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British architecture studio Zaha Hadid Architects is to create a waterfront development in Muscat, Oman, which will include a canal walkway and feature a design that “emphasizes climate resilience”.
The 3.3 million square meter development will be built in the heart of Muscat and will feature a marina, cultural precinct, canal walks and recreational waterfront.
Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) revealed that the project will also feature a ministry campus. It will house residential as well as commercial, arts, leisure and cultural spaces.
The Al Khuwair development is based on local culture and nature and aims to “redefine urban living in Oman” and is expected to have a population of 64,500.
“The masterplan’s geometry echoes the coves and coves along Oman’s Arabian Sea coast,” project director Paulolo Zilli told Dezeen. “The design is centered around the marina, continuing Muscat’s rich heritage as a historic port city. “
Zaha Hadid Architects worked with engineering studio Buro Happold to develop the project’s material strategy, which is described as “sustainability-led design with an emphasis on climate resilience”.
The strategy will include interventions specifically designed to aid climate and coastal resilience, such as stormwater management and seawalls.
Zaha Hadid Architects will also upgrade buildings on the department’s campus through a “refurbishment programme,” the studio said.
“The site is currently an administrative and industrial area of the city,” explains Zilly. “Many existing buildings will be renovated, refurbished and improved over the coming years.
In addition to protecting and restoring native plant species, the Al Khuwair development aims to achieve a 10% net increase in biodiversity.
It will employ passive design strategies to reduce water use and limit the energy demands of its buildings and landscaping, and be powered by renewable energy sources including solar energy.
The compact development will prioritize pedestrian activity and public transport using water taxis, light rail transit and the bus rapid transit system.
To minimize the use of private cars, the Al Khuwair development will also feature cycling infrastructure as well as passive shading and cooling features to encourage walking.
Construction on the project will begin by the end of this year.
The development is part of Oman’s Vision 2040, which aims to “achieve a developed, diversified and sustainable national economy through the equitable distribution of development results and the protection of natural resources.”
Khalfan Al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, said: “This visionary project will bring us one step closer to realizing Oman Vision 2040 and creating a sustainable and prosperous future for the Omani people. “
“It will help shape the future of Muscat and Oman more broadly, creating a new destination that welcomes visitors from around the world to our capital.”
Other projects that will form part of Vision 2040 include a mixed-use district in the mountains of Jaban Al Akhdar and a 100,000-person city being designed in Oman by London studio Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
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