The Gulf region has a rich history of creating green and cool urban spaces. 

However, since the 1970s, the cultural landscapes were discontinued in favour of styles imported from overseas. The new fashion was for open, ornamental but largely shadeless landscapes. This approach proved ill-suited to the Gulf’s climate and culture, requiring significant resources while offering little shade for cooling and other benefits.

What happened to the old ways? Look back a little further in time and you find the oasis, the walled garden, and the paradise garden. These traditional landscape approaches use natural elements wisely to improve quality of life. Visiting examples of these cultural landscapes revealed parks, gardens, and streets demonstrating sustainable typologies, reshaping our understanding what could be for  today’s Gulf cities. 

There is a common thread through the climate-appropriate cultural landscapes: the tree garden, a practice of closely spaced trees providing shade, sub-canopy ventilation, and clear visibility. Recognising its potential, we further researched global applications, finding many examples used in cutting edge contemporary design.  

Since then, we have re-introduced tree gardens with contemporary design to create beautiful green, cool spaces from Muscat to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh. With growing interest and enthusiasm for natureculture landscapes, we are excited at what is to come—join us on this journey.