Grimshaw, in collaboration with Arup and Haley Sharpe Design, has released first images for the Oman Botanic Graden, which is designed to be the world's largest and innovative botanic garden in Muscat, Oman.

The new design scheme, including high-tech engineering, landscape design and atypical architecture, covers a 420 (4,200,000 square meters) hectares area in total - the Oman Botanic Garden is set to be the largest of its kind in the Arabian Peninsula and one of the largest in the world. 

The garden will conserve and celebrate Oman's botanic diversity within two biomes and surrounding external habitats, containing the country's most endangered and endemic flora.

The large-scale masterplan is situated at the foot of the Al Hajar Mountains, the site itself is one of only a handful of locations in the world where the ancient sea bed is visible, sitting 100 metres above sea level. 

The garden will consist of a visitor centre and educational and research facilities, nestled within the natural ravines and ridges that traverse the site minimising disturbance to the existing terrain.

Grimshaw will create a sensitively-shaped flora of the Sultanate of Oman that can be experienced as visitors make their way through the gardens. The studio protects the eight defined habitats of the country which are sensitively arranged at the centre of the site, bound by Jebel Sufra and the majestic Qurn Mubarak.

Interpreting Oman's wadis, mountains and deserts as an immersive landscape setting, the project will display only native species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The most sensitive of Oman's habitats are enclosed within the two biomes, which mimic the species' natural habitat.

Innovative engineering of design developed by Arup will implement passive and active shading for UV light controls, cooling and plant irrigation, which are all integrated throughout the gardens. Building form, shape and materials are selected to provide the best atmospheric conditions within the biomes and integrate with the natural topography.

"Sunlight, weather patterns and human behaviour have informed the garden's design and ensure the continued preservation of the country's huge variety of flora," said Grimshaw.

"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 at Grimshaw.

Construction on site is expected to start immediately. Approximate completion date of the project has not yet been announced.

Grimshaw recently unveiled plans to design the Central Park of Tirana, as part of the Tirana masterplan. Grimshaw, founded in 1980 by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, operates worldwide with offices in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Doha employing over 500 staff.

All images courtesy of Grimshaw

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