Architecture is for generations and it is only natural that it must, as far as possible, reflect a country’s true identity. Depicting Oman’s key Arabic features in buildings and urban design is essential because the relation of national identity with architecture is that of head to body.
This was one of the conclusions at a recent roundtable talk titled Observer’s Debate hosted by Oman Establishment for Press, Publications and Advertising (OEPPA), the publisher of Oman Observer.
The panel of experts for the debate on “Can Oman’s Traditional Architecture Meet the Needs of Tomorrow?” included Prof. Awni Shaaban, Sultan Qaboos University; Said al Saqlawi, a leading architect; Prof Nikolaus Knebel, German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech); Nadia Maqbool al Lawatiya, Founding Partner, 23 degrees North; Muna al Farsi, Higher Technology College, and students of architecture.
Saqlawi, who was formerly Director of Town Planning in the Ministry of Housing, gave the good news that Omani authorities have set up Local Councils to secure the participation of citizens in town planning and architecture. This highly laudable measure will go a long way in developing and deepening a sense of ownership among the citizens in the country’s architectural designs.
Echoing similar sentiments, Muna al Farsi says architecture helps to connect us to our past, present and future. To communicate meaningfully with the various elements of society, citizen’s participation in architectural designs often encourages a sense of ownership, understanding and pride.
Through its architecture, the country’s landmark structures in particular offer Omanis a passage into their own culture and heritage while presenting a valuable introduction to international residents and visitors, encouraging cross-cultural understanding.
Nadia, who is the first UK qualified female Omani Architect, says Omani architecture’s sensitivity towards environment is well-known and must be respected. Tradition, she adds, is not always old-fashioned and hollow.
Oman’s architecture like those in the rest of the world is growing and evolving with society and new technology. Today, people need WiFi in their homes and offices, so new requirements call for new solutions, added Nadia.
According to a GUtech student, in the past Oman had trees for shade, sablas for meetings, and souqs for shopping. In modern times, the trees are replaced with public parks, the sablas with coffee shops and the souqs turned into malls and hypermarkets.
Measured approach
Prof Shaaban says in the course of Oman’s highly measured approach to modernisation, several carefully planned steps have helped to preserve many of its age-old cherished values that go a long way in retaining and refining its unique Arab identity.
Prof Knebel says it is always helpful to remind ourselves that architecture is only a means to an end, which is to provide shelter and comfort for people.
Architecture can be a tool, when it provides shelter and comfort, only. This is how most architecture that we today define as traditional came into being. It was a pragmatic reaction to the given climatic conditions of the region, the availability of materials and skills, and the accommodation of social patterns.
“But architecture can also be a toy, when it provides symbols and meaning, too. This is how monuments are built. They carry a message through an image of something”, adds Prof. Knebel.
“How does this relate to the question of traditional architecture? The problem that “I see is that when traditional architecture is revitalised then often it shifts from being a tool to becoming a toy. The image of it becomes more important than the function. In the age of branding this can hollow out architecture.
“This problem can be overcome if one thinks more about today’s problems and not so much about yesterday’s forms. And then it will become clearer what aspects of a tradition can actually serve for solving today’s problems. There could be many.
“For example, one of today’s burning questions is how to reduce the demand for electricity in houses in Oman. Traditional architecture is very much a precedent for climate adaptiveness. The arrangement of buildings in clusters, the ratio of window openings to solid walls, the inventions for natural ventilation, the use of mud bricks, all of this can be stepping stones from the past to the future architecture of this place.”
Prof. Knebel concludes by saying “there is a broad basis of tradition in architecture in Oman, but we should look at it from today, and start tackling today’s questions.”
High-rise structures
Some speakers were of the opinion that Oman’s skyline can be disfigured by the gradual appearance of tall buildings.
Until recently, Muscat was both a traditional and a modern city that preserved Arab design in its buildings, creating a pleasingly low-rise city of predominantly soft sarooj (traditional Omani mud brick) browns and whites punctuated by the colourful flowers of the city’s immaculate freeway medians and spacious roundabouts artfully decorated with sculptures based on traditional Omani motifs such as pottery and teapots.
The policy of low-rise buildings needs to be continued, says Muna. This will help spread out development and construction benefits to a larger area. One can see gradually high-rise buildings are coming up in Muscat at various places. This not only disfigures the city’s beautiful skyline but also adds to the problem of parking and water supply. When growth is vertical, concentration of vehicles is natural, besides other problems.
The participants said while new initiatives are often launched to promote best practices that are in tune with Oman’s architectural heritage, more needs to be done to make the Sultanate’s Arabic identity stand out distinctively in structures across the country. Every big and small project should be rooted in the Arab and Islamic values cherished by Oman.
There is next to no doubt that housing and office complexes in Oman are often vertical instead of horizontal and therefore out of tune with its architectural heritage, and that, unlike the 1970s and 80s, modern development projects sometimes cause congestion and overcrowding in some cities.
Omani identity
Oman, like other Arab countries, has its own flavour of Islamic architecture which sets it apart from the rest of the world. For an architect, Oman presents some examples of lovely architecture in its fine mosques, homes, forts and office buildings. Low-lying white buildings typify most of Muscat’s urban landscape.
Simplicity in curves, arches, and fine lines project Oman’s elegance in all its buildings. Another notable point is the uniformity in colouring of the buildings. Most of the colours used in buildings are white and shades of white. There is no graffiti in the city and walls are spotless clean. These are a balm to eyes.
Saqlawi emphasises the need to embed some of the very basic features of Omani architecture in the broader national development programmes. What are those core elements of Oman’s architecture that build its Arab identity?
Do not cut trees and mountains as far as possible. Do not build higher than the mosques. Muna says green environment is cherished by Oman. Low rise development means we can see palm trees and mosque’s minarets. They also underlined the need to secure more active participation of Omani architects in national development projects.
Saqlawi, whose eight year study “Oman Fortification Encyclopedia” covers most of the fortifications in Oman, says there are at least 1800 old buildings that need to be preserved.
For the students of architecture in the Sultanate exposure to Omani and Arab history and culture is very important. This will give them an insight into the fact that almost all the castles and historical buildings in Oman were built by Omani people, says Saqlawi.
Abdullah al Shueili, Editor-in Chief, says, since its inception in 1981, Oman Daily Observer has believed that media has a decisive role in depicting a nation for what it is and in promoting debates and dialogues. The Observers Debate helps build public awareness on key issues of common interests.
