The Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation has announced its plan to build a park in Abu Dhabi called the Al Fayah Park, which will essentially be a futuristic covered garden for the public that spans 125,000 square meters.
Thomas Heatherwick, the designer behind the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games and the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, has been selected to be the mastermind behind the new park.
When the Al Fayah Park is complete in 2017, it will feature play areas, flowers, exercise paths and provide fresh fruits and vegetables to local eateries.
Other Features:
- Picnic Areas
- Public Library
- Outdoor Cinema
- A Mosque
- Live Performance Areas
- Local Festivals
Perhaps the coolest part about the whole project is the fact that the park will be covered by a 20 meter high, sand-colored canopy in order to give off the illusion of a desert from above.
Ironically, the desert canopy will actually provide much needed, partial shade to the garden beneath it.
The Al Fayah Park is another big step toward building outdoor public spaces in the capital. By 2017, Abu Dhabi hopes to have 130 parks and play areas versus the 48 parks and 37 playgrounds the city has at the moment.
