing System

D-MANSystem

@

Of�cial Distributor E: [email protected]: +971 4 8860 700F: +971 4 8860 701

LATIPUSTREE ANCHORING SYSTEMS

Piddler Irrigation& Aeration System

ecological environment

Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor public areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-

behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. This involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and soil conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome. The scope of the profession includes landscape design; site planning; storm-water management; environmental restoration; parks and recreation planning; visual resource management; green infrastructure planning and provision; and private estate and residence landscape master planning and design; all at varying scales of design, planning and management.

In an exclusive reach-out to some select Landscape Architects in the region, Landscape Middle East Magazine realised that the UAE, like most of Middle Eastern countries, is set in a challenging ecological environment and the lack of lushly vegetated areas provides opportunities to create an oases within the built environment. Among

Building for the Future

Designing in a challenging ecological environment

other things, psychologists suggest that plants and green spaces offer a sense of rest to workers thereby making them more productive. Views of plants reduce job pressure, headaches, improve air quality and increase job satisfaction among employees they say. Landscaping has evolved into an integral part of the UAE’ culture and plays a crucial role in the quality of its environment, affecting economic well being, physical and psychological health. No wonder, landscaping and design have become a trafficable industry.

According to Walter Bone, ASLA CLARB, Manager - Urban Design at Khatib and Alami CEC, the future of the industry is very dynamic and constantly expanding. He said, “landscape

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architectural design of the public realm is wide open and I feel this is just the start, where the future of sustainability design is the finish line.” He advises aspiring landscape architects to love the profession and not see the proceeds in monetary value but the smiles and laughter of families enjoying their work.

As to what should distinguish landscape designs in this region as opposed to the other areas, Bone says “[It] should respond to the local desert environment by utilizing materials and species indigenous to the locale, wherein, site design should incorporate techniques for efficient water use by providing desert-adaptive softscape species and preserving native plants. Water, as a landscape element, should be used judiciously and water features should only be placed in high pedestrian circulation areas”.

Nevertheless, the landscape and design industry like others in the region, UAE in particular, hasn’t and is not a ride without hurdles. Bone highlights the resultant sway of constant economic swings from the region on the UAE and impractical practices by industry players as major challenges.

“My first experience on design and construction management here in UAE, left me a bit frustrated. The plant growing farms and contractors growing/supplying their own materials, deliver materials to the construction site that do not meet the minimum specifications. As seedlings, the plants are planted very close together, forcing them to grow upward very fast. The result is woody stems to the top with little or no branching and sparsely covered with leaves. Sometimes, just 2-5 leaves

for a 500mm tall shrub. This is totally unacceptable and I have never seen this before.” He also intimates that if nothing is done fast to mitigate the economic downturn, strategic planning will become quite an issue in both the public and private sectors. However, Bone, remains upbeat in turning these threats into opportunities as Khatib & Alami, CEC Urban Design & Landscape Architecture seems to have mastered their trade given its 50 years presence in the region and 37 years in the UAE in particular.

Quizzed on what aspect of his job challenges and rewards him most Bone chuckles; “ I guess it would be the same, understanding and satisfying the clients and end user’s needs in both a sustainable and economic fashion.” Amid other outstanding projects in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia inter alia, Khatib & Alami, CEC Urban Design & Landscape Architecture prides itself with the Desert Rose SMART City

for the Dubai Municipality, Al Falah in Abu Dhabi and Najmat Development on Reem Island.

Bone is a graduate of Landscape Architecture from Mississippi State University. Since graduation in 1988, he has also taken continuing education courses in Wetlands Delineation, Wetlands Mitigation Design and Wildlife Habitat Restoration. He worked as Principal Landscape Architect for the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, KSA and residential developments, resorts and theme parks in the US, Hong Kong, Macau, China and India before moving to the UAE where he has been living for three years now.

