Ghadan 21
- Location
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Client
- Department of Municipalities and Transport
- Expertise
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Lighting
- Urban Design
- Completion
- 2019
Ghadan 21 is a comprehensive and complex initiative aimed at revitalising the public realm and streetscape along Abu Dhabi’s historic Airport Road.
This area is the largest retail and commercial precinct in Downtown Abu Dhabi and serves as a prominent tourist destination. The project includes six key themed vehicular junctions and the associated streetscape.
The design focus prioritises enhancing accessibility, activating parks, addressing climate considerations, promoting placemaking, improving network connectivity, and establishing a distinct brand identity. This is accomplished through thoughtfully designed elements, including paving, feature walls, dedicated cycling tracks, art installations, water features for temperature regulation, and shading devices for protection from sun and wind.
In collaboration with local consultants, BDP has implemented innovative solutions such as microclimate pockets and custom shading structures based on data-driven efficacy rates. Furthermore, the integration of a continuous cycling route along the road has significantly enhanced Abu Dhabi’s cycling infrastructure, fostering connections between mobility, health, leisure, and sport, thereby reinforcing its reputation as a notable ‘Bike City’.
"Ghadan 21 transforms Airport Road into a dynamic, connected and climate-resilient corridor-revitalising its legacy with purpose and innovation, with placemaking at its core."
