Archinect
Gustafson Porter + Bowman

Gustafson Porter + Bowman

London, GB

anchor

Mezyad Desert Park

This 4,400-hectare public park and visitor centre aims to celebrate and protect the cultural and environmental riches of a unique gravel plain in the uplands at the base of Jebel Hafeet Mountain.

The landscape concept centres on the restoration of the fragile desert environment, from preserving habitat corridors to collecting and propagating native seeds.

The masterplan protects historic and cultural assets such as Bronze Age tombs and Lithic finds as well as creating a visitor centre to host research and highlight the significance of the desert landscape through interactive displays and a cultural programme. Leading from the visitor centre, a series of trails provides defined and safe public access to the park.

 
Read more

Status: Unbuilt
Location: Al Ain, AE
Firm Role: Landscape Architect
Additional Credits: Botanist: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Horticultural Consultant: (and irrigation advice) Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Design Team Project Manager:
Lighting Designer: Speirs + Major
Local Architect: Rafik El Khoury
Local Engineer: Rafik El Khoury
Consultants: (Sustainability) Waterman International
Consultants: (Desert restoration) Thomas Zink, (Soil scientist) Tim O'Hare
Consultants: (Desert restoration technical consultant) Claude Boehme
Consultants: (Interpretation) Van Sickle and Rolleri