Proposals reinvent an inhospitable express highway running right through the centre of Abu Dhabi. Currently lacking in any pedestrian infrastructure the concept was to turn it into an attraction which brings people together and brings vibrancy to the area throughout the year. The desire was to encourage people to walk the full length of the road or be able to drop in and out.
Proposals reinvent an inhospitable express highway running right through the centre of Abu Dhabi. Currently lacking in any pedestrian infrastructure the concept was to turn it into an attraction which brings people together and brings vibrancy to the area throughout the year. The desire was to encourage people to walk the full length of the road or be able to drop in and out.
The design reimagines the intersections of the highway as a metaphorical journey from the past to the future and of the ruling family’s journey from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi, and combine many elements of Abu Dhabi’s culture.
The proposed interventions comprise a series experiences at major junctions including: desert sculpture parks, light sculptures, tree walks, bridges, textile shading structures, roadside parks and a rolling pavilion programme. At the end an amphitheatre created for play, events and cultural public attractions employs precast concrete pavers and timber benches fixed to walls that display poetry using the latest interactive screen technology. An observation tower serves as a metaphor at the end of the journey signifying the continuation of the journey on to the future and to other lands whilst also offering the chance to look back along the road to the past.
Architect and Designer Squire & Partners
