Landscape Middle East Magazine - April 2023

In this issue

Welcome to the April Issue! Read about the Urban Conga, an award-winning multidisciplinary design studio made up of a diverse group of creatives based in Brooklyn, New York, in our feature about how to create ‘Playable Cities’. They investigate how play can begin to exist in everyday spaces and encourage people to think about these spaces that could become PLAYces: like walkways, bus stops, street lights, park benches, or just the everyday spaces in-between.
Jordanian landscape architect, Yazan K. Mahadin of MK Associates, delves into the importance of landscape architecture in the fight against climate change in her article: The Intersection of Art and Survival on page26
The new Confex Park in the Northern Greek city of Thessaloniki has been described as an emblem of the city’s present and future ambitions. The new landscape design of the park respects its rich heritage in a contemporary form, making it a destination for all who live in and visit the city. Read more about the design and plant selection on page 32
Since it’s considered a luxury to have a garden in Taiwan, when residents design it, they don’t hold back! Star House integrates greenery into the exterior façades so every window has a view of it, and the ground floor courtyard ‘Zen’ garden — inspired by Japanese gardens, is a nod to the clients’ youthful years in Japan. Read page 22
Located in Saadiyat Island’s cultural district, Abrahamic Family House is a collection of three religious spaces: a mosque, a church, and a synagogue— all of which will sit upon a fourth secular space consisting of a Forum and raised garden. Designed by Adjaye Associates, the unique space will serve as a community for interfaith dialogue and exchange, nurturing the values of peaceful co-existence and acceptance among different beliefs, nationalities, and cultures.