Al Haffa Souq
Incorrect, Oman
Award of Merit, Retail/Mixed Use Development
Presented by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and partners)
Owner: Dhofar Destination for SAOC development and investment
Leading design company | Civil Engineer and MEP: Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and partners)
Contractor: Al Najd Projects Petrochemical Services LLC
Landscape Contractor: Ecuador
The project team faced a remarkable challenge: to create a modern mixed-use development that also incorporated the design and atmosphere of a traditional Omani souk (market).
The team modeled its design after the winding alleys and Dhofari architecture of the city’s historic Incense Souq with embedded modern amenities and a pedestrian-friendly design. The versatile spaces accommodate both small businesses and international brands.
The overall design focused on passive strategies to reduce energy demand, improve resilience and mitigate the effects of the Omani sun. The orientation and grouping of the buildings were optimized to reduce direct solar exposure and facilitate air movement. The site’s hardscape was chosen to minimize heat island effects, while the softscape consisted of climate-adapted native plants to reduce irrigation needs. Treated greywater and collected rainwater were also pooled for irrigation to reduce reliance on potable water.
The focus on security started early. A team of specialist engineers carried out a review at the start of the design process to identify risks and eliminate them. The team reported more than 2.2 million hours of work without a lost time incident.
