This Final Master Plan synthesizes optimum planning and design strategies taken from previous alternative schemes. Primary strategies involved in the creation of a sustainable urban living prototype are: open space, opportunities for local economic development, and the creation of open spaces and commercial venues attractive and useful for young Omani and ex-pat families. Subsequent phases of development divide the master plan into four focus areas for further design development.
- The "New Souk" area is meant to kick-start new, community-based commercial development such as selling urban agriculture produce grown on terraces surrounding all of Al-Hamriya.
- The "Old Souk" is an upgrade of Al-Hamriya's existing economic base of construction material and light industry. This includes dormitories for workers that work on the site, as well as vocation facilities and opportunities for income supplementation with terrace farming.
- The strategy of the "Street Edge" is to unify and announce the edge of Al-Hamriya, showcasing the various sustainability strategies. The edge also creates opportunity for further development by providing parking and connections to the mountain.
- The "Community Heart" features a central open space with a soccer pitch, the community mosque, and building space allocated for small scale local start-ups.
These focus areas are unified by the overall strategies which have emerged from previous plans and various discussions.
- Local labor and low tech architectural and landscape solutions create on-site employment for expats.
- Terraces create opportunities for urban agriculture which can be sold on the site.
- Dedicated revitalized / rebuilt buildings for start-up business and entrepreneurship.
- Improvement of existing construction material shops / area.
- Introduction of shops that meet the daily needs of Al-Hamriya residents.
Social Strategies:
- Open space and amenities such as schools and football field targeted for young Omanis and families.
- Dedicated areas for women and parks for children.
- Dedicated areas for expats who work on the site.
- Connections and space for local business start-ups.
- Vocational school for on site workers.
Environmental Strategies:- Xeriscape, streetscape and shading strategies reduce urban heat island effect.
- Terracing along edges mitigates sheet-flow and creates place for urban agriculture.
- Water retention and storage integrated into central 'Wadi.'
- Grey water reuse for landscape.
- Landscaped Pedestrian connections for comfort and walk-ability.
- Parking and Plazas along the edge.
- Service streets designated for commercial area.
- Proposed road along outer edge of Al-Hamriya for through traffic.
- Connections along entire site, from mountain to mountain.
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The plan envisions the Al-Hamriya area as a sustainable economic system with several sub-systems working together.
- The construction system upgrades housing and training for on-site expats, and the skills will be in turn used for the other on-site construction projects.
- The local food production system also employs expats to grow food on terraces created along the edges of the site. This is then sold in the 'new souk' development, generating local income.
- The visitors loop is a series of developments anchored by two parks served by parking which create attractive places to visit, and create an audience for the souk.
- The 'innovation' system is a response to the call for promoting entrepreneurship in Oman. The idea is several buildings scattered throughout the site dedicated to startup business by young people that may serve needs of the area. This may be anything from an internet shop, to a daycare center, to a bike shop. It is a physical space that acts as an incentive for entrepreneurship in a developing area.
