International judges left speechless by green
masterpieces as Dubai International
Garden Competition challengers go head-to-head
After years of non-stop dedication and thousands of
hours spent designing and perfecting their masterpieces, the world’s top
gardening innovators are finally going toe-to-toe in a massive audition to
impress the world-renowned judges with their creations. The “best of the best”
creations will now battle it out in the first-ever Dubai International Garden
Competition (DIGC).
The participating companies
are as follows: Mirak Irrigation & Landscaping, Toscana Landscaping &
Pools, Jenny Flowers, Spring Rose Landscaping, WAHO landscape Architects, Vogue Landscape, Miracle
Garden, Terra Verde the Landscape Solution, Greenable Landscapes, Orchid Garden
Centre, Akar Landscaping and Lokrit Garden Village.
The competition which is also open for the public to attend is held under
the patronage of Dubai Municipality, with Strategic Sponsorship from Dubai
Tourism & Commerce Marketing and Traders Hotel, which is also the Official
Hotel Partner; support from the Venue Sponsorship partner Emaar; Diamond
Sponsorship from Nestlé and Platinum Sponsorship from the Desert Group, alongside
JKD Hortitech, which is also a sponsor. The first edition of the region’s most
anticipated garden showcase will take place from April 3rd to 6th,
from 10am to 10pm in ‘The Venue,’ on Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, at the foot
of Burj Khalifa -- the world’s tallest building, developed by Emaar Properties.
The public is particularly encouraged to
come and enjoy a magnificent family outing in a spectacular setting surrounded
by natural beauty and serenity. To ensure that children don’t miss out on this
wonderland, Fun City the Exclusive & Official Fun partner, will be enabling
parents to roam the stalls with full peace of mind. The dazzling attractions
include the sensational Lokrit Garden Village, Grand Floral Arena Stall, Raffle
Draws, the Education Zone & Talks, Furniture Display, Best of Show Award
and a Food Court to recharge the visitors’ energy levels.
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| Nasser Khan, CEO Purelife |
Nasser Khan, CEO of the organizers Purelife
Events, Exhibitions & Conferences expressed his optimism at the upcoming
event: “We are ecstatic to be bringing this celebration of natural beauty and
innovation to Dubai for the very first time. We expect over 20,000 visitors per
day, but we will touch the lives of thousands more who will move into
properties with gardens inspired by these designs. Therefore the 6th
of April is not the end of this adventure, but only the beginning of an
exciting new green era.”
Contestants are hoping to
walk away with the Gold and trophies honors. Also up for grabs are special
awards rewarding the Best Show Garden, People’s Choice, Special Show Garden.
Every winning exhibitor earns a face-to-face session with the judges to gain precious
feedback and advice. All gardens must be ready for the spotlight by April 3rd,
with the results announced at the Grand Finale on April 6th.
Nadeem Abbas, Director of Purelife
Events, Exhibitions & Conferences added: “Dubai is not used to being second
best at anything; so DIGC aspires to equal and then outshine established international
competitions like RHS Chelsea Flower Show, French Garden Festival and Canadian
Garden Festival. That’s why we are bringing together the very best landscape
designers, architects and innovators from the Middle East, Europe and the rest
of the world. This showcase will inspire the community to appreciate the
importance of a green lifestyle and a spectacular garden city.”
The internationally respected
judges are Elisabetta Sari, who has written the book on
eco-landscaping and won awards in France, Italy and Ireland; Phil Evans, who
has attracted a passionate Twitter following for his gardening master-tips; Jo
Thompson, who has done everything from urban roof gardens to traditional
country gardens in the UK; David Dodd, who is on the selection
panel of RHS Chelsea Show Garden; Kamelia bin Zaal, Creative landscape Director
at
Al Barari Firm
Management and Second Nature Landscape Design; and Muhammad Jayyoussi of Emaar Properties, who has overseen stunning
soft landscapes at Burj Khalifa, Downtown, The Dubai Mall, The Hotels, Dubai Marina,
Community Centers and many others.
The judges described their delight at the red-hot competitiveness of the
entries, adding that the intensive selection process was designed to ensure
that only the cream of the crop progress to the final displays. Entries were
judged on the creations’ practicality and innovation, balance and style, color
and texture, unity and creativity, quality finish and ‘out of the box’
features, difficulty and eco-sustainability. The make-or-break deal-breaker
which judges particularly zeroed in on was ‘planting’, with horticulturally
accurate perfect specimens getting the thumbs up.
Duncan Denley from the Desert Group, is
particularly excited about this competition’s potential, explaining: “We are
delighted to celebrate our 25th anniversary with our Platinum Sponsorship of
the DIGC. As one of the landscape pioneers who have literally changed the face
of this region, we have witnessed Dubai blossom. We fully expect this annual
event to represent the culmination of not only what we have learned, but also
an indication of where we may be going in the industry. Dubai will no longer
look outside its borders for artistic inspiration and design expression.
Instead, the world now looks up to us as a hotbed for big ideas and bigger
ambitions. We look forward to being challenged by new ideas and having our
preconceptions turned on their heads. May this first
competition be a catalyst for future growth, education, expansion and
innovation!”
When asked about their chances of
winning, a representative from Terra Verde the Landscape Solution was
cautiously optimistic, saying: “The fact that part of the judges’ criteria
specifically awards points for the ‘difficulty’ of a creation tells you
everything you need to know about the fierce competition here. But that’s
exactly what gives us an adrenaline rush: making the impossible possible. Dubai
has never been known for taking the easy way out, and neither will we.”
Meanwhile a representative from Miracle
Garden was equally upbeat, explaining: “At competitions judges always say every
participant is a winner in his or her own way, but in this case we genuinely
believe it’s true. This phenomenal experience has so far been eye-opening and
mind-opening, and the best prize every visitor could wish for is
the green inspiration they will take away with them for years to come!”
Companies are already preparing to wow
and woo visitors at their stalls, including Danube Buildmart, AlBaddad, Fiore Rosso, Ibn Nafees, Alomi Real Wood Floors, Gulf
Perlite LLC Manufactures & Supplies, Maze Rattan, Foliage, Logical Decking, Amber Garden Centre and JKD
HortiTech.
The competition will not only focus on
artistic excellence, but also technical and scientific ingenuity. In addition
to artists, landscape designers and architects, it will also bring together leading
engineers and scientists. To add expertise in eco-friendliness and
eco-conservation, top botanists and horticulturists will attend. Thousands of
visitors are expected, and corporates are also welcome to participate as part
of their social responsibility.
The organizers have expressed
their appreciation to the event’s generous supporters who include Dubai
Municipality, Emaar, Dubai Tourism Commercial Marketing, Dubai Calendar, DEWA,
Danube Buildmart, Al Baddad and Dubai Garden Center. Top media partners include
Agriculture, Alsayegh Media, Landscape-Me Magazine, Home Owner Magazine, MK
Magazine, Planteria EU, Gulf Agriculture and First Avenue.
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