Our practice was commissioned by the Omani Ministry of Heritage to prepare a cultural centre masterplan for a hillside location near Muscat.
The resulting design included proposals for two linked museums focusing on the arts and crafts of Islam, a 1,500 seat auditorium, tower restaurant, mosque and royal pavilion. The form of the Centre is intentionally vernacular, using courtyards and traditional forms of construction both to minimize energy requirements and to stimulate local craftsmanship. The use of a central open space also allows for phased development and future expansion.
