Estidama, the sustainability initiative developed by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), the agency responsible for the future of Abu Dhabi’s urban environments, and Aldar Properties, the leading developer, have today launched the first Estidama Fareej Design Contest for university students in the UAE.

The Contest that follows the announcement of the villa guidelines by Estidama during Cityscape Abu Dhabi in April, will engage university students in architecture, urban planning, engineering and related disciplines to learn and apply the lessons of sustainable design and construction for the design of a sustainable Emirati villa integrated in the local traditional neighbourhood - Al Fareej.

Al Fareej is the smallest unit of Emirati communities. It is a group of homes large enough to accommodate an extended Emirati family clustered around a courtyard or park. The pattern is based on the traditional organization of Emirati settlements and reflects the importance of family relationships. Plots can be allocated so that extended families share the central courtyard, giving them the proximity to one another that they need. Privacy is ensured by the cul-de-sac entrance that keeps out through traffic. Narrow, shaded �sikka’ allow pedestrians, especially children, to move easily and safely from one courtyard to the next.

Participating teams must submit a computer based model on two-storey, multi-family, residential villa that will include living areas and an indoor space for meetings and gatherings. The design must incorporate high energy efficiency standards and include sustainable design elements in the Estidama categories of Living Systems and Liveable City, Liveable Buildings, Precious Water, Resourceful Energy and Stewarding Materials.

University teams can register for the contest by completing an online registration form on www.estidama.org/fareejdesigncontest by September 24th. As part of the contest, Estidama will invite all participating students to attend a �Pearl Rating’ sustainability workshop. Estidama’s Pearl Rating System is a voluntary program made available to developers seeking to achieve recognition for pursuing a higher level of green building and development. On the same day of the Estidama ’Pearl Rating’ workshop, Aldar will arrange for the participating students to visit the development plot in Al Falah residential community..

H.E. Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, said: "Estidama reflects the values of the UAE and intends to preserve the physical, environmental and cultural identity of the emirate of Abu Dhabi as the essential ingredient of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. The Contest will engage students across the UAE in sustaining Abu Dhabi’s social and cultural heritage and encourage responsible sustainability practices. Also, the Contest mirrors UPC’s keenness to involve youth in supporting, implementing and promoting Estidama guiding principles".

All designs will be judged based on specific criteria and a grade system as displayed in the requirements document published on Estidama website. Selection of the winning designs will be based on comprehension and inclusion of design criteria and considerations, meeting all requirements effectively and creativity in the presented solution and whole house design. Bonus points will be awarded for innovation, buildability and presentation. Decisions on the merit of the designs will be taken unanimously by a jury composed of representatives from UPC, Estidama, Al Dar and other government agencies as well as sustainability and urban planning experts.

Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Aldar Properties, said: "We are proud, as a leading responsible developer, to have joined Estidama in its community outreach initiative, Estidama Fareej Design Contest. The contest will provide students with a unique experience and opportunity to apply their academic background in a major actual project. It will allow them to know the challenges of design in practice and train them to be mindful of Estidama sustainability best practices." Al Dar’s Al Falah community will provide around 5,000 homes for middle-income UAE families, as part of the Abu Dhabi Government’s housing initiative supported by UPC. It will comprise five villages, each with its own centre, 15 schools, and mosques. The town centre will be the focal point of the entire development and will contain civic buildings, a 65,000 square meter retail mall, a hospital, 50,000 square meters of commercial office space, a hotel and a sports and leisure complex.

Saood Al Junaibi, Director of Development Review and Urban Design, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and a senior spokesperson for Estidama said: "As we move ahead with creating a culture of sustainability, the Estidama Fareej Design Contest will cement our outreach to the community. It will help educate the public on our concept of social and cultural sustainability and give students the opportunity to integrate best Estidama sustainability practices into projects that will then be part of Abu Dhabi’s urban environment. Students will also become better prepared to incorporate sustainable design methods into their work and to bring this experience to their future design and construction professions".

The winning design will be announced on Monday 2nd November 2009, and will be invited to collaborate with Al Dar’s team to discuss the practicality of their designs and integrate elements into the Fareej home models at the planning phase of the new Al Falah community that will be built for UAE nationals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The winning design will be showcased at GreenBuild International Conference and Expo taking place in Phoenix, Arizona (USA) in November 2009, where two students and one faculty from the winning team will be invited by UPC. It will also be presented in the Estidama exhibit at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010, and will be featured in the Al Manakh 2, a publication exclusively sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.

 

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