PROJECTS
Dubai Safari Park officially opened its doors in 2018.
Fitting in naturally
Taking form on a disused landfill, the Dubai Safari Park's main
aim is to be green and environmentally sustainable.
By Cape Reed International | Photos by Cape Reed International
D
ubai Safari Park is our largest commercial project to
date, and this site is not only host to the largest roof
area Cape Reed International has ever created, it is
also home to the roof that required the most bundles of
thatch in their history – a staggering seven 40ft containers
of Cape thatching reed!
The brief was to provide the structures with a natural
roof covering to fit in with the project concept of a Safari
Park. Cape reed (Thamnochortus Insignis) roofs were
designed according to local authority specifications which
is like the US or British building codes. The roofs must be
waterproofed and be able to withstand winds of 45m/s in
line with the local code.
The thatch roofs also provide good insulation and a have
a U-Value of 0.296W/m²K on a 180mm thickness that was
chosen for this project. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
a fairly dry climate therefore the roofs are constructed at a
35-degree pitch which provides a natural waterproof
22 APRIL / MAY 2018 //
Various thatch roofs are seen throughout the venue.