Planting Design 2013 Working Group 3 - Case Study B

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''''''SALAM PARK .. Oasis in The Heart of The Desert''''''

Name	Salam park
Location	lat 24.621449 lng 46.707964
Country	Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors	Auther: Mohammed Alkhanbashi .. Owner: High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh .. Designer: Omrania & Associates + Aukett


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Rationale: Why is this case interesting?

Salam Park (312,000 m² ) represents one of the natural elements for Riyadh city center in Qasr Al Hokm area (Rule Palace), heart of Riyadh and its historical and heritage center that witnessed the start of march to the foundation of the modern Saudi State.
This park is established Salam famous farm land whose ownership was taken back to public utilities of the city that farm was famous for its quality dates palms. Due to the strategic location of that farm, and the need of parks and open areas as well as green lands, and due to high population density in this area, it was decided long ago to expropriate this farm to convert it into public park that serves citizens. This USD16 million project is sure worth a visit! Open on all days.
This project represent 4 main zones: 1. Date palms zone ( historical farm ) 2. Green lands zone 3. Lake zone ( in the heart of the desert as an Oasis ) 4. Ecological zone ( for research and cultural awareness)

This project won the Bronze Award for environmental and recreational projects within international awards for vital communities, London 2007

Author's perspective

I am Mohammed Al-khanbashi from Yemen. I have bachelor of science in Landscape Architecture from Faculty of Env. Design, King Abdulaziz Univ., Saudi Arabia in 2012
I am interesting in cultural & historical preservation, urban heritage & management, landscape planning and sustainability
I like this project ( Salam Park ) because it is one of the great landscape architecture project in Saudi Arabia. it's show many issues like preserving historical date farm, environmental problems solving, ecological awareness and amazing place in the high density area as a city lungs in the heart of the desert

Landscape and/or urban context of your case

The main theme of the project is to provide family entertainment park with multiple environments in order to entertain visitors with enjoyments and fun through furnishing park with green lands, utilities, and children playgrounds. This park will be inside the high density population area in the heart of the city with solving many environmental problems in the area.

'''"Project Zones"'''

Date palms zone

This part of the farm represents an example of the traditional farm where visitor may enjoy and benefit of palm shades where they can select places to sit without having special constructions assigned for families. This act gives the park real simulation of factual life and gives visitors freedom of choice.

Green land zone

This part contain shading plants area for seating & relaxing, path for walking, playground and activity plaza.

Lake Zone

One of the most prominent elements of the park. Bed of the lake is provided with layers of paved clay and insulation materials to preserve its water. Many measures and precautions were taken to ensure the continuous movement of lake water and to prevent insect and mosquito growth as well as to avoid the growth of bryophytes. These measures include lighted fountains, pumps to create continuous water current, and plantations that limit the growth of bryophytes. Lake is divided into two zones; one of them is assigned for boating and the other representing natural life that is expected to attract local and migrating birds.

Ecology Zone

The project is also accommodating highlands at the center of the South Eastern part of the park, aimed to provide simulation of natural life for selected species of animals and birds living in the region. Visitors shall enter to this zone by the guidance of appointed specialists to serve visitors and introduce them to the components of such zone.

'''"Considerations & Connection with Context"'''

The park is surrounded by a wide and safe path for walking and jogging.
Water is provided to the park through water tunnel coming from King Fahad road that is purified and then pumped to the lake or to the network for irrigation.
This project is complementary with King Fahad Road where this park is contributing in increasing green lands on the sideways of the roads, which in turn contributes in reducing air pollution of car exhausts.
Design has taken into consideration to get the advantage of the existing elements. In this context, date palms form is saved and some more trees were added to it. Initial conceptions and planning was made to benefit of the existing buildings in the park, through built-in modern styles but still it is old with unique designs and high capabilities to be converted into cultural center with many cultural activities that are recently growing.
green lands and waterbeds should be liable to expansion and growth in the desert nature of Riyadh.

