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In Oman’s capital Muscat, what is currently just a rocky, undeveloped piece of land is set to become a cultural oasis.
The Omani Cultural Complex, designed by a French architecture studio, will consist of a new national theater, national library and exhibition center, and will have an area of 70,000 square meters when completed.
Taking inspiration from the nearby landscape, the roof is made from modular, lightweight steel and designed in a ripple-like shape inspired by the sand dunes. According to Architecturestudio, 6,000 trees of local species, including palms and citrus, will be planted to surround the building with a green canopy that will provide natural shade and wind protection.
Spaces between buildings and roof gaps are designed to improve airflow and reduce the need for air conditioning. It will also help cool the central plaza. This feature is inspired by traditional courtyards commonly found in homes in Oman and other regions.
architecture studio
The complex will include a central plaza that utilizes the courtyards traditionally found in homes in the area, shown in this rendering.
Roueïda Ayache oversees most of Architecturestudio’s projects in the Middle East, including previous designs for the Bahrain National Theater, which opened in 2012, and the Amman Rotana Tower in Jordan. She believes this cultural complex will become an important tourist attraction in Muscat. “We want to engage people and improve their everyday lives,” she said.
She explains that the buildings will be separate but integrated under one roof. “We are creating a sense of space with these three buildings, rather than three separate entities. That is the deep meaning of this project and the pull of culture.”
“It has to be attractive to tourists, expatriates and domestic residents alike,” Ayache added.
The project was commissioned by the Omani Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and the architects are excited. Its construction is Starting at the end of 2024, the complex will be located between Muscat International Airport and the city center and will be built next to various government buildings.
The country is considering restructuring several socio-economic sectors as part of Oman Vision 2040, and a new structural plan for the Muscat metropolitan area has been drawn up.
architecture studio
A rendering of the completed New National Theater.
René-Henri Arnault is the partner architect in charge of the cultural complex, and for him an important aspect is its practicality. “We don’t just want a building. We want an actual area to host festivals and different events,” he said. “It’s designed as a cultural village.”
The New National Theater hosts a wide range of events, from local theater to dance to opera, and the venue adjusts its lighting and seating accordingly. Arnault added that the National Library “will become a multimedia library not only for students but also for visitors from abroad.”
A final completion date for the complex has not yet been determined.