City of wonders
Work is in progress on the residential component of the Falconcity of Wonders, which aims to house replicas of the world's marvels
01 June 2014
The Falconcity of Wonders (FCW), a mega project in the UAE that aims to replicate famous sites and architectural marvels of the world, has seen significant progress with a number of its residential developments poised for handover.
Launched in the boom days of Dubai in 2005, the project suffered delays due to the global financial crisis but has begun making headway over the past year. A community centre within the development is poised for completion this month (June) while the project will mark the handover of close to 600 villas this year.
Being built across Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Dubai, the city is shaped to represent a falcon, which is the emblem of the UAE. It spreads over an area more than 41 million sq ft and will feature various commercial, residential, educational, leisure and entertainment facilities, including apartments, villas, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, health clubs, spas, schools and parks.
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Falconcity ... the masterplan. |
The FCW is being built as a destination that aims to appeal to the widest audience, covering all age groups and nationalities. It will comprise commercial real estate based on famous sites and architectural marvels of the world, such as the Pyramids in Egypt, the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Eiffel Tower in France, the Taj Arabia (replicating the Taj Mahal in India) and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, according to a spokesman for FCW.
The residential villas are situated in the wings of the ‘falcon’, and comprise the Western Residences (South and North) and Eastern Residences (South and North). They are built in four distinctive styles: New World, Santa Fe, Aegean and Andalusia. All the villas are spacious, beautifully designed, available in different sizes, ready to move in and equipped with home automation systems.
“The Western Residences South – consisting of 366 villas – has been delivered and is currently catering to 358 families. The Western Residences North, having 227 new villas, will be handed over to residents this year,” says the spokesman.
He adds that freehold real estate investment opportunities are available with attractive returns. “Investors can purchase commercial and residential building plots or residential townhouses, detached and semi-detached villas in sizes ranging from two to five bedrooms and having attractive payment plans,” he says. “FCW hosts ultra-modern facilities offering luxury and convenience surrounded by green parks and children’s play area.
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Salem Al Moosa, chairman and CEO of Falconcity of Wonders. |
Meanwhile, the 200,000-sq-ft community centre, which is fast nearing completion, will comprise a hypermarket, a medical centre, children’s nursery, a mosque with praying areas for both males and females and a ground and basement car-parking lot.
ARCHITECTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
Commenting on the various highlights of the project, the spokesman says the Dubai Eiffel Tower would be strategically located in the centre of the ‘Falcon’ commercial district, which hosts commercial, residential, recreational and retail elements. “The surrounding towers represent the Falconcity’s ‘Elysees’ and will be richly landscaped with parks, cafes, gardens and fountains. Around the perimeter of the tower complex would run a circular shopping arcade boasting famous brands of fashions and styles,” he explains.
Another landmark component – which was promoted at Cityscape Global 2013, a property and real estate show held in Dubai last October – is the Pyramid’s Park, which aims to emulate the Egyptian architectural wonder in a modern-day context. It will have three pyramids in various sizes – small, medium and grand. Offering ultra-modern facilities of luxury and convenience, it will attract all enthusiasts of fine living, shopping and entertainment, says the spokesman.
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600 villas to be handed over this year. |
The Dubai Grand Pyramid, destined to be one of the largest pyramids ever built, will be a mixed-use facility comprising residences, offices and other recreational components.
“The Dubai Medium Pyramid will be a 15-storey structure featuring luxurious service apartments comprising studios, one and two bedrooms, which will be managed by a world-class hospitality chain,” says the spokesman, adding that the Dubai Small Pyramid will also feature similar facilities and components as the Medium Pyramid.
A focal component of FCW project will be the Land of India with a life-size replication of the majestic Taj Mahal monument and its garden surrounded by architectural landmark buildings of the Indian Raj and Mughal period.
Providing details of the project, he says: “Standing as a centrepiece in this area is the magnificent Taj Arabia Palace Hotel, a five-star luxury hotel nestled within an exquisitely landscaped estate, replete with lush greenery, soothing water fountains and cascading streams.
It is expected have more than 400 super luxury hotel rooms, thousands of square feet of high-end retail, service apartments, one-of-a-kind residential units and the best gourmet experience all under one roof, he says.
Dubai Tower of Pisa is another monument that will add to the beauty of the FCW. It will be located in an area designated as the city of Rome, allowing everyone to enjoy the grand structure and the engineering marvel of the historical wonder, he adds.
The Dubai Hanging Gardens of Babylon brings to life a lost ancient wonder. This imaginatively designed complex will house eco-friendly luxury flats, with many open-air restaurants and coffee shops, with the garden overlooking the Falconcity Mall.
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The spokesman continues: “The most romantic place in the FCW would be the Town of Venice situated by the waterfront. Developed with wonderful open-air cafes, gondolas and pedestrian shopping, Town of Venice brings a unique Italian dream-like experience.”
Another attraction at the Falconcity of Wonders is the Great Wall of China, which will also act as a buffer zone between the theme park and the residential area.
Other components include:
• The Falconcity Theme Park, a tourism, hospitality, entertainment, leisure and retail mega project;
• An architecturally striking shopping mall, which will sit at the head of the ‘falcon’ layout of the scheme; and
• Falconcity Towers, comprising residential, commercial and hotel buildings, to be located in the business district of the development at the south of the Falcon beside the international cities such as Rome, Venice and Beirut. At the centre of this project will be a 1 million sq ft park to complete the recreation of New York City’s Central Park.
