{"id":29980,"date":"2025-02-12T15:47:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T20:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parsons.com\/?post_type=project&p=29980"},"modified":"2025-03-11T10:56:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T14:56:19","slug":"athlon-by-aldar-dubai-united-arab-emirates-uae","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.parsons.com\/project\/athlon-by-aldar-dubai-united-arab-emirates-uae\/","title":{"rendered":"Athlon By Aldar \u2014 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spanning approximately 119 hectares, Athlon by Aldar<\/a> is an innovative urban development located in Dubailand, a massive residential development and hotspot by Dubai Properties.<\/strong> The site is well placed and within easy reach of upcoming communities, connected to the city\u2019s surrounding highway system with multiple access points, 20 mins away from Dubai Airport and Dubai Mall (one of the world’s largest shopping malls in the UAE) and is directly connected to the 86km Al Qudra Cycle Track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A structure plan for the development forms the basis of the design. Parsons has been commissioned by Aldar to develop the master plan and infrastructure design within Athlon. The master plan includes walkable communities featuring various villa and townhouse typologies, along with a rich mix of leisure, living activities, and retail options. These elements are connected by high-quality streetscapes, pathways, open spaces, and parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athlon: A Community for Active Living<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The community is designed to offer a harmonious blend of tranquility and connectivity, with lush green spaces and contemporary architectural styles that cater to modern urban living. Every space is curated to provide a variety of outdoor activities for the athletic and active community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parsons\u2019 landscape design and urban planning of Athlon, a community that includes seamlessly connected running tracks, bike tracks, sports courts, yoga spaces, and swimming pools to encourage physical activity and relaxation. Sustainability is a core principle, with native plant species and efficient irrigation systems minimizing environmental impact and maximizing natural shade across the carefully connected open spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homes Made for Movement <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Parsons team employed a multidisciplinary design approach, integrating various experts to create a cohesive and meticulously planned design scheme. Key destinations are within a 5-minute walk or short bike ride, and the development features green corridors, cycling paths, and parks to encourage movement and reduce car use. The design ethos focuses on creating an environment that supports vitality and movement, harmoniously blending natural and built environments to enhance overall quality of life for residents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-Concept Stage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Pre-Concept Stage, involved refining the master plan design by studying multiple options, conducting regular brainstorming workshops, and obtaining constructive guidance and reviews from the client and authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialists like RSP and Cracknell contributed to the project during the visioning stage to enhance the master plan as it evolves. By collaborating with landscaping and design experts, as well as sports and wellness specialists during the pre-concept stage, Parsons is able to create innovative and active play design concepts. These concepts distinguish the community by focusing on the creation of vibrant spaces that promote fitness within an integrated parkway setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the desk study stage, the development was benchmarked against other international communities to identify best practices and ensure the design is competitive within the local market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialist partners also played significant roles in enhancing the project vision and ensuring the public realm is intuitive and easy to navigate, while adding sophistication and security to the outdoor spaces.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The master plan and overall framework were further refined by: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Developing an integrated approach to planning between the community center, school, and mosque, featuring an open plaza and a signature cycling bridge connection. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Incorporating technical requirements related to traffic, utilities, and public open space. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Differentiating residential community clusters more effectively and ensuring unique experiences throughout the open space programming. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Emphasis is placed on key features, including residential typologies and associated community facilities. The design development of the master plan clusters provided a spatial configuration of land uses based on key parameters such as GFA, FAR, typologies, and building heights. This community features 3- and 4-bedroom townhouses, 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom standard villas, and 4-, 5-, and 6-bedroom premium villas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Figure 1.1: <\/strong>Community Components and Connections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Community Facilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Parks & Open Spaces<\/strong>: 233,476 sqm of recreational area connected by green corridors.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Juma\u2019a Mosque<\/strong>: Conveniently located near one of the community\u2019s entrances, serving a 1000-metre radius. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Local Mosque<\/strong>: Located at an entrance opposite to the Juma\u2019a Mosque. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Primary School<\/strong>: Located in the town center for easy access for all residents. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Retail Center<\/strong>: Including a clinic, nursery, F&B outlets, supermarket, sales center, and smart police station. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Ambulance Facility<\/strong>: Adjacent to the retail center for easy access. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Nursery<\/strong>: 880 m\u00b2 facility within the retail center <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Clinic<\/strong>: 1212 m\u00b2 facility within the retail center. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
      \n
      \"Athlon\"
      Figure 1.2: <\/strong>The Athlon development includes 11 clusters. Cluster 1 – 4 includes the premium clusters consisting of villas. Cluster 5 – 9 consists of a mix of townhouses and standard villas. Cluster 10 hosts the Apartment Block. Cluster 11 is the Community Facilities Hub with Juma’a Mosque, Community Retail and School.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      Creating a Connected and Vibrant Community<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The community is connected by a central green spine, with a design that emphasizes exclusive amenities and abundant green spaces, integrating natural landmarks and structures. Athlon features a private, low-density community with thoughtful road connectivity, natural grading, and surrounding land uses, enhancing the master plan\u2019s overall framework. The careful connectivity of pathways, lanes, and sikkas (pedestrian corridor) significantly enhances the overall continuity and flow of pedestrian and cycle networks. These interconnected routes seamlessly integrate exercise loops, linking users to a range of programmed outdoor spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The districts denote the difference of unit type: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      • Hanging Gardens:<\/strong> These constitute the 4 premium communities located centrally and closely linked to the ‘core’ landscape, which consist of larger villas.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Park Life Living:<\/strong> The outer ring of districts includes a mix of townhouses and mid-level villas. These residential units are all connected to green open spaces and an external cycle and pedestrian loop.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Urban Green Living:<\/strong> This area includes apartments and structural amenities. This also includes the high adrenaline sports core located centrally between the apartment blocks. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        For Every Age and Interest<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Athlon is designed with diverse programming and amenities to support long-term well-being for residents of all ages and interests. Enjoy a variety of spaces mapped out for activity, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • A 4.6 km trail-running loop for those looking to push their limits. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • A 2.2 km family-friendly loop perfect for all ages. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • A 3.7 km cycling loop that links directly to Al Qudra\u2019s renowned track. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Outdoor workout zones, padel courts, and a pump track for mountain biking, a selection of pools and splash pads ensuring that active living becomes a natural part of the daily routine. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Smart Technology Integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Parsons implemented a suite of smart features and sustainability solutions to improve urban living and environmental management such as: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          • Smart Irrigation: <\/strong>Water usage for landscaping and agriculture is optimized by adjusting watering schedules automatically, using data from sensors, weather forecasts, soil moisture, and actual plant requirements. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Solar Street Lighting: <\/strong>This element is both energy-efficient and designed for smart streetscape integration, while providing authority-compliant lighting levels for the safety of cars and pedestrians. The models selected are Dark Sky compliant, which is beneficial to the local environment and prevents unnecessary light pollution. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Electric Car Charging:<\/strong> The retail parking space offers several EV charging points to demonstrate the community\u2019s commitment to sustainability. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Smart Waste Bins:<\/strong> Smart waste sensors, for removal notifications, have been integrated in the busiest parts of the development to support operations and maintenance efficiency. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Solar Water Heaters:<\/strong> The retail and architectural components of the development have been designed to include solar water heaters. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Public Air Quality Sensors:<\/strong> These smart sensors will be integrated within the parks and open spaces to allow fit and healthy residents to monitor conditions and the suitability of the environment throughout the year. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\t\t