The Dream for True Urbanism in the Middle East: Recent Planning and Development in Abu Dhabi

Efforts Toward the New Urbanism in the Middle East: Recent Planning for Abu Dhabi

in the United Arab Emirates

Larry Beasley, C.M.

Congress for the New Urbanism Denver - June, 2009

Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates

The Falcon

HIS EXCELLANCY MOHAMMED AL BOWARDI GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF ABU DHABI

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN CROWN PRINCE OF ABU DHABI

Dubai

Vancouver

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

Dubai

THE ABU DHABI URBAN PLANNING COUNCIL

HIS EXCELLENCY FALAH AL AHBABI

“Abu Dhabi Plan 2030”

“Al Ain Plan 2030”

“Al Gharbia Plan 2030”

“Eastern Region Plan 2030”

The “Charrette” Process

“BASE TEAM” FOR DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Beasley and Associates, Planning -Larry Beasley, C.M. – Principal

Busby Perkins and Will, Architects -Peter Busby, C.M. – Principal

Civitas Urban Design and Planning -Joseph Hruda - Principal

SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST THINKERS

Dr. Mark Jaccard – Infrastructure Engineer -Canada Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald – Urban Designer -United States Christopher Stapleton – Transit Planner -Australia Karl Fornier - Architect -France and Morocco Dr. Peter Hellyer – Archeologist/Ecologist -Great Britain and U. A. E.

Dr. Alan Jacobs – Urban Designer/Planner -Unites States Herbert Dreiseitl – Landscape Architect -Switzerland Dr. Robert France - Ecologist -Canada Jeffrey Tumlin – Transportation Planner -United States Norman Hotson - Architect -Canada

Dr. Jala Makhzoumi - Agriculturalist -Lebanon John Buck - Developer -United States Jaakko van’t Spijker - Architect -The Netherlands Dr. Aziza Chaoni – Heritage Architect -Morocco David Camp – Economist -Great Britain

Regulatory Development and Detailing of Abu Dhabi Downtown Urban Design

OTAK, ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS -David Siegel – Principal -Joe Dills – Principal

“Estidama” = Sustainability

Abu Dhabi: Masdar

Abu Dhabi Capital District Detailed Planning

SOLOMON CORDWELL BUENZ, ARCHITECTS -Ted Strand – Principal in Charge

-Christine Carlyle – Project Manager

Marrakesh

Beirut

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

ABU DHABI – PLAN 2030 OVER-ARCHING PRINCIPLES

1.  Abu Dhabi will be a contemporary expression of an Arab city, which has people living, doing, and thriving in healthy supportive proximity to one another.

2.  Abu Dhabi will continue its practice of measured growth reflecting a sustainable economy, rather than uncontrolled growth.

3.  Abu Dhabi will respect, be scaled to, and shaped by the natural environment of sensitive coastal and desert ecologies.

4.  Abu Dhabi will manifest its role and stature as a capital city. 5.  Abu Dhabi’s urban fabric and community infrastructure will enable

the values, social arrangements, culture and mores of this Arab community.

THEMES FROM THE NEW URBANISM

DIVERSITY DENSITY USE MIX

SOCIAL MIX WALKABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY OPEN SPACE

BEAUTY VITALITY CULTURE

CHARACTER HUMAN SCALE