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    Adrian Guzman

    Adrian is a multi-skilled Senior Landscape Architect with a background in architecture, landscape, and urban design. With 16 years’ experience, he has undertaken numerous innovative, sustainable, and people-centric projects across Africa, Asia, MENA and North America. His designs are characterised by a strong focus on nature and the integration of green spaces to promote harmony between urban developments and the environment. He believes in a holistic approach to design, blending creativity with practicality, and considers environmental sustainability a core principle in every project he undertakes. He firmly believes that a project should not only be visually striking but also centered around the well-being of the people who inhabit the spaces.

    Omar Aridi

    Omar is a Senior Landscape Architect with over 8 years’ experience in the design profession in the MENA region and particularly KSA. His expertise centres on delivering designs that strike a balance between realism and innovation. With a proven track record of fostering effective teamwork, he has successfully led numerous projects of significant scale particularly in the field of streetscape design. Driven by an unwavering passion to create spaces that enhance and elevate quality of life for private clients and communities alike, he crafts transformative landscapes that harmoniously connect people with nature’s beauty.

    Theresa Arellano

    Maria Theresa is a Senior Landscape Architect with 18 years’ experience in the design development and project management of landscape architecture projects across the Middle East, People’s Republic of China, Egypt, India and the Philippines. In 8 years of practice in the United Arab Emirates, her experience has ranged across the development of design concepts at schematic design stage up to completion of construction drawings demonstrating her wide-ranging applicable knowledge. Her passion for quality is evident across her work in contemporary open spaces, urban waterfronts, hotels, streetscapes and mixed-use commercial and high-end residential projects.

    Laurent Achkar

    Laurent is a creative, ambitious and dynamic Senior Landscape Architect with 8 years’ experience in a vast range of projects mainly throughout the MENA region. With a strong eye for detail, he enjoys working within teams to collaborate with world-renowned architects to ensure full integration between the buildings and landscape scope. With a positive outlook, Laurent is a passionate proponent of landscape design that takes account of environmental issues. Keeping abreast of latest global research, developments and best practice he helps to steer sustainability initiatives within the firm.

    New York University

    Landscape design for New York University Abu Dhabi tall palm trees in front of building.

    High quality walkable campus at the primary university in Abu Dhabi. Working with Rafael Vinoly Architects, the landscape vision was to use shade and water to create a ‘curated landscape’ that could be used throughout the year, providing collaborative outdoor learning, permanent and temporary exhibition and meeting spaces for students. An activation programme ensures that the functionality and value of the space is maximised. 

    Upper floors of residences are linked by linear ‘highline’ landscapes and footbridges from which the lower central spine, sculptures, exhibition spaces and grand Palm Court can be viewed. 

    © Catalin Marin Photography
    © Catalin Marin Photography
    © Catalin Marin Photography

    Robert Conchie

    Robert is a Senior Associate – Project Manager, based in Abu Dhabi, with 28 years’ experience within the landscape construction industry in the UAE and Middle East. Robert is Project Manager on the Post Contract team ensuring that the professionally created designs and details, from Cracknell’s design teams, are implemented on site to the required quality and aesthetics and within program and budget, maximising the long-term sustainability and enjoyment of the project whilst protecting the Client’s investment.

    Robert’s extensive experience both as a General Manager of contracting companies as well as Project Manager for Cracknell enables him to understand the challenges of project implementation with a fair and rational approach.

    Project quality is Robert’s passion, and he strives to achieve excellence in the projects he manages, and to ensure the project team working with him have the same objectives through collaboration, teamwork and mentoring.

    Asha Mallya

    Asha has over 21 years’ experience in HR and Finance. Commencing her professional journey as a qualified accountant, she soon discovered her true passion lies in fostering collaboration among individuals and cultivating a positive working environment. Leveraging her financial expertise and HR management, with exceptional business acumen, she has built the HR function to effectively support Cracknell’s growth.

    Notably, Asha assumes the role of an efficacious team leader, bearing the responsibility of overseeing and managing HR functions with resounding success. Cultivating relationships and trust among her colleagues is important to Asha. Her unwavering belief revolves around creating a supportive working culture that thrives on diversity, inclusivity, collaboration, mutual respect, and recognising the significance of a harmonious work-life balance.

    Alex Dios

    Alex has experience within the fast and challenging China and Southeast Asian market for the past 23 years and is Director of the Shanghai Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines. He has led projects ranging from small scale to mid-size community planning, urban landscape, mixed used, residential, commercial, and public realm.

    As a Senior Associate at Cracknell he heads and oversees the Manila team, sharing his experience and expertise in place making and sustainable design. Ensuring that the team’s design resolution meets Cracknell’s standards, Alex refines and takes responsibility for each project’s final design solution.

    Wasl1

    landscape design Wasl1, Dubai, UAE

    A mixed-use parkside development with hotels and dining experiences connected by an inviting and walkable public realm.

    Streetscapes between the areas are vibrant, active, lush and welcoming. The Metro Plaza is the jewel in the crown, where colour and light burst in artistic displays contributing to cohesive identifiable urban spaces.

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    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard

    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Dubai, UAE

    Dubai’s most famous street encircles the Burj Khalifa tower in a 3km arc. With the creation of a major new global city came the need to create a Downtown District for Emirates to take pride in, for tourists to cross off their bucket-lists & for the world to recognise as a global centre. The 73m wide Boulevard links the iconic tower, Dubai Mall & other prominent visitor attractions, & residential, commercial & retail developments with an extensive pedestrian esplanade; together with a dramatic lakeside promenade it provides a civic focus for Dubai’s capital city.

    The design challenge was to create a world-class boulevard with the same recognition as the Ramblas & Champs Elysee, with activated public realm featuring high-end retail, art & theatre.

     

    Defined by feature paving & aligned with gaps between the buildings, the Boulevard intersections delight onlookers with framed Burj Khalifa views. Themed details such as ramped steps, artwork, stone faceting & water jets celebrate these moments, encouraging socialising & cafe culture.

     

    Solidifying the area’s identity & referencing UAE culture, patternation was developed through optioneering. Created for expression in the paving, tree pits, sculptural settings, ramps & venting details, the pattern was proliferated through all public realm elements so that collaboration on street furniture, kiosks, wayfinding & lighting reflected & strengthened the sense of place.

     

    The Boulevard is trisected, reflecting neighbouring character areas, enticing visitors to explore. With open views of the Mall & Burj Khalifa, the Arrival Area is characterised by low planting punctuated by Delonix regia & its bursts of red flowers. Clear stemmed Pheonix dactylifera palms define the Urban Zone whilst both trees line avenues in the Garden Gateway, underplanted with ample shrubs & groundcovers.

     

    Trees, palms & plants sourced at mature size gave immediate shade. To accommodate for growth, 1.8m wide tree pits were installed. 16 years on, this foresight is providing year-round use with cooling established avenues, demonstrating the importance of urban greening.

     

    With the advent of personal electric transport and the birth of social media, the way we interact with cities, & art interfaces with landscape has changed irrevocably; however the feel of the Boulevard has remained true to the original aesthetic largely due to the success of the guidelines & design.

    Photography by Alessandro Merati © Cracknell
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