The Sustainable Development of Urban Planning and Architectural Identity in Barka City – Oman
Mohamed Alnejem, Malihe Taghipour*
Department of Design, Oman College of Management & Technology, Sultanate of Oman
*Corresponding Author
DOI : https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2024.1114SDAICO9
Received: 04 July 2024; Accepted: 19 July 2024; Published: 02 November 2024
This study examines the concept of architectural identity and its importance in attaining sustainable urban growth, using the seaside city of Barka in Oman as a model. Architectural identity refers to the unique features and attributes that distinguish a particular site or structure, which are influenced by cultural, historical, social, economic, and environmental aspects. As Barka rapidly urbanizes, there is an urgent need to strike a balance between modern development needs and the preservation of the city’s distinctive architectural legacy and urban fabric. The study examines Barka’s current urban morphology, vernacular architecture, and community needs to create a framework for guiding future growth in a balanced manner. It focuses on combining contemporary designs with traditional Omani architectural components to create a unified feeling of place and social sustainability. Maintaining architectural identity is critical not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for promoting cultural continuity, community resilience, and inhabitants’ sense of belonging. By evaluating varied architectural styles throughout neighborhoods, the study identifies contextually relevant planning and design interventions that preserve Barka’s roots while improving livability. Finally, it seeks to educate politicians and urban practitioners on how to create an inclusive development path that respects Barka’s unique identity while meeting modern needs.
Keywords: Sustainability, Urban Planning, Architectural Identity, Oman.
Sustainable urban development that preserves and promotes local cultural identity is a critical concern for rapidly urbanizing places around the world. Barka, a coastal city in northern Oman, demonstrates the struggle between modernity and the preservation of traditional architecture and urban structure. As Barka’s population grows and the economy develops, there is an urgent need to properly manage the city’s expansion in a way that improves inhabitants’ quality of life while protecting the city’s distinctive cultural legacy. This study investigates sustainable urban planning solutions for cultivating a cohesive sense of place and architectural identity founded in Barka’s historical traditions. By examining the city’s existing urban morphology, vernacular architecture, and community needs, the study hopes to create a framework for guiding future development that harmoniously balances modern needs with the preservation of Barka’s unique cultural landscapes and streetscapes. Preserving the essential character of cities like Barka is about more than simply aesthetics; it is also about fostering social sustainability, cultural continuity, and a strong sense of place among local people. This introduction emphasizes the importance of balancing urban advancement with heritage preservation via contextually relevant planning and design interventions.
This paper aims to:
Find the reasons that led to the absence of a unified architectural identity in Barka
Attempt to extrapolate the main features of the architecture in
Find a suitable definition of Identity in a multidisciplinary
Identify the meaning of the architectural identity and the controversy over this
Finally, the research aims to educate policymakers and urban practitioners on how to chart an inclusive developmental path that is consistent with Barka’s particular identity while improving livability for all people.
Through this part some previous studies that addressed this subject were reviewed to be a reference utilized during this research and built upon its new knowledge and information, to integrate a holistic view of the topic.
The article titled Building the Regional Identity of Sustainable Architecture clarified One of the keys to understanding feasible design is to develop the social personality of urban areas. The losing of urban characteristics is reflected both within the merging of geology and the section of social personality, it analyzed the celebrated territorial buildings in China to summarize the comparing engineering characteristics, moreover, take the reproduction of Hougou antiquated town in Shanxi Territory for pilot inquire about urban components are organized and proposed in a modular way (Zhang & Liu, 2023). Throughout another paper titled Understanding the role of architectural identity in forming contemporary architecture in Saudi Arabia, the propensity to distinguish and accomplish personality in design may be a critical drift in modern engineering, the Saudi organizing drove the transition from conventional to modern engineering to precise their preservationist and the significance of the nearby social personalities in design. This consider points to look at this explore driven by the Saudi government to get it how the planners might express their concept of territorial personality in their work was communicated.
The investigation looks at five components forming the architectural character in two perspectives, modern structural works can be caught on through five primary ranges: plan concept, shape and frame, development innovation, the materials utilized, and relationship with the encompassing, Different planners are effective in making structures whereas joining present day and local architecture (Alzahrani.A,2022). This paper titled the impact of sustainability trends on housing design identity of Arab cities examined past inquire about and examinations on the zone of green cities and maintainable architecture need the consider and investigation of the effect of maintainability standards applications on the city picture.
