London-based architecture practice Grimshaw is once again to show off its flair for botanical gardens with a new botanical garden in Sharjah, UAE.
UAE Botanic Gardens, Photo: Grimshaw Architects
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qasimi, supreme council member and ruler of Sharjah has asked Grimshaw to create a garden ‘to encourage discovery and education while conserving the rich floral heritage of Sharjah, the UAE and the rest of the world’. The site will span more than 60 hectares — similar in scale and ambition to the Eden Project (Cornwall, UK) and Oman Botanic Garden (Muscat, Oman), both designed by Grimshaw.
Oman Botanic Garden, Photo: Grimshaw Architects
The project will be designed to support the educational, cultural and scientific vision for Sharjah, with displays of rare plants alongside comprehensive scientific research and innovation centres. It will also include a variety of immersive environments to educate people about various natural habitats and the importance of conservation.
The chosen site is adjacent to the Sharjah New Mosque and proposed, future residential development to offer the residents of Sharjah and the UAE an opportunity to enjoy the expansive garden on their doorstep.
The gardens will contain a rich and diverse range of natural habitats from around the world set within the overall garden landscape, plus individual biome enclosures for specific plant life environments. It will also have nurseries, a training centre, research institute and recreational areas.