Khazzan Park and Community Centre

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

One of Dubai’s oldest urban parks, built in the 1970s, Khazzan Park housed a large water tower and was located in a low-income neighbourhood of the city. The park had been abandoned for a decade when the architects approached the municipality and persuaded them to commission them to repurpose the park. They first rehabilitated the landscape and conserved the existing plants, and restored the water tower to allow it to continue to be a landmark in the area. They then designed three civic buildings out of recycled materials within the park: a library, cafe and pavilion. The park meets all its energy needs from solar panels.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture