In preparation for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, Chris was asked by Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority (EAA) to review and improve the city's famous yet underutilized public beach and coastline.

Creating a hierarchy of public promenades, new beach areas, and re-integrating them with the city was the focus of the design. The pedestrian beach network with new expansive buffer planting, cabanas, and beach loungers provided an improved beach experience with secure access to various beach zones. These zones were designed to serve different demographics with increased levels of privacy - a critically important aspect of the design within the multicultural city.

A central public plaza space with food and beverage kiosks was created with an expansive, flexible use terrace. The plaza and terrace were designed to accommodate large events while providing new opportunities for daily beachgoers to dine and socialize with incredible views overlooking the Arabian Gulf.