We are thrilled to announce that last night we received two project awards for our landscape design work in the MENA region and our Group Design Director/Managing Director Europe Fady Khalife received a Prominent Professional Award at the Landscape Middle East Conference and Awards Ceremony in Riyadh.
The conference hosted talks from many of the key players in the MENA landscape sector who spoke about pertinent landscape topics including inclusive play, the role of landscape in positive mental health, water and soil management and green infrastructure. Representing Cracknell, Hani Bisada and myself, co-presented sharing insights into the ‘Evolution of Landscape in the Middle East’. Referencing some of Cracknell’s major projects, we covered five pillars of: Appreciation of Local Context; Aesthetics; Economics; Sustainability and Human-centric Design. We highlighted how the Middle East’s visionary development plans have created a regional opportunity to become a global leader in helping to find innovative solutions to many of the common challenges within the built environment.
In the celebratory evening Awards ceremony, we were delighted when our flood resilient blue and green infrastructure project at Wadi Hanifah won the Regeneration and Masterplanning category! Building on the Saudi Vision 2030 Quality-of-life objective, the project integrates Wadi Hanifah into a succession of parks united by key principles to connect former agricultural land with the urban fabric, to regulate flow during heavy rainfall, provide inclusive opportunities for healthy lifestyles and respect buffer zones to protect the cultural assets. By restoring & developing 7km of Wadi corridor as an environmental, recreation & tourism resource, the historic farm patchwork is preserved, providing open space for the Diriyah communities & settings for the heritage structures. A regional destination, the park network underpins cultural pride, provides ‘green’ amenities, floodwater management & improved quality of life. Cultural heritage is a key economic driver promoting landscape engagement. An interface with Saudi Vision 2030’s Sports Boulevard project links the park into the city-wide walking/cycling network, & planting & materiality sympathetically reflect the local landscape to preserve city identity.
We were also pleased to be highly commended in the Parks and Recreation category for Dubai Creek Harbour Park! A modern 30ha green space, the Park forms the centre of an island at the heart of Dubai Harbour on the Creek. Surrounded by mixed use development with residential towers, retail & restaurants, there are a multitude of opportunities for play, sports and events as well as respite & privacy along the tree-lined walks with views to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. For the residents of the encircling communities, the Park is a neighbourhood focus; for Dubai visitors it is a contemporary city destination. Looking forward, it forms one of the ‘green lungs’ of a visionary new walkable, sustainable district masterplan with identifying landmark views. With the new district designed to house 200,000, cultural considerations & needs of differing user groups were key to creating an integrated social community space.
And we were very proud to see our Group Design Director/Managing Director Europe Fady Khalife receive a well-deserved Prominent Professional Award. Fady has a wealth of experience gained over the last 29 years working internationally on projects in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. He derives great pleasure in nurturing young design talent at Cracknell, encouraging originality and creativity and instilling a passion for storied design. His high quality, site-sensitive designs are known for making the end-user experience memorable and the award is well deserved. Congratulations Fady!
These awards could not have been achieved without our clients, project stakeholders and fellow design teams with which we collaborate so closely in the pursuit of a successful project outcome.
Wadi Hanifah: WSP (Infrastructure & Transport); UAP (Art Strategy Consultant); Dar Al Omran (Architecture, Mechanical & Structural Engineering); DezignTechnic (Signage & Wayfinding); Diriyah Gate Company Limited (Client)
Dubai Creek Harbour Park: EMAAR Landscape Studio (Initial Park Concept); Parsons (Infrastructure & Transport); DAR Consulting (Architecture, Mechanical & Structural Engineering); Lappset (Play & Fitness Equipment); Scenic Genius (Bespoke Cracknell designed Splashpad); Gebal and American Ramp (Bespoke Cracknell designed Skate Park); DPA (Lighting); EMAAR (Client)
