A month-long public activation using minimal wooden planting boxes and Ghaf-tree participation to honour Sheikh Zayed within the memorial’s architectural language.

For UAE National Day 2019, Evolution was asked to develop an original public activation for the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi. The experience needed to honour the legacy of Sheikh Zayed while encouraging visitors to engage more deeply with the site and its meaning.


The memorial already has a distinct language of material, proportion and quiet dignity. Evolution's design therefore began with observation rather than addition, drawing from the site's finishes and humble elegance to create an activation that felt naturally connected to its surroundings.


The resulting concept centred on Ghaf trees and public participation, allowing visitors to contribute to a living symbol associated with resilience, heritage and national identity.

The Challenge


A National Day activation at a memorial cannot rely on spectacle alone. It must remain respectful of the place, accessible to a broad public audience and durable enough to operate throughout a month-long period.


The relocation of Ghaf trees introduced practical guest-engagement and operational requirements. The interactive element needed to be understandable and welcoming while preserving the calm visual character of the memorial.

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The Solution


Evolution designed elegant wooden planting boxes with a minimal form and refined finish inspired by the Founders Memorial. Their restrained appearance allowed the Ghaf trees and the act of participation to remain the focus.


The planting elements were positioned as part of the site's wider experience rather than as a temporary stand-alone attraction. Visitors could engage with the relocation of the trees and connect the National Day moment with ideas of stewardship, continuity and shared responsibility.


Evolution managed the guest-engagement process and operational support across the activation's month-long run. The approach combined a simple interaction with careful onsite management, maintaining accessibility and consistency over an extended public programme.


By using the memorial's own aesthetic as the starting point, the activation added meaning without visually competing with the architecture or the legacy it represents.

Delivery Highlights


  • Original National Day activation developed for the Founders Memorial.
  • Month-long public programme in Abu Dhabi.
  • Minimal wooden planting boxes inspired by the memorial's materials and finishes.
  • Ghaf-tree relocation integrated into the public interaction.
  • Guest engagement and operational support throughout the activation.
  • Inclusive experience aligned with the site's cultural significance.

Outcome


The activation gave visitors a quiet and tangible way to participate in National Day at the Founders Memorial. The Ghaf trees connected the occasion to continuity and care, while the planting boxes appeared as a natural extension of the site.


Its impact came from restraint: a simple public action, carefully designed, allowed the memorial and Sheikh Zayed's legacy to remain central throughout the month-long experience.

Project Ecosystem


Client:

Crown Prince Court, Abu Dhabi


Evolution Events: Led concept development, public-engagement planning, tree-relocation coordination, month-long operations and guest support.


Evolution Scenic: Designed and fabricated the minimal wooden planting boxes and associated activation elements.