oxygen park in doha helps people get back to nature, by AECOM

taking the elemental life-force of oxygen as its inspiration, oxygen park is a unique public space in doha, qatar. designed by AECOM for health and wellbeing in a desert environment, it has been created with the local community in mind, providing an open space in which to exercise, rest, and play. 

oxygen park provides an open space in which to exercise, rest, and play
all images © markus elblaus

the park is inspired by the wind eroded rocks and fluid land formations of the desert. the path and running tracks are embedded in the topography to create an exciting training ground with looping tracks, cooled tunnel segments and steep hills. 

the path and running tracks are embedded in the topography to create a training ground with tracks, tunnels and hills

the night-time lighting scheme and refreshing water features provide an attractive setting for evening sports activities and individual work-outs during cooler hours of the day. oxygen park features shaded running tracks, underground pitches for team sports, equestrian facilities, as well as recreation areas with a series of soundscape-filled, refreshing folly spheres. 

the lighting scheme provides an attractive setting for evening sports activities

the park features recreation areas with a series of soundscape-filled and refreshing folly spheres

the ‘balloon lights’ floating above the ground make the park visible from afar and add a touch of magic to the setting. AECOM‘s oxygen park is a man-made ‘green lung’ with a design inspired by nature. it is an antidote to the generic indoor gym environment and helps people to get back to nature, while fostering social engagement and promoting active healthy lifestyles. 

the ‘balloon lights’ make the park visible from afar

oxygen park features shaded running tracks

park overview

project info:

client: qatar foundation, education city
AECOM direction: erik behrens (architecture design lead), mark blackwell, james haig streeter (landscape design lead), warren osborne, kevin underwood
AECOM team: philip dugdale, alfredo galindo, eric hallquist, shafee jones-wilson, wing lai, james manuel, john neilson, jonathon reeves, adam rothwell, jason shinoda, stephen suen, jack wu
engineering: AECOM, arup
lighting: MBLD
water feature: fountains direct
project management: ASTAD
construction management and construction supervision: parsons
main contractor: MAN enterprise
photography: markus elblaus

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edited by: maria erman | designboom