Qatar Foundation, AECOM

Oxygen Park

Qatar Foundation, AECOM

17. August 2017

Photo: Markus Elblaus (All photographs courtesy of v2com)

Taking the elemental life-force of oxygen as its inspiration, Oxygen Park is a unique public space designed for health and wellbeing in a desert environment. It has been created with the local community in mind, providing an open space in which to exercise, rest, and play.

Client: Qatar Foundation, Education City
AECOM Design Director: Erik Behrens (Architecture Design Lead), Mark Blackwell, James Haig Streeter (Landscape Design Lead), Warren Osborne, Kevin Underwood
AECOM Team: Philip Dugdale, Alfredo Galindo, Eric Hallquist, Shafee Jones-Wilson, Wing Lai, James Manuel, John Neilson, Jonathon Reeves, Adam Rothwell, Jason Shinoda, Stephen Suen, Jack Wu
Engineering: AECOM, Arup
Lighting: MBLD
Water Feature: Fountains Direct
Project Management: ASTAD
CM/CS: Parsons
Main Contractor: MAN Enterprise

Aerial Photo (Photo: MAN)

Oxygen Park is inspired by the wind eroded rocks and fluid land formations of the desert. The path and running tracks are embedded in the topography to create an exciting training ground with looping tracks, cooled tunnel segments, and steep hills.

Park Diagram (Drawing: AECOM)

Oxygen Park - Land formations (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

The night-time lighting scheme and refreshing water features provide an attractive setting for evening sports activities and individual work-outs during cooler hours of the day.

Covered Walkway - Water Cascade (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

Covered Walkway - Entrance Stair (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

Oxygen Park features shaded running tracks, subterranean pitches for team sports, equestrian facilities, as well as more gentle recreation areas with a series of soundscape-filled, refreshing folly spheres.

Covered Walkway Plan and Sections (Drawing: AECOM)

Covered Walkway - Tunnel Section (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

The ‘balloon lights’ floating above the subterranean grounds make the park visible from afar and add a touch of magic to the setting.

Equestrian Track and Balloon Lighting (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

Balloon Lights (Photo: Markus Elblaus)

Oxygen Park is a man-made ‘green lung’ with a design inspired by nature. It is an antidote to the generic indoor gym environment and helps people to get back to nature, while fostering social engagement and promoting active healthy lifestyles.