At this point, a basic address is raised; to what degree the structural personality of the city might be affected by the selection of the diverse supportability patterns? From this point of see, this paper centers on two key issues: firstly: consider and investigation of the said supportability patterns in lodging plan, besides: evaluating and analyzing the effect of these patterns on forming the character of the Middle easterner city (Abdelsalam.T & Rihan,2013). Another paper titled Is It Possible to Define Architectural Identity More Objectively? talked about the concept of personality is complex and at the same time equivocal. Engineering personality, be that as it may, is indeed more complex. This stems from the reality that engineering is the reflection that reflects the distinctive political, social, and financial components that are forming the city. Starting discoveries from meeting distinctive parties within the city counting modelers, academicians and organizers highlighted the critical struggle in communicating the Sudanese structural character in modern design. This comes about in an add up to ignore in considering it in both urban and engineering plan forms (Hamid, M& Hanks,2021).
The authors of this book titled Cities’ Identity Through Architecture and Arts covers a wide extend of themes relating to engineering and urban plan, such as the preservation of cities’ culture and personality through plan and arranging forms, different belief systems, and approaches to accomplishing more maintainable cities whereas holding their characters, and techniques to assist cities promote themselves on the worldwide showcase (Mohanty, M. 2020). The paper titled Urban Conservation and Sustainable Development analyzes the method that driven to the advancement of the concept of urban legacy and to its integration within the systems given by the UN Worldwide Improvement Motivation. The appropriation of the Unused Urban Motivation in 2016 has opened modern viewpoints on urban legacy arrangements and on the part of culture in advancing urban recovery and versatility (Bandarin, F. 2020). In the article Linking Cultural Built Heritage and Sustainable Urban Development follows the collaborative improvement of territorial and neighborhood procedures for the security and valorization of built social legacy within the German- Polish border locale. The premise for these techniques were five theories that brought together information approximately advancement flow in little and medium-sized towns, their quality of life and perspectives of social legacy. These speculations were discussed and reflected upon within the ten German and Clean towns and condensed into location-specific approaches (Al-Alawi, S& Knippschild.2022). UN-HABITAT discussed in book titled Planning Sustainable Cities Un-Habitat Practices and Perspectives Long run of urban arranging has been the question of exuberant wrangle about in later a long time. For a long time, urban arranging was considered a wasteful instrument, incapable of addressing improvement viably. In any case, recharged consideration to urban arranging has as of late risen. Moving significantly from its initial aspiration to command and control the city, arranging has begun reassessing itself within the modern setting of urbanization (UN-HABITAT,2010).
Definition:
Identity:
There are many definitions for identity such as:
Sustainability
Sustainability is defined as the ability to meet current needs without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to meet their own. Sustainable methods in urban planning and architecture seek to strike a balance between economic growth, social well-being, and environmental conservation. This requires careful consideration of resource utilization, energy efficiency, waste management, and the preservation of cultural legacy and local identity. Sustainability, in the context of urban planning and architectural development, refers to a comprehensive approach that balances economic prosperity, environmental protection, and social well-being while preserving cultural legacy and local architectural identity for future generations (Koglin, T. 2009).
Strategies for sustainable urban planning and architectural design should seek to incorporate contemporary development needs while preserving vernacular architectural components and the built environment’s inherent character. This promotes a unified urban fabric that resonates with the unique feeling of place, while also fostering social sustainability by enhancing community resilience and inhabitants’ shared sense of belonging (Majid, N. 2012).
Identity:
There are five levels for identity in different sectors such as:
Also, Identity includes many sectors (Space, Building, Neighbor, City, State), and the identity can be found in (Elevations, Landmarks, Historical buildings, Optical vision, Construction, Elements, Street, Topography, Geography).
Architectural & Urban planning Identity:
There are two sides to identity (architectural identity for buildings, urban planning identity for cities):
Architectural identity considers as a part of cultural identity for communities, so there are different architectural styles according to different (community, geography, culture, ….), and architectural identity determined in two aspects:
Permanent: nature, climate, geography, local
Temporary: economic, social, artic
Architectural identity principles:
There are three principles for the architectural identity as the following (H. A. & , D. M.2010):
Figure (1): The relationship between architecture and identity (Alavi & Tanaka, 2023).
Architectural identity elements:
There are five elements for the architectural identity as the following:
Characteristics of architectural identity:
The architectural identity recognizes with many characteristics such as (Alavi & Tanaka, 2023):
Figure (2): The fundamental components of identity in architecture (Alavi & Tanaka, 2023).
Architecture & Local Community:
All previous studies and cases ensure to strong relation between human and architecture identity in different areas, as result for that appear new term (local architectural identity), and in modern ages local identity faced a lot of challenges and changes:
Interaction influence between cultures and openness to each
Technical and technological
Modern trends and
Mobility and migration between
The dissolution of communities and the emergence of
Many and varied variables.
Case study:
Oman:
In order to enhance the principle