Tilal Park

Inspired by the distinct shapes of the Abu Dhabi desert landscape, Tilal Park offers healthy and sustainable places for life - all life.

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Rasmus Astrup

Design Principal, Senior Partner

Location

Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Size

11.000m2

Year

2022 — 2023

Client

Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport

Role

Lead Design Architect

Partners & Collaborators

Parsons, Nulty+, and Endpoint.

Awards

2023, Monocle Design Award — 'Best Urban Park'

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Using our nature-based design, we have created a natural gathering point for the entire neighborhood. In the rough and rugged Tilal Park, we have combined the native rocky flora and fauna with innovative urban design to create healthy, social, and sustainable places brimming with life.

The native plants provide shade and reduce irrigation demands while promoting an active lifestyle for the local children and the entire community.

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Building on years of ecological research into Abu Dhabi’s plants and biodiversity, SLA has designed Tilal Park as one of six major parks in Khalifa city. The parks contain more than 6.700 trees and bushes, comprised of 40 different native plant species. All are specifically chosen to minimize irrigation, strengthen biodiversity, and maximize natural cooling for the well-being of the park’s many human and non–human visitors. SLA’s biodiversity study identifies 40 plant species, 55 bird species, 56 insect species, three mammal species, and four reptile species likely to inhabit the new parks.

Using our nature-based design, SLA has created sustainable and healthy community parks that promote an active lifestyle for the local communities. Inspired by the local traditions and with the use of native flora and fauna, we have turned the barren city blocks of sand into green, sustainable, and social community parks for the inhabitants of Khalifa city.

In April 2023, Khalifa Six City Parks was awarded the prestigious Monocle Design Award in the category of Best Urban Park.