In another view, Masato Kametani, RLA Lead Landscape Architect at Parsons, advocates that, “the construction market is commodity-price driven and finding the right people with the right skill sets is one of the challenges of doing business in the current GCC market”.

There is a common saying that no industry, whatsoever, is void of challenges, however, Kametani, in an unusual way, takes interest in extremes. “The field of landscape architecture is very broad and comprehensive, so I will not even try to speak for the whole industry. However, extreme weather patterns, growth of senior population, and environmental pollutants are some of global issues that are interesting to me. At a regional scale, preserving the local culture and heritage including arts and crafts, architectural styles, and unique urban built forms of the region is something I am very interested in.”

ecological environment

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“For every project I work on, visiting the site to understand what I am dealing with is the first step. Beyond the scope of work our customers ask for, I encourage my team to see what impact our project could have on future users, areas surrounding the site, or maintenance crews in cases of park projects for example. There is an idiom in Japanese, “「温故知新」On_ko, Chi_shin,” which literally means to “warm the old and learn the new.” In other words, it means to study old or previous cases or examples, and gain the knowledge or understand them so that one can apply that to new things. People might have heard of a word “Kaizen” that is a philosophy or a form of practice to “improve continuously,” it talks about how to conduct a business or personal efficiency for example. These two ideas or attitudes are indispensable to me as a professional to create our exterior living spaces that are safer, well-planned and connected, and ultimately more enjoyable for end users.”

In a brief on his recent activities and projects involved in their design and/or execution, Kametani said he has been working on the design of jogging and cycle tracks that are located throughout Abu Dhabi Island and Mainland. There will be 42 km of jogging tracks and 12 km of cycle tracks. “Needless to say, producing 1,600-sheet set of drawings was challenging on its own, but coordinating with various agencies and stakeholders was something I haven’t dealt with before, at least at this magnitude. Today, the project is under the tendering process. The entire team including those from

His message to aspiring landscape architects? “Travel a lot locally and internationally, walk around notice your surroundings and meet local architects. It is a really good way to learn what sort of issues [others] are dealing with, and to think what I would do if I faced a similar challenge at home. Most importantly, be passionate about being a landscape architect! Any aspiring landscape architect in the GCC needs to always aim to provide solutions that combine local experience, international landscape design practices, and infrastructure engineering design capabilities.”

Quizzed on whether international standards for the industry are too rigid and unrealistic or can they easily be applied when executing projects, Kametani said it had to do with safety guidelines and standards in landscape design. “It is a way for us as designers to be more creative and provide a solution that works. If you understand the true essence of what a standard is meant to achieve, there are many ways to accomplish the same result. Building codes in the US, for instance, could be very challenging to implement, but definitely not “rigid” or “unrealistic.” Guidelines, especially in terms of safety and universal design, need and should be followed when designing for the general public. They are an important aspect of design, when we are designing to improve the quality of life. I believe good safety guidelines and implementation are very important in the landscape industry. We need to be more aware how to design safer and user-friendly environments. Safety is another one of Parsons’ core values and we are firmly committed to providing safe designs and solutions to all of our customers, whether it’s for a landscaping, transportation, water or defence project.”

With an eye on the main challenges of doing business in the current GCC market, Kametani hinted at some changes that need to be adopted: “First of all, there is no landscape architect as a licensed profession. I am an “engineer.” I believe the profession and the role of landscape architects needs to be recognized and should not be a part of the field of architecture or engineering. From my point of view, landscape architects play a very important role in such a fast developing country like the UAE.”

various agencies is excited about this project, and I personally cannot wait to break ground!”

