Reading the landscape

zoom

With a new year beckoning, it is only natural to pause and reflect on what has gone and to ponder what may be.

In this spirit, COD contacted a number of industry professionals to ask them to give their take on future trends in outdoor design.

The theme was open to interpretation although to stimulate discussion, each contributor was sent the following questions: How do you think the use of outdoor space in large-scale residential developments in this region will change over the next 5-10 years? What role do you think the outdoor will have in developments in the Middle East region in the future? How will these changes lead to a greater promotion of an outdoor lifestyle in the region?

John Wigham, Marketing director, Cracknell

The increasing wealth of the Gulf region and its success in attracting tourists and expat workers is leading to the biggest change happening to outdoor spaces in the region. ‘Europeanisation' - the move towards wanting to use these outdoor spaces in the style and manner of European cities is in fact led in part by locals who are travelling more and more frequently to Europe, and indeed residing there, especially during the summer. Their experience of the ‘trattorias', the ‘piazzas' and the ‘terraces' - probably one of the traditional high-points of European summer life - lead them to want to recreate that experience at home, and it's welcomed equally by European (and other) expats who also know, relish and seek that ambience.

What will this mean in practical terms? More than anything else, it will lead to a focus on the creation of a specific ‘style' or ‘feel' for a space. If, for example, it's a Parisian, Champs-Elysée style that's wanted, all the décor details will have to be taken into account, including the very proportions of the street - a general ‘patio' style will no longer be sufficient.

There will still be a place for local style - low cushioned couches as Shisha areas are all the rage in London - but it must be ‘authentic'. For designers this means knowing what surface finishes to use to achieve a certain look, what proportions, what containment. Location is also critical - many of the best places to loiter for hours over a cappuccino are on the street, where people-watching is the main recreational activity. To recreate this, it means artful managing of pedestrian and vehicle traffic to create that constant buzz of activity, whilst still maintaining enough peace and safety for it to be a comfortable pedestrian environment.

In summary, outdoor spaces are going to be much more habitable, much more ‘lifestyle' spaces where people can meet and socialise for hours on end.

Print | Email | Discuss this article |

READERS' COMMENTS

View all comments (0)

Have your say

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM