Leading landscape architects and designers along with top property developers will be in Dubai this November to showcase their wide range of landscaping and urban design solutions at the debut The Big 5 Urban Design & Landscaping Expo.

The region’s only dedicated trade fair for urban, green and open spaces, The Big 5 Outdoor Design & Build Show, will be back this year as ‘Urban Design & Landscaping Expo’ alongside Middle East’s largest construction event, The Big 5, said the organisers dmg events.

Addressing Municipalities, government bodies, landscape architects and designers, property developers, parks and resorts, contractors, as well as engineering and building consultants, the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo will feature both local and international exhibitors, as well as a broad educational agenda in 2018.

As Dubai gears up to host the debut show in November, leading experts are calling for sustainable urban design across the city’s growing outdoor spaces.

“Just because we have a very hot weather for half of the year, it does not mean that if we create well-designed spaces, people will not use them,” remarked Ahmad Bukhash, the director of Urban Planning at the Dubai Creative Cluster Authority and also a key speaker at the event.

"Dubai is transforming. Open-air recreational districts like La Mer, Al Seef and City Walk are sprouting across the city, pulling residents out of air-conditioned shopping malls," he stated.    

“Recent developments in Dubai are proving that well-designed spaces offer perfect conditions for people to enjoy outdoor areas even in the summer months,” he added.

Bukhash pointed ou that the new focus on urban landscaping goes well beyond recreational districts.

“Rather than just focusing on a building in its isolated self, Dubai’s future developments will increasingly invest in urban design and interconnectivity,” he noted.

“It’s time to scrap the stereotype of Dubai as a city living and breathing exclusively during the cooler months. Now the trend is changing,” noted Bukhash.

"Heat can be controlled with good urban design elements and building placement. Factors like the wind flow, the sun and the light must be taken into consideration in the planning phase," he explained.

Bukhash pointed out that electricity spend for air conditioning was huge in Dubai and the cost must and could be cut down through proper urban and architectural design.

"Proper design of outdoor public and shaded space can actually reduce the heat by 10 C°. Urban design is therefore going to play a growing role in the development of the city," he stated.

Bukhash said this vital paradigm shift would transform Dubai to become a walkable and accessible city all year round.

"Several projects like the latest ones developed by Meraas are stimulating the demand to focus more on utilizing shading devices as well as high-end street furniture, hardscaping and softscaping materials in the UAE in order for the outdoor spaces to become an extension of the interior spaces," he stated.

Organised by dmg events, the event will see exhibitors unveil a wide range of landscaping and urban design solutions spanning from garden and street furniture, to outdoor lighting, kitchens and water features; machinery and equipment for construction and maintenance of outdoor spaces; outdoor materials and components; irrigation and drainage; sports and playgrounds; landscape design, planning and consulting; and a specialist sector including grassing and planting in buildings, trees transplanting and maintenance and soil regeneration.

Josine Heijmans, the portfolio event director of Urban Design & Landscaping Expo, said: "There’s been no better time to invest in the urban design and landscaping sector in Dubai."

"We are excited to offer a brand new platform for industry professionals to connect, network, do business and learn. We are also extremely proud to support the further development of much needed green and outdoor spaces in the region," she added.-TradeArabia News Service