A number of companies were involved in the development of the
masterplan, according to Rashid Al-Awadhi, principle architect with
Injaz, a member of Dubai Properties.
One of those, he said, was
Eric Kuhne's UK-based Civic Arts, which was involved in the initial
concept design. Civic Arts is the designer of the 250 square-kilometre
City of Silk.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens is to be located between Emirates Road and Al-Khail Road, and will measure 88 square kilometres.
Featuring 73 per cent green space and 10 per cent waterways, the low-density development is to be built over six phases.
The
first two - covering infrastructure and parks - are to be implemented
immediately, following approval from the ministry and contractors being
signed up. This is expected to take place within the next few months.
Hashim
Al-Dabal, chairman of Dubai Properties, said: "We are comfortable, if
we sign contractors to build the roads and bridges, that a timescale of
two to three years is satisfactory. As a whole project, I estimate the
first two phases will take between five and seven years."
The project will also feature a 42-kilometre canal, to run from phase 3 of Business Bay into the Persian Gulf.
Al-Awadhi
added that Dubai Properties is looking at various forms of water
transportation to connect Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens with other
projects in Dubai.
Al-Dabal stressed that the project is
illustrative of Dubai's ambition to meet the growing sustainable
agenda. "Seventy-three per cent of green area takes a lot to deliver,
and we are having to give away a lot of land for nature, which could
otherwise be developed on."
The inevitable demands placed on
water supply will be met by a combination of desert-type flora and
fauna, which are acclimatised to the region, and plants which can
survive through the natural moisture in the air alone.
The system
of civic parks, which will be a feature of the development, will be
supplied with grey water produced by the residents.
The project will consist of four sections:
-
The
House of Nature - the main cluster of the development, featuring
gardens, environmental labs, recreational clubs and alternative
medicine and herbal clinics
-
The House of Wisdom - to include Dubai Central Library, international organisations and universities and science colleges
-
The House of Humanity - to feature charities, humanitarian establishments and a museum
-
The
House of Commerce - includes banking and finance schools as well as
branches of insurance companies, international companies and Islamic
and international banks.
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