The concept of using gardens to influence the climatic factors has deep-rooted traditions in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia. The classical Islamic Garden combines greenery with a sizeable source of water to imitate an oasis in the desert.
Plants and water have a strong presence on the climate, as having a source of water allows controlling humidity in arid regions, and plants provide shade that prevents the water from evaporating too quickly. Using Islamic gardens as culture-friendly means to enhance and control the arid environment of Saudi Arabia would be an interesting topic to research. With the use of modern water supply systems and technology, it would be possible to build massive gardens and influence the region’s climate on a larger scale.
Many companies care about their employees and are looking for subtle and effective ways of increasing their performance through positive reinforcement. Introducing gardens to offices is an interesting and unusual way to do so. Gardens, plants, and the sounds of running water are well-known for their stress-relief effects.
High levels of stress hurt work performance and having a small garden within the office would help remedy that. It should be relatively easy to set up – the garden’s watering systems, as well as the source of running water, could be hooked up to the building’s central water supply network. Office gardens are seeing great success in China.
The topics mentioned above are to be considered when pondering the possibilities of creating prototype outdoor parks and gardens in Saudi Arabia. It was already proven possible through the existence of various Islamic gardens even before the concept of modern water supply networks was implemented.
The prototype parks and gardens would likely imitate these gardens. However, they would rely more heavily on modern technology to exist. The plants and flowers used in the creation of the gardens would need to be heat-resistant, preferably native to the region. Saudi Arabia invests a lot of money every year into the development of green lanes and parks, and would likely welcome any innovative project that addresses the issue.
Bibliography
Characteristics and Qualities of Islamic Gardens. Web.
Vegetation: Its Role in Weather and Climate. Web.
How do Bodies of Water Affect Climate? Web.
How can Stress affect your Work Performance? Web.
The Greening of Chinese Office Spaces. Web.
41 Parks and Gardens Opened. Web.
Heat-Tolerant Plants. Web.
Water Supply Systems: New Technologies. Web.