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Parks & Open Space Guidelines

Federal Precinct

General Tree Selection

  • Tree selection is critical to the sustainability and usability of public spaces.
  • Trees should be durable, well adapted to urban environments, and have low water requirements.
  • Specific selection should be determined by height, spread, character, litter production (from fruit, seeds, leaves, etc), and root ball size.
  • Tree should provide relief from intense summer heat and the sun’s glare. The growth habit of the tree should be wide enough (8m or larger is recommended) to provide significant shade.
  • Deciduous trees may be appropriate for areas that would benefit from increased solar access in winter.
  • Evergreens should suit areas that require visual screening and maximum sun protection.
Tree Planting Typology
  • Commemorative Plazas / Parks Trees
  • Iconic Street Trees
  • Street Trees
  • Retail Street Trees
  • Lane Trees
Commemorative Plazas / Park Trees
  • Tree should contain a broad mix of palms, shade trees and ornamental trees.
  • Tree should contain a mix of evergreen and deciduous.
  • Trees should be selected that support the character of the particular park or square. For example, formal Islamic gardenstyle areas can contain traditional species like date palms, citrus, and almond trees. In contrast, desert garden-style spaces can emphasize smaller-scale trees and large shrubs that are found in dry, rocky escarpments and canyons.
Boulevard (Iconic) Street Trees
  • Trees should be a mix of palm trees and full canopy decidious.
  • Tree planting should contain formal, grid-like planting structure with on-centre spacing ranging from 4 m to 10 m.
Local Street Trees
  • Trees should provide ample shade for pedestrians, cyclists and parked vehicles. Dense canopied, evergreen trees are recommended.
  • Trees should typically be 8-10 m in spread and height.
  • Tree spacing should reflect the mature size of the street tree. Trees should be planted with ample canopy and root space. 8-12 m on-centre spacing is recommended.
  • Tree spacing should work in unison with crosswalks, on-street parking, light poles, and bicycle parking.
  • Trees should have a compact root habit.
  • Trees should be easy to maintain and have adequate clearance for cars and pedestrians.
  • Trees should create a legible rhythm of vertical forms that compliments the rhythm of the architecture and site elements.
Retail Street Trees
  • Trees should have the same features as street trees, except they should have a more ornamental and visually distinct habit.
  • Features of the trees may include decorative flowers, special foliage, deciduous or evergreen species, or interesting branching structure.
  • Trees should provide ample shade during summer months
Lane Trees
  • Trees shall be placed within private setbacks
  • Smaller evergreen and/or deciduous trees, 3-5 m in spread and height is recommended.
  • Tree placement should not interfere with lighting or access to garages.

Lighting

  • Lighting within the public realm together with borrowed light from buildings should create an identity and ambience which reinforces the character of spaces at night.
  • All pedestrian streets should be lit.
  • Lighting should clarify and highlight linkages and aid in wayfinding and orientation.
  • Lighting should promote the perceived and actual safety, as well as security of spaces.
  • Lighting should emphasize the hierarchy, function, and use of spaces in the public realm.
  • Lighting should be easy to install, respond to crime prevention, and be low maintenance.
  • Lighting should illuminate key features and focal points to help enliven spaces and provide a sense of drama that in turn can help activate the public realm at night.
  • Lighting should minimize the amount of light pollution or obtrusive spillover into surrounding residential areas.
  • Lighting should utilize building facades as a surface on which to mount lighting fixtures for the public realm as well as enhancing building image.
  • Lighting should provide a family of fixtures compatible and consistent in colour and character.
  • Lighting should establish a hierarchy of functional luminaires for specific uses to comply with mandatory code requirements and standards.
Lighting Typology
  • Commemorative Plazas / Capital Boulevard
  • Parks
  • Retail Streets
  • Major Streets
  • Internal Streets
Street Lighting
  • Lighting to aid vehicle movement and safety.
  • Lighting should be pole mounted with outreach arms.
  • The style and height of the poles should be compliant with the local authority.
  • Fixtures should have an optical lens with no upward light spill.
  • Major streets should have high-intensity lighting (metal halide fixtures.)
Pedestrian Lighting
  • Lighting to aid pedestrian movement and safety.
  • Lighting should be situated at a lower level than Street Lighting and consist of post top/pole mount luminaries, fixtures under canopies and wall-mounted lights.
  • The distribution and positioning of poles should comply with local authority requirements.
  • Lights should be low intensity (high-pressure sodium.)
Crossing Lighting
  • Lighting to aid pedestrian movement and safety.
  • Provide lighting that increases awareness and that intensifies the illumination at pedestrian crossing points.
Wayfinding Lighting
  • Lighting aids in pedestrian direction and circulation.
  • Lighting should be low intensity such as bollards, in-ground lights, step and wall lights. Lights should supplement pedestrian lighting but not substitute it.
Feature Lighting
  • Lighting to highlight and focus attention.
  • Lighting should display and accentuate a space, structure, artwork, or monument. Lights include in ground up-lights, floodlighting that provide colour and movement. Location, positioning and specific fitting types should be tailored for the subject matter.
Landscape Lighting
  • Lighting to highlight landscape and foliage.
  • Lighting should consist of fittings suitable for highlighting shrubs, trees, and flower beds and should compliment pedestrian and wayfinding lighting.