“Parsons has a pretty impressive portfolio of landscaping projects and what I think is one of the most amazing aspects is the multidisciplinary nature of all the landscaping work the company has done in the region over the last several decades. Some of the biggest landscaping projects we’ve worked on recently include:

• Abu Dhabi Parks and Recreation Facilities Directorate Landscaping and Irrigation, UAE

• Nshama Town Square, UAE

• Ministry of Housing Infrastructure Project, KSA

• Qetaifan Islands, Qatar

• Doha Expressway, Qatar

The most challenging part is to believe in someone’s vision for the project throughout the project life, from the concept development all the way to execution. It is rewarding when you see the completion of a project, and when you see it is what you envisioned. But the most amazing aspect of being a landscape architect is when you realize the project touches someone’s world and provides a pleasant experience. It could be as simple as placing benches in an ordinary neighbourhood park. That’s really the spirit of everything that Parsons does; “trying to create a better world for someone, to make all the places where we operate become better places for everyone.”

ecological environment

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He added, “ I would like to see individuals be more empowered and take a bigger role in becoming stewards of their landscape; I truly believe that we are serving the general public through our projects.

“Lastly, we, the practitioners as a whole, need to be steadfast of playing a role to improve the quality of life of the public. What we propose needs to be beyond just the design and construction work, but work with the customer to implement changes at higher level if it were to improve the public realm. Our company has 15,000 employees engaged in projects in 29 countries; this gives us the ability to exchange ideas with our peers all over the organization to find innovative ways to address our customers’ landscaping requirements and to eventually enhance the public realm. I think cooperation across all the different market sectors, countries and continents is very important and it’s one of the things that have made us successful throughout the years.”

Differentiating landscape designs here in the Middle East from other parts of the world, he said that landscape designs are not necessarily different in terms of design processes or ideas, but because we are in such a different type of landscape in terms of climate, geography, and cultural context compared to other areas, everything seems to be unique in many ways. The execution aspect or construction methods are quite different. I believe that there is always room to develop new ways of doing things. There are talks about sustainability or sustainable design/development, and I am sure many

changes will come. Taking the extreme summer weather in GCC as an example, it provides us a great opportunity to test and learn how we tackle the issue of heat island effect. Perhaps landscape architects will come up with unconventional ways to mitigate challenging issues, and the rest of world could benefit from their findings.

Perhaps one of the things that differentiate landscape designs here is the magnitude of some of the projects. One of the biggest projects Parsons is currently involved in is the Ministry of Housing Infrastructure project in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, and through a subsequent contract amendment, Saudi Arabian Parsons Limited (SAPL) partnered with the Ministry to tackle the largest sites planned for development—17 separate community sites totalling nearly 74 million m² of land supporting about 92,000 apartments and villas. The communities will ultimately include mosques, medical facilities, schools, police stations, parks, landscaped open spaces, commercial/retail development, electrical substations, and sewage treatment plants to provide complete and modern communities attractive to Saudi citizens. SAPL is undertaking data collection, urban master planning, complete technical design, and full construction supervision of all infrastructure and landscaping for our assigned sites, which range in size from roughly 1 million m² to 10 million m² and are spread out from Tabouk in the north to Khamis Mushayt in the south and from Dammam in the east to Jeddah in the west. Once the developments are built,

the landscaping associated with them will be extremely exciting in terms of designs, magnitude and impact on the communities.

Parsons’ first project in the GCC region dates back over 6 decades (the 1950s), when we were involved in several water projects in the region, as well as an airport in Saudi Arabia (Dhahran). As Parsons’ first major airport project, we were the design-build architect and engineer on this award-winning facility. Our team featured sophisticated themes of well-known Arabic designs throughout the terminal.

Parsons has a strong commitment to each of the GCC countries, and all the various sectors’ teams have been fortunate to contribute to some of the GCC’s most prestigious projects. As we start tackling much more complicated issues such as pollution mitigation, natural resource management, public health issues or economical impact as the result of landscape implementation, the landscape industry is continually evolving in the GCC. Landscape projects will be broadening their scope beyond just surface treatments, to understand how each project will be contributing, impacting or affecting the greater context such as social values, education and the well-being of the general public.

