Dubai Opera Garden Green Roof & Greenwalls
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
32,292 sf greenroof & vegetated terraces and approximately 500 sf greenwalls

Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: March 5, 2018

Following our wonderful experience attending the 5th International Green Roof Congress in Kuwait City last month, we are highlighting one of the projects we visited afterwards when we traveled to Dubai: the beautiful Dubai Opera and its new Opera Garden.

Installed in July 2017, the Dubai Opera Garden has center stage to the Burj Lake and the fabulous Dubai Music Fountains presented by the stunning Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s highest building.

Mini Description & Details

Situated in what is considered ‘the most prestigious square kilometre in the world’, the spectacular Dubai Opera is framed by the Burj Khalifa, lakes, fountains, and an array of mixed-use development.  Shaped like a dhow, a traditional wooden sailing vessel used in Arabian Gulf waters, the Dubai Opera was designed by ATKINS.

The 3,000 square meter Dubai Opera Garden green roof was installed by AGCCIC over a large utility building located directly in front after two years of research by Knauf Insulation. Many festivities are held here at the publicly accessible green roof park and cultural space.

Challenges included weight restraints of the roof structure, the hot and dry environment, and high water consumption for keeping the roof green.

Knauf Insulation provided a lightweight system created by using only a 10 centimeter growing media profile using one layer of Urbanscape Green Roll mineral growing media (known as Hydro Blanket in the US) and a layer of local sweet soil on top.

Two types of semi-intensive green roofs include the large, open green park space planted with native Paspalum Grass and a smaller slightly elevated roof for plant testing with Sesuvium and others.  The system weight was reduced by 70% and irrigation needs were lowered up to 40% as compared to the standard green roof solution in Dubai.

More

Steps provide entry to the new green roof with access ramps on the side, dramatically lighted at night. A series of colorful modular greenwalls cover two sides to soften the structure.

Surrounded by a set of curvaceous vegetated terraces, a variety of different climate-adapted shrubs were planted such as Agave and Bougainvillea. The open space provides a beautiful elevated view of the world famous Dubai Music Fountains and colorful light show put on several times nightly.

Dubai Opera is a definitive international destination for performing arts, and its Opera Garden provides a needed and spacious public greenspace amenity to visitors to the world-class entertainment venue.

Year: 2017
Owner: EMAAR Properties
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Semi-Intensive
System: Single Source Provider
Greenroof Size: 32,292 sq.ft. and Greenwalls Size: ~ 500 sq.ft.
Slope: 2% and 95%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Landscape Design: Harold Bekker, NLME Design
Landscape Design: Patrick Blom, NLME Design
John Noordam: BVB Substrates
Mineral Growing Media: Urbanscape Green Roll (Hydro Blanket), Knauf Insulation
Jure Sumi: Knauf Insulation Green Solutions
Darja Majkovic: Knauf Insulation Green Solutions
Dubai Opera Architect: Janus Rostock, ATKINS
Green Roof Installation: AGCCIC
Modular Greenwall System: Biotecture Ltd
Greenwall Installation: Acacia LLC (part of Tanseeq Investments group of companies)

All the Info:

View the Dubai Opera Garden Green Roof & Vegetated Terraces and Dubai Opera Garden Greenwalls project profiles to see ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about these particular projects in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Dubai Opera Garden Green Roof & Greenwalls Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

Greenroofs.com Project of the Week 3/5/18 video credits: Video courtesy of Linda S. Velazquez and photos © courtesy of Knauf Insulation/Urbanscape® Green Roof, Dubai Opera, EMAAR Properties, dubaimetro.eu, AntonGots.com, and Linda S. Velazquez.

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof (or Wall)!

By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher & Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits Host