'''"Facts & Figures"'''

Inauguration: 14/11/1424 H - 6 January 2004
Total Area: 312,000 m².. Green Area:125,000 m².. Lake Area:34,000 m².. Pavement Area: 20,000 m².. Parking Area: 17,700 m²
Circle Path Length: 1000 m .. Circle Path Diameter: 330 m
Circle bridge path length: 145 m .. small bridge length: 25 m
Number of date palms in the farm: 1350 date Palms
Number of shading trees: 1900 trees
Number of shrubs: 87000 shrubs
Number of Ground covers: 38000 GC
Number of water plants: 10500 plants

Illustrations
Park Zones
Concept Map of Salam Park principles & concept
History timeline - 2001 - Historical salam farm has a lot of date plams
History timeline - 2002 - Historical salam farm start lose many date plams then the demand of the public park in the high population area let High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh to choose the site and transfer it to the public park as city lungs
History timeline - 2005 - Salam park save its historical date palms farm and make public park contains many cultural and natural environments
History timeline - 2008 - salam park after it won the Bronze Award for environmental and recreational projects within international awards for vital communities, London 2007
History timeline - 2001 - Salam park now become the most important and lovely park in Riyadh city

Analytical drawings

The cultural activities interact in balance with the natural environments zones which provided in this park to allow visitor feeling the nature by touch, smell and get sense of natural spaces.
Palms farm simulate the traditional palms farms to give visitor opportunity to live the past and learn how these farms grow and how to deal with it and increase the social awareness
The green lands zone and the lake zone provide many cultural activities such as relaxing under trees shaded area, walking, riding bike, playing in the playgrounds & football fields, playing surround lake and getting tour by boat in the lake.
The ecological zone provides simulation of habitat for birds and animals which give opportunity to increase ecological awareness for the culture.
The project solve many environmental problems such as purified the sewage water that coming from king Fahad road and reused for filling the park lake basin or for irrigation, also increasing the green lands along king Fahad sides road to decrease the cars air pollution, also create plants buffering to avoid the king Fahd road noise.
The project solve accessibility problems by create pocket car parking and the entrances along the minor roads ( far from the main road ) to avoid crowded and give smooth of vehicle movements
So, I think this park create successful balance between culture and nature interact.

Analytical Drawings
Conceptual Diagram Analysis that show the main park concept which provide cultural environments and solving environmental & accessibility problems
Conceptual Master Plan Analysis which show the main park ideas
Salam Park Traffic Layer
Salam Park Movement Layer
Salam Park Vegetation Layer
Salam Park Ecological Layer
Salam Park Services Layer
Bird view pic Illustration for Principles & main concept
Panoramas Analysis
Drawings detailed analysis
Pictures detailed Analysis

Projective drawings

** How would you like this case to change in the near future? (in 1-2 years)

Create improvements for present plant design by suggest solution for the lack of transition between palms area & trees area and between trees area & the lake.
Using some principles of plant design such as transition by contrast plants, and design plants for community learning & participation, and design plants as art work, and using pocket native plants around the lake

Projective Drawings
projective in 1-2 years _ Lack of transition solutions
projective in 1-2 years _ Transition by contrast plants and Plants for community learning
projective in 1-2 years _ Plants as art work and Pocket native plants

** And how could it look like in 10-15 years?

Redevelopment proposal for the connection between Salam Park and King Fahad Roads as one of the most important URBAN GREEN CONNECTOR in the city. By creating hierarchy of space and plants transition with natural and cultural activities interactive( Services building for shops,restaurants, cafes...etc and interactive zone and social space and transition plants and walking zone and roof gardens ..etc

Projective Drawings
projective in 10-15 years _ Redevelopment proposal for the connection between Salam Park and King Fahad Roads as an URABN GREEN CONNECTOR

Summary and conclusion

Salam Park is one of the best example for successful urban park in Saudi Arabia. It is start from government decision to transfer the famous Salam Farm to open space in the high population density as the lungs of the city.
This project won the Bronze Award for environmental and recreational projects within international awards for vital communities, London 2007.*
The main theme of the project is to provide cultural activities by family entertainment park with multiple environments ( traditional palms farm, green lands, lake and ecological zone )with solving many environmental problems

My projection in 1-2 years is create improvements for present plant design by suggest solution for the lack of transition between palms area & trees area and between trees area & the lake and Using some principles of plant design such as transition by contrast plants, and design plants for community learning & participation, and design plants as art work, and using pocket native plants around the lake

My projection in 10-15 years redevelopment proposal for the connection between Salam Park and King Fahad Roads as one of the most important URBAN GREEN CONNECTOR in the city. By creating hierarchy of space and plants transition with natural and cultural activities interactive( Services building for shops,restaurants, cafes...etc and interactive zone and social space and transition plants and walking zone and roof gardens ..etc