A garden over Shaikh Zayed Road

Dubai is known for its high-rises and world-class infrastructure. But how about turning Shaikh Zayed Road into ‘Shaikh Zayed Park' — by building a layer of greenery over it using water-proof concrete and climate control spaces? A 12-page special in Dubai-based bi-monthly urban lifestyle magazine — Brownbook — explored this idea in its January-February issue, suggesting an out-of-the-box urban regeneration job which its proponents dub "Champs Elysees meets Blade Runner". Put simply, the idea is to create an above-the-highway urban landscape to bridge people on both sides of Dubai's version of Manhattan, thereby having a more "people-centric" landscape. "The space could be used for different purposes — a mix of open spaces, parks, recreational facilities and retail areas. It will bridge people on the eastern and western planks of the road and still retain SZR's status as a grand boulevard," said Jack Taylor, Special Projects Manager at Brownbook. The idea came as a mag "think-piece" in conjunction with Portland, a British architectural design firm. Filmmaker Abdullah Al Kaabi has endorsed the idea along with renowned architects, including Alan Thompson of Portland. The bi-monthly, owned by Emirati twins Rashid and Ahmad Bin Shabib, marks its sixth anniversary this year.