Athlon By Aldar — Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Spanning approximately 119 hectares, Athlon by Aldar is an innovative urban development located in Dubailand, a massive residential development and hotspot by Dubai Properties. The site is well placed and within easy reach of upcoming communities, connected to the city’s 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. 

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.

Athlon: A Community for Active Living

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. 

Parsons’ 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. 

Homes Made for Movement 

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. 

Pre-Concept Stage

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. 

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. 

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. 

The master plan and overall framework were further refined by: 

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

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. 

Community Facilities

1. Parks & Open Spaces: 233,476 sqm of recreational area connected by green corridors.  
2. Juma’a Mosque: Conveniently located near one of the community’s entrances, serving a 1000-metre radius. 
3. Local Mosque: Located at an entrance opposite to the Juma’a Mosque. 
4. Primary School: Located in the town center for easy access for all residents. 
5. Retail Center: Including a clinic, nursery, F&B outlets, supermarket, sales center, and smart police station. 
6. Ambulance Facility: Adjacent to the retail center for easy access. 
7. Nursery: 880 m² facility within the retail center 
8. Clinic: 1212 m² facility within the retail center. 

Creating a Connected and Vibrant Community

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’s 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. 

The districts denote the difference of unit type: 

• Hanging Gardens: These constitute the 4 premium communities located centrally and closely linked to the ‘core’ landscape, which consist of larger villas.  
• Park Life Living: 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.  
• Urban Green Living: This area includes apartments and structural amenities. This also includes the high adrenaline sports core located centrally between the apartment blocks. 

For Every Age and Interest 

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: 

• A 4.6 km trail-running loop for those looking to push their limits. 
• A 2.2 km family-friendly loop perfect for all ages. 
• A 3.7 km cycling loop that links directly to Al Qudra’s renowned track. 
• 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. 

Smart Technology Integration

Parsons implemented a suite of smart features and sustainability solutions to improve urban living and environmental management such as: 

• Smart Irrigation: 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. 
• Solar Street Lighting: 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. 
• Electric Car Charging: The retail parking space offers several EV charging points to demonstrate the community’s commitment to sustainability. 
• Smart Waste Bins: Smart waste sensors, for removal notifications, have been integrated in the busiest parts of the development to support operations and maintenance efficiency. 
• Solar Water Heaters: The retail and architectural components of the development have been designed to include solar water heaters. 
• Public Air Quality Sensors: 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. 

Sustainable Features:

Athlon achieved LEED Cities and Communities ‘Platinum’ certification as a result of the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic sustainability. Key features include an integrated approach to resource efficiency, incorporating renewable energy systems, water conservation technologies, and sustainable urban mobility plans to reduce carbon emissions. Athlon prioritizes resilience planning, ensuring the community is prepared to adapt to climate risks and future environmental challenges. Key features implemented include: 

• Green Spaces and Social Infrastructure: 
  • Green Spaces: The project surpasses the 11.25 sqm green space per capita minimum requirement, featuring expansive parks and lush community gardens.  
  • Social Infrastructure: The development provides community centers, schools, and healthcare facilities, ensuring a self-sufficient community that meets authority requirements.  
• Water Conservation Strategies: 
  • Reduced Water Usage: Efficient irrigation and drought-tolerant landscaping help conserve water. 
  • Rainwater Harvesting: Systems collect and reuse rainwater for non-potable uses like irrigation. 
• Energy Efficiency Measures: 
  • Reduced Power Consumption: High-efficiency systems, LED lighting, and smart building management reduce energy consumption. 
  • Renewable Energy Integration: Solar panels and solar-powered water heaters supply part of the energy demand. 
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction: 
  • Low Carbon Materials: Use of low-carbon and recycled materials reduces GHG emissions. 
  • Low GHG Emissions: The project has less than 3.4 GHG MTCO2 per capita. 
• Resilience and Vulnerability Planning: 
  • Climate Adaptation: The development is designed to withstand extreme weather, with flood-resistant infrastructure and emergency plans. 
  • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): These systems manage stormwater and reduce flood risks. 
• Transit and Mobility Solutions: 
  • Access to Transit Facilities: Easy access to public transport reduces reliance on private vehicles. Close proximity to the planned metro station to the northwest of the site.  
  • Bike Racks and Lanes: Dedicated bike lanes and racks encourage cycling and integrated parking provisions. 
  • Connected Pedestrian Paths: Shaded paths promote walking, enhancing the community’s livability. 
• Sustainable Urban Design: 
  • Mixed-Use Development: A variety of amenities within the development reduces the need for travel. 
  • Compact Development: Higher density design maximizes land use efficiency. 
• Waste Management: 
  • Advanced Waste Management Practices: This includes recycling and composting, are implemented to minimize landfill contributions.  

Our Leadership in the Middle East

For over 70 years Parsons has built a trusted presence in Europe and the Middle East. Recognized as an industry leader, we have a reputation for providing experienced leadership, best practice and innovative solutions to each new challenge. We work closely with both public and private sector clients in the region to help them achieve their long-term objectives. Our value comes not just from our technical expertise, but also from our ability to collaborate with our clients and other stakeholders. We understand the ‘big picture’ and help each client realize their vision. Learn more about our expertise in the Middle East.