Monument Park Character

  • Monument Park contains an iconic monument that pays homage to the heritage of UAE. The monument should be a distinctive architectural and/or sculptural structure that is a unique landmark for the Federal Precinct.
  • The UAE Monument should act as a point of legibility within the Capital City District. It should be visible from a great distance – easily seen when approaching from Dubai, Al Ain and the Western District of Al Gharbria, and on departing the island of Abu Dhabi.
  • The park provides a public gathering space that serves as a transition from the ‘urban’ character of the Federal Precinct to the ‘natural’ character of the desert. In addition, it references the forms and principles of the traditional Islamic garden.
  • The park should function as a major amenity providing distinctive and iconic open space. It should be a dynamic area with multiple uses and activities including a water feature, a shady square with seating, and cafes.
  • The park should emphasize a ‘desert’ environment with soft and hard paving, palm trees, and shade structures.
  • The park should emphasize a clear site line to National Square and the National Mosque.

Capital Boulevard Character

  • Capital Boulevard West is the western portion of the civic and open space spine of the Federal Precinct. It connects Monument Park to International Park.
  • It is comprised of a series of character sections at block level. The character of these sections transition from a more arid, desert feel of at the western end to a more lush area at International Park.
  • The built form along the edges of the Boulevard are primarily embassies in this zone.
  • The civic spine should host a variety of monuments that celebrate the history of UAE.
  • In order to provide significant pedestrian amenity, water features should be incorporated along the spine. Water features should be proportional to the width of the boulevard.

International Park Character

  • International Park is the large circular focal open space at the heart of the Federal Precinct. It should contain lush and comfortable outdoor spaces.
  • The park is organized on a four-quadrant grid that references Islamic traditions. A mix of shady and sunny spaces can be achieved through the use of bosques of palms and shade trees.
  • The park should accommodate a variety of uses including recreation, civic, cultural, and religious amenity.
  • The park should include underground parking, with appropriate parking access (entry and exit) points as needed.

National Square Character

  • National Square is the oval-shaped open space at the center of the Capital City District.
  • It should be a highly formal and commemorative space that serves as a dignified compliment to a stately government building.
  • The plazas and the architecture should be integrated both visually and functionally. This can be achieved through the use of a large shade structure and/or floating roof that extends from the building into the space, by having a common family of materials, and design details between the architecture and the public realm.
  • Clear sitelines should be maintained along the central axis of Capital Boulevard to Monument Park to the west and the National Mosque to the east.

City Centre Precinct

Distribution Overview

The City Centre Precinct has a population of approximately 200,000 residents which is 55% of the entire residential population residing on 11% of the land area within the boundaries of the Capital City. The distribution of open space in the City Centre is based on
balancing open standards with overall land densities and precinct populations.
The City Centre project area provides approximately 1 hectare of open space for every 1,000 people which is a substantial amenity in a dense urban environment and significantly greater than many world class cities. This ratio compares very favourably with other
cities (New York City, San Francisco, Washington DC). The Capital City as a whole seeks to achieve Estidama goals of 2 hectares of open space for every 1,000 people, which will incorporate the lower residential population areas.

Irrigation Management Overview

Open spaces are managed according to the amount of water consumed with the areas of highest water consumption getting the greatest amount of horticultural care. The management strategy involves the use of plant materials and other landscape components
that do not put additional strain on scarce natural resources.
It has been conceived to support the reuse of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), with a goal of keeping it under 50% of the total TSE produced. This strategy will allow for the potential of using the excess TSE within the private domain, as a primary irrigation source. The purpose of the management zone designation is to coordinate open space and landscape plantings with management strategies for the City Centre. These water management requirements provide enough flexibility to create a variety of high-quality public and private open spaces, while achieving city-wide water use and sustainability goals.

Example of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) Use Analysis

The table on the following page illustrates a methodology for calculating the irrigation requirements for Precinct Seven, taking into account the open space types within the precinct.
The water use calculations separate street trees from park land areas. Street trees water needs are based on a linear street frontage, corresponding number of street trees and water use by plant species. Where as park and other planted areas rely on a water use per square meter of park space.

Park Typology Overview

All open spaces in the City Centre are categorized into specific typologies based on the size, scale, and intended character of the space. These typologies include: ceremonial open spaces, recreational parks, neighborhood parks, civic plazas, linear parks and pedestrian spaces within street rights-of ways.

  • Ceremonial Open Space
  • Neighbourhood Park
  • Civic Plaza
  • Linear Park
  • Recreational Park