Abu Dhabi’s new project Saadiyat Grove, which is valued at $1.5 billion, will be built on the emirate’s Saadiyat Island, CRTKL’s associate principal Geoff Ford told Arabian Business.
CRTKL is a global cultural agency, which specialises in architecture, planning and design.
The project is set to be a “connective fabric” between the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum.
On completion, the Saadiyat Grove will feature 60,000 square meters of retail, entertainment and leisure spaces, and will have approximately 3,000 homes, two hotels and co-working spaces for new enterprises and startups.
Saadiyat Grove draws inspiration from traditional, urban design principles, CRTKL said, which can be seen in the streets and squares, all of which have been organised in a “city-layering plan” across multiple levels.
Food and beverage outlets will be at street level. Retail outlets will be featured at street and first level, and will allow visitors and residents to grab a view of the museum from all levels, the agency said.
“Saadiyat Grove is a testament to the shared vision of CRTKL and Aldar Properties, together we have been able to set a new benchmark for mixed-use design and development. With community and culture at its core, Saadiyat Grove exemplifies the modern lifestyle and points to the future of residential, retail and entertainment environments,” Ford said.
Ford added: “Driven by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, we advance upon the 15-minute city concept at Saadiyat Grove with a heightened pedestrian experience that we have enabled year-round with low carbon solutions and passive strategies that combat the urban heat island effect.”
Within the fabric, Saadiyat Grove will see several modes of transport such as motorised bikes, segways, shaded integrated walkways, autonomous cars, shuttle buses and personal rapid transit which is a 100 percent driver-less vehicle which operates in the existing infrastructure.
Additionally, the Saadiyat Grove will also see spaces dedicated to visitors and residents such as libraries and galleries.
The project’s construction is already underway and is set to open to visitors in less than five years, CRTKL’s Ford said.
Follow us on
