Work, relax, culture, nature mix into a masterplan which articulates functions and areas according to views, connectivity, interrelation, and comfort. The project is the new headquarter for public establishment and industrial estates (KOM), designed for the city of Madayn (Oman). KOM is a site that offers a wide range of activities with a continuous relation with nature in enclosed and open spaces. The site can be separate into two main areas: public and cultural activities at East, and office buildings at West. Inside the site, a public space hosting a plaza and a park, a conference center and a museum are all organized on different levels, according to the site’s morphology. At South and East, walls define an impressive entrance to the site for pedestrians, while creating beautiful shadows, where geometrical configuration mix with natural forms. West facades have intriguing system of bris-soleil which protect from strong sun. Rooftops have green areas and are used to enjoy the views to the park and for relax. The project is articulated in several ‘in-between-spaces’ creating a connection between interior and exterior spaces. The facades, designed to interact with the inside and outside are divided into opaque, glassed and interior facades. Opaque facades are characterized by geometrical broderies interrupted by openings of diverse dimensions and shapes overlooking to the park and Madayn center. Glassed facades host a second skin filtering natural light. The skin repeats the geometrical broderies of external walls, being lighter and acting as bris-soleil. The latter assumed different shapes according to the facades orientation and needs of interior natural light. Interior facades in common halls are filtered by beautiful geometrical mesh, which creates internal shadows and define comfort and relax into the high-ceiling zones. Meshes are made of fiber and resin. The resin has a thermoplastic origin, and both components can be separated and re-used. All the project is highly sustainable in materials’ choice their possible re-use and re-cycle.
year: 2020
location: Madayn, Oman
function: offices, cultural activities
scale: NA
client: KOM
design team: Lorena Alessio
Julian Chavez Rodriguez, Francesca Di Nuzzo, Gioele Cammarere
art director/graphics: Rosali Alessio design phases: preliminary design international competition