Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council Magazine Issue 6 April 2012

Complete
Sustainable
Communities at
Cityscape 2012
Cityscape 2012 is an important date in the
UPC’s calendar. Between the 22nd and 25th
April at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
(ADNEC), The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council
is showcasing its commitment to planning for
Complete Sustainable Communities across Abu
Dhabi Emirate.
Since 2009, the UPC has been presenting its
strategic framework plans for the future of the
Emirate. Having initially launched the master
plan for Abu Dhabi’s new Capital District in
2009, it has gone on to successfully launch
Plan Capital 2030, the framework plan for
Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area in 2010 and last
year, this was built on with the launch of the
framework plans for Al Ain and Al Gharbia,
along with some of the UPC’s key policy and
guideline initiatives.
For 2012, the focal point has now shifted to
a greater level of detail. This shift represents
the Government’s renewed commitment to
utilising the framework and master plans the
UPC has created over the past four years and
focussing in on the individual communities that
make up Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Planning for Complete Sustainable Communities
- communities which meet the needs of today’s
residents, yet are flexible enough to meet the
changing needs of future generations - has
always been a core objective for the UPC as part
of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Vision 2030. To
meet this objective, the UPC has created a suite
of planning policies, regulations and guidelines
which complement each other and equally
support the creation of new communities, the
completion of existing communities and the
revitalisation ofestablished communities, to
ensure everyone lives in
a vibrant, high-quality
community that reflects
the values and culture of
the Emirate.
What do
Complete
Sustainable
Communities
consider?
Complete Sustainable
Communities address
the four pillars of
Estidama – environment,
social, cultural and
economic. This requires
consideration of issues
such as increased mobility and access to
community facilities and connectivity and
comfort of the outdoors to encourage increased
pedestrian activity. Creating Complete
Sustainable Communities is therefore of
benefit to all people in Abu Dhabi.
The overarching principles
of Complete Sustainable
Communities
• Safe, secure, comfortable, varied and
attractive - vibrant places that offer variety and
choice and have a range of community facilities,
both now and in the future, including:
o High-quality mosques that are accessible for
all worshippers;
o A range of community facilities that are in
line with the needs and size of the population;
and
o A number of parks, open spaces and plazas to
exercise, walk, meet and relax in.
10 VISION MAGAZINE ISSUE SIX