“Landscape architects are not experts in economics, medicine, or chemistry; however, working with various experts from different fields to understand the key components of each and try and come up with the best solution for any

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given challenges we face. Secondly, I believe that there is more work to be done for public interstitial spaces. The construction pace is so alert here; old buildings are continuously replaced with newer and more sophisticated buildings. When I first visited the UAE about 2 years ago, I was walking through the canyon of these new buildings in Dubai, and I was surprised that there were not many walkways connecting the different buildings. Designers and developers seemed to have focused mostly on architectural design and overlooked “the ground” in the projects, and how it related to the next plot. This has significantly improved during the last couple of years; I see nice streets with adequate walking space, with street furniture shaded comfortably with a large tree, or with shops open to the street and welcoming passers-by. However, in order to make cities more liveable and ultimately more sustainable, we should consider making public spaces more pedestrian-friendly and interconnected.

“I think the bottom line is basically all about heading towards an increasingly more sustainable way of doing landscaping. Whether we’re looking at it from the environment, marketplace, workplace or society point of view, our aim is continuous progress and sustainability, when it comes to landscaping or any other market we operate in. Sustainability is one of Parsons’ six core values and we are constantly incorporating sustainable ideas and tools into our landscape designs”.

Parsons is one of the largest international engineering consultancy firms in the GCC that is fortunate enough to work on some of the region’s most prestigious projects. In terms of Parsons’ position in the market, he said, Parsons currently has more than 5,300 employees in the GCC. Some of the largest projects Parsons is currently working on in the GCC are:

Abu Dhabi Airport Expansion Program, UAE. Parsons has been working for the Abu Dhabi Airports Company since 2005, to support them deliver the major expansion program. The multibillion-dollar expansion program was structured to quickly deliver improvements that meet immediate needs while preparing for anticipated growth. The customer is Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

Etihad Rail, UAE. Under a joint venture, Parsons is the program manager for the first stage of the Etihad Rail, the 1,200-km strategic freight/passenger railway—UAE’s first national rail network. It serves the entire UAE and will form part of the strategic GCC rail network, connecting the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The 266-km Stage 1 links gas fields of Shah and Habshan to port in Ruwais. Stage 2 expansion is soon to be awarded and Stage 3 is in development. The customer is Etihad Rail.

Lusail Development Project, Qatar. Parsons has been providing program and construction management services for Lusail Development since 2006. Lusail City extends across an area of 38 square kilometers and includes four exclusive islands and 19 multipurpose residential, mixed use, entertainment and commercial districts. It will include leisure spots, residential buildings, commercial towers, avenues and public ports. The customer is Lusail Real Estate Development Company.

Ministry of Housing Program, KSA. Parsons was awarded the first package released by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Housing as part of a program to build 500,000 houses over the next few years. This initial package comprises 32 million m² of land area divided into 11 sites spread across the Kingdom. Each site covers a different area, ranging from 10 million m² in Dammam to 729,000 m² in Khamis Mushayt. The customer is the Ministry of Housing Saudi Arabia.

Batinah Expressway, Oman. The 275km-long expressway starts at the western end of the Muscat Expressway (previously designed and supervised by Parsons) and extends towards the border with the United Arab Emirates at Khatmat Malaha. The expressway will be interconnected with the existing Batinah Highway through 14 grade-separated interchanges and link/cross roads. The project also includes a large number of wadi bridges, and overpasses at local roads. The customer is the Ministry of Transport & Communications’ Directorate General of Roads & Land Transport.

CSSP (Common Sea Water Supply System), Iraq. Contract to carry out front-end engineering designs (FEED) for a system to supply treated seawater to state-owned South Oil Company in Iraq.

Masato Kametani is the Lead Landscape Architect at Parsons. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Masato is relatively new to the GCC (12 months) his experience here has been amazing so far, as he thinks that working for Parsons provides opportunities for him to interact with so many different disciplines and various sectors within the organization; “this has had a tremendous impact on my personal and professional growth and I am very excited to be here. Based on the experience I have had so far, I really look forward to being part of future developments here”.

ecological environment