Want a feel of England in the middle of Dubai? Surreal as it may sound, we’re not joking, because International City promises exactly that. Essentially, International City is a complex of country-themed residences, business spaces, and tourist venues. It covers approximately 800 hectares and draws inspiration from the ornately patterned traditional Middle East carpets. Scheduled for completion by end-2006, about 300 hectares of the complex accommodates 2,100 studios and one-bedroom apartments (designed for conversion into two-bedroom units) that will house over 60,000 residents in two neighbourhoods – large and medium.
In terms of location, International City’s credentials can hardly be bettered. It is located in the Al Warsan region of Dubai, along the Dubai-Hatta road and opposite Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market. It is 9 km from Dubai International Airport, and in its entirety comprises six core zones -- The Central District, Dubai Design Centre, The Dragon Mart, The Residential District, Lakes District and Forbidden City. Uniquely, all it takes is a four-minute walk from any of these zones to reach the outer limits of International City, thanks to state of the art design and town planning techniques.
The Residential District features architectural styles from Italy, Spain, Morocco, Persia, Greece, China, Indonesia, England, Russia, Thailand, and France. Overlooking the liberties taken with geography, International City - England is set next to the Russian neighbourhood in the large-sized neighbourhood Type II. So you have perfectly replicated green lanes and chalk cliffs, typically English downs, moors and mountains, and cultural attractions like museums, art galleries, historical monuments, and sporting venues. As we said, the feeling is almost surreal.
There’s nothing of the big city in this neighbourhood. The emphasis is on an informal atmosphere, which the landscaped gardens, fountains and recreational areas combine to create. However, side by side with them are retail outlets, schools, post offices, hospitals, amphitheatres and restaurants. Other residential amenities like cooling, telecommunication, electrical and water supply are also on offer, along with ample parking space.
The neighbourhood of England features two, three and four-storey residences with shop fronts on the ground floor. The architecture, like everything else, is staunchly English. So you have the traditional red-gable roofs, and Georgian and Revivalist façades dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
As we said, want a feel of England? Come to Dubai! |
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