Gardens that stay green in the Gulf sun
VAR Design Studio is an Istanbul-based landscape architecture practice with a family background in landscape that goes back to 1992. We design and deliver villa gardens, residential communities, hospitality landscapes and public spaces.
For clients in Dubai and across the UAE, we take a project from concept to completion, designing for water, heat and soil from the first sketch.
Since 1992Family background in landscape design, nurseries and implementation
201,700 m²Water-wise landscape designed for Ercan International Airport
81 provincesContribution to Türkiye’s national native-plant guides
5 countriesNursery partners for specimen and project plants
What we do
One team carries the design from the first site review to the last tree planted.
Landscape design
Master plans, concept and detailed design, planting design, hardscape and irrigation concepts for private and public projects.
Implementation
Turnkey delivery through licensed contractors in the UAE, with our team supervising quality on site.
Landscape consultancy
Design reviews, plant selection and water-use strategies for developers, architects and hotel operators.
Plant sourcing
Specimen and project plants supplied through our long-standing nursery partners in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Türkiye and China.
Designed for heat, sun and scarce water
In the Gulf, a landscape succeeds or fails on water and maintenance. We plan planting, shade and irrigation together, so gardens stay green with less water and realistic upkeep.
- Xeriscape experienceOur Ercan International Airport project (201,700 m²) was designed on water-wise, low-maintenance principles for a hot, dry summer climate.
- Native and climate-resilient plantingWe contributed to the national native-plant guides for urban landscapes prepared for all 81 provinces of Türkiye, starting with the regions most affected by drought.
- Water-smart designHydrozoning by plant water demand, sensor-controlled irrigation, soil improvement and tree canopy for shade.
Gulf-proven species we design with
- Prosopis cineraria
- Ghaf, the native shade tree of the region
- Ziziphus spina-christi
- Sidr, drought- and heat-hardy
- Phoenix dactylifera
- Date palm, the structural backbone
- + shrubs & groundcovers
- Selected for heat and salt tolerance
Selected work
Large-scale and public landscapes designed by our studio.
How we work with UAE clients
Most of the design stage runs online, so you see progress without waiting for a site visit.
- Brief and site reviewOnline meeting, site photos and drawings.
- ConceptLayout, planting strategy and water budget, presented online.
- Detailed designDrawings, planting plans and specifications ready for tender.
- ImplementationCarried out by licensed UAE contractors under our site supervision.
Tell us about your site
Share the location, the scale and your timeline. We usually reply within one business day.
- +90 530 130 55 61
- info@vardesign.ist
- Office
- Istanbul, Türkiye. Online meetings in English.
- Site visits
- By appointment, for projects with an estimated value of AED 300,000 or more.