Lusail Commercial Boulevard forms a major pedestrian destination at the heart of Lusail, Qatar. As one of the official fan-zone locations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the boulevard welcomed thousands of visitors during the tournament.
Extensive planting was incorporated throughout the public realm to create an attractive, tree-lined route while providing valuable shade and green amenity within Qatar’s hot, arid climate.
Working alongside Foster + Partners and HOK in London and Dubai, GreenBlue Urban was involved from the early concept stages of the project. The team provided technical guidance on the below-ground infrastructure required to establish healthy trees within the heavily paved boulevard.
The design needed to balance the requirements of a high-profile public space with the long-term needs of the trees. Adequate rooting space, irrigation, aeration and root management were essential to support successful establishment in a challenging climate without compromising the surrounding paved environment.
RootSpace® soil cells were selected to provide the trees with access to healthy, aerated and uncompacted soil beneath the boulevard. The modular system created a protected rooting environment while providing the structural support required beneath the surrounding hard landscape.
The RootSpace system was supported by an integrated package of GreenBlue Urban products. RootRain irrigation and ArborVent aeration systems helped deliver water and oxygen into the rooting environment, while ReRoot root barriers were used to guide root growth and protect adjacent surfaces. ArborGuy underground anchoring systems provided stability during establishment, with RootStart Professional Mycorrhiza supporting early root development.
Load-bearing geonet, reinforcing mesh and RootSpace side panels completed the below-ground system, creating a coordinated tree pit solution designed around the long-term requirements of the trees.
GreenBlue Urban continued to support the project through installation, helping ensure that the intended rooting environment was delivered across the scheme.
Now established and thriving, the trees form an important part of the boulevard’s identity. The planting provides shade and green amenity along the pedestrian route while helping to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment during periods of extreme heat.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the completed boulevard became a prominent walkway for thousands of football supporters. The project demonstrates how carefully coordinated below-ground infrastructure can help establish healthy trees within large-scale public realm developments in the Middle East.
