Role of Smart Land Scape Architecture in Smart Development of the UAE

Abstract

Development of Cities are often judged by the economic condition, commercial activities and building forms. The emirates cities of UAE are known for high standard of lifestyle, safety, security and beauty. The city has expanded from a small trade center to a large commercial hub. The extreme weather of UAE gave rise to clusters of housing settlements with very less window openings that restricted direct sunlight and hot air within the habitable areas. Instead, light and air was allowed to pass through the small courtyards, corridors, sikkas, wind towers and vertical slits within the roofs of the buildings that could reduce the harshness of the climate and provide diffused light and cool air to the buildings. With the advent of technology and digitization, people’s movement got restricted and the outdoor spaces and public realm started losing their importance. UAE Government is trying to conserve the courtyards, sikkas, walkways in old city and create new parks, playgrounds, event centers in the new area. The Government is forming guidelines to reserve a percentage of open space with community and connect these spaces with the pedestrian and bikeways within and outside the developments. The recent drive to integrate all communities with the help of public realm by using land scape features and allocating various active spaces is a move towards a unique healthy urban development. The research will prove how the weightage of Public realm is more than land value land value in sustainable urban design. This chapter will describe the typologies and hierarchy of open spaces and public realm of the UAE that have regained the importance under the governance of his highness and developed innovative ways to recreate and integrate with new activities supporting the urban fabric.