The residential area is designed to make physical activity a natural part of daily life.
A new residential area with more than 6,000 homes and apartments is planned for Fahid Island in Abu Dhabi by 2029. As CNN writes, its main feature is not luxurious real estate, but an urban environment designed to encourage people to live healthier lifestyles.
The project, valued at 40 billion UAE dirhams (about $10.9 billion), is being implemented by Aldar Development, a company owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The development will cover an area of approximately 2.7 million square meters between the Yas and Saadiyat districts.
The idea behind this project is based on the concept of so-called "wellness architecture," which involves designing buildings and urban spaces in a way that promotes people's physical, emotional, and mental health.
Scientific research indeed shows that the environment in which people live can affect their health. A study published this year by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) showed that residents of neighborhoods with good walkability, ample green spaces, and well-developed public areas generally have better physical and mental health outcomes.
Among the most favorable elements of urban planning, researchers name short blocks, a convenient street network, parks, and a variety of facilities within walking distance.
The developers of Fahid Island plan to achieve these goals by establishing a 10-kilometer long park in the center of the island. It will feature jogging tracks, three cycling routes, and recreation areas. The park will also separate residential blocks from beaches and mangrove forests, acting as a visual and sound buffer.
Along the 11-kilometer coastline, three residential complexes will be built, ranging from apartment buildings to villas. The residential blocks will be connected by a network of pedestrian routes totaling 15 kilometers. More than 70% of the paths will be shaded, which should make walking more comfortable even in scorching heat.
A branch of the British private school King's College School Wimbledon will also open on the island. The developer states that this will be the world's first school certified under the Fitwel standard — a system for evaluating buildings and urban areas based on their impact on human health. The island itself has already received the highest three-star certification from this program.
The project creators believe that a healthy lifestyle depends not only on the availability of a gym or spa complex, but also on how easy it is for a person to make beneficial choices in daily life — to walk, meet people, or spend time outdoors.
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