District 2020, the future of Expo 2020 Dubai, held a specially curated cycle tour around the site on 2 February. The tour, with bikes provided by Careem, showcased the planned evolution from a significant global gathering to a smart and sustainable city of the future.
The tour followed District 2020’s participation in an event that formed part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Health and Wellness Week, one of 10 Theme Weeks under the Programme for People and Planet.
The event, ‘Nature’s Healing Hands: Creating Healthy Environments for Living’ placed a spotlight on the sustainability initiatives, standards and models for health and wellness practices initiated by Expo 2020 Dubai, which will continue as the site evolves into District 2020. Best practice examples from leading global entities such as the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), Copenhagenize Design Co., Whoop, and the Swedish Public Health Agency were also featured.
District 2020 is the first community in the region to be registered under the WELL community standard pilot an initiative of the WELL Building Standard™. Guided under WELL’s initiative, District 2020 aims to create a movement around a people-first community that fosters high levels of social interaction, and engagement.
District 2020 seeks to prioritise the future needs of workers and residents in a rapidly evolving global landscape, by putting people at its heart. With purpose-built smart infrastructure that combines contemporary office spaces and residences, education and cultural facilities, entertainment venues, and a range of iconic attractions retained from Expo 2020 Dubai, it will provide a sense of community, connection and convenience in a post-pandemic world.
The District 2020 cycling tour highlighted the human-centric urban design and infrastructure, as well as key features of the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Participants were taken around each of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Thematic Districts and shown how District 2020’s masterplan has been designed to create a modern urban environment that is inclusive, vibrant and supports balance, wellbeing and sustainability within its community.
David Gourlay, Director of Architecture, District 2020, who led the cycling tour, said: “With Expo 2020 Dubai ending on 31 March, we hosted this tour to highlight how the site will evolve into a fully integrated community, and a 15-minute city that offers workers, residents and visitors everything they need in close proximity.
“A big part of District 2020’s infrastructure is centred around health and wellbeing with the aim of promoting an active and balanced lifestyle. The site will feature smart mobility solutions that encourage sustainable and flexible means of movement, allowing people to travel safely and conveniently between their office and home. This includes a range of mobility options that link the site, such as a dedicated autonomous vehicle route, 10 km cycling track, interconnected, wide pedestrianised pathways and a 5 km jogging track.”
For more information, or to access events during Expo 2020 Dubai Health and Wellness Week, including a panel with WELL and Copenhagenize, an index providing a holistic ranking of bicycle-friendly cities, please visit https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en/experiences/theme-weeks/health-and-wellness.
