The Founder’s Memorial is a cultural landscape of national significance. This inner-city park honours the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates. Its opening in 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Founder’s Memorial
The Constellation
The centrepiece of the park is The Constellation, a 30m-high sculpture by Ralph Helmick. It is a permanent national tribute to the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. A transformative leader, Sheikh Zayed championed peace, tolerance, women’s rights and the environment.
Making up the sculpture are 1,327 geometric elements attached to 1,110 cables. While they vary in size, all of these elements are platonic solids – the five convex polyhedrons or “sacred geometries” renowned for their mathematical beauty. In the night sky, the elements shine like stars in a constellation that forms a portrait of Sheikh Zayed. In this way, they connect with nature and wisdom.
The Pavilion
The Pavilion houses and frames views of The Constellation. Its form, materials and detailing are a deliberate understatement to keep the focus on the sculpture.
The Pavilion houses and frames views of The Constellation. Its form, materials and detailing are a deliberate understatement to keep the focus on the sculpture.
The triangular plan has two open sides to allow visitors to observe the artwork from specific viewing zones. The third side is closed with a simple stone façade to screen the otherwise distracting and busy skyline behind the site. The south-facing wall houses a hidden internal staircase leading to the viewing gallery, a small room at the same elevation as the eyes in the sculpture. Here visitors gain close-up views of the artwork, along with the evocative experience of looking through Sheikh Zayed’s “eyes” over Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.
The Rim Walk Wall
One of the Rim Walk Wall’s functions is to create a noise barrier. At 8m high, it shields the inner area around the artwork from traffic noise.
One of the Rim Walk Wall’s functions is to create a noise barrier. At 8m high, it shields the inner area around the artwork from traffic noise.
Its other major function is to provide a walkway along the top of the undulating wall. Visitors can then take up its invitation to walk around the entire sculpture, experiencing it from different angles and elevations.
The Rim Walk Wall enhances the experience of The Constellation as a sculpture in the round. The semi-circular profile of the wall capping is about more than discouraging attempts to walk along it. More importantly, it is inviting people to lean into the wall as they enjoy views of the artwork and park.
Many notable visitors have traversed the Rim Walk Wall, including Pope Francis during the first Papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula in 2019.
The Peaceful Garden
The Rim Walk Wall surrounds the Peaceful Garden, a courtyard garden of UAE native species trees and plants. Many of these trees, including Ghaf trees (Prosopis cineraria), were rescued from nearby sites that development was putting at risk.
The Rim Walk Wall surrounds the Peaceful Garden, a courtyard garden of UAE native species trees and plants. Many of these trees, including Ghaf trees (Prosopis cineraria), were rescued from nearby sites that development was putting at risk.
The close planting of the trees will encourage taller growth so that eventually the garden will be a generous open space under a green canopy supported by slender vertical trunks.
At the northern end of the garden, a staircase provides access to the park from the busy intersection. The raised stair creates a “bund”, enclosing the space visually. As a place of informal seating as well, it offers views directly facing The Constellation and raises the ground level, which reinforces the noise buffer of the wall.
Arriving at the Founder’s Memorial by coach, visitors first enter the Visitor Centre, which offers amenities, refreshments, informational displays and free guided tours by Emirati nationals. From there, they walk to view The Constellation, entering the tree garden via the Portal, a sculpted opening under the Rim Walk Wall.
The choice of native species of trees, shrubs and groundcovers recognises both Sheikh Zayed’s passion for environmental preservation and local traditions in the use of medicinal plants. These species also provide habitat for local fauna, with birds and butterflies now populating this inner-city space.
Deciding on the ideal location for the Pavilion involved detailed effort. Its orientation provides the best views of The Constellation from the main intersection, while also screening views of the busy skyline behind the site.
Location
Abu Dhabi, UAE
24.4630345, 54.322747
Abu Dhabi, UAE
24.4630345, 54.322747
Plot Size
6 ha (14 acre)
6 ha (14 acre)
Lead Consultant
Verdaus Landscape Architects
Verdaus Landscape Architects
Studio Team
Andre Saladaga, Lejumon Rajanibhavan,
Pierre Smit, Laith Wark
Andre Saladaga, Lejumon Rajanibhavan,
Pierre Smit, Laith Wark
(JR Harris & Partners)
Jim Johnston, Frank Nowacki
Project Owner
Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Ministry of Presidential Affairs
Role
Master Planning
Concept Design
Schematic Design
Detailed Design
Issue for Construction
Building Permit Approval
Master Planning
Concept Design
Schematic Design
Detailed Design
Issue for Construction
Building Permit Approval