Covering 420ha, the under construction $175mn Oman Botanic Garden will be the largest of its kind in the region, and once it opens, it will be one of the largest in the world
The development is being led by the Diwan of Royal Court in Oman, and aims to celebrate the unique plants, landscapes and cultural traditions of Oman. It will conserve and celebrate Oman’s botanic diversity within two biomes and surrounding external habitats, and will highlight the country’s most endangered and endemic flora
The garden will be home to a visitor centre and educational and research facilities, placed within natural ravines and ridges across the site, thus minimising disturbance to the existing terrain
The entire flora of the Sultanate of Oman can be experienced as visitors make their way through the gardens. The eight defined habitats of the country are said to be sensitively arranged at the centre of the site
The Northern Biome recreates the landscape of the Northern Mountains. Each biome was conceptualised to mimic the natural temperature and humidity of Omani landscapes
Passive and active shading, UV light controls, cooling and plant irrigation are integrated throughout the gardens. Building form, shape and materials are said to have been selected in line with atmospheric conditions and the natural topography
Located at the foot of the Al Hajar Mountains, 35km from Muscat, the site is said to be one of only a handful of locations in the world where the ancient seabed is visible, sitting 100m above sea level
More than 700 multidisciplinary engineers and dedicated designers are working to deliver the project including ARUP, Grimshaw Architects, Haley Sharpe Design and others
“The Oman Botanic Garden is an astonishing project with many layers of interwoven cultural and environmental significance. Its scale and diversity is truly world-leading,” said Keith Brewis, Partner, Grimshaw
The project is being delivered conforming to a multitude of sustainability standards, which will be evaluated under LEED. The buildings at the centre of the garden have been designed to achieve the LEED Platinum rating
ARUP says it has developed a sustainable water strategy for the project; all of the water for irrigation and water features will be supplied from a sustainable Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) supply and will be treated onsite to exceed potable water quality. Wastewater from the site will be reprocessed for reuse using a plant based treatment system ensuring not a single drop of water will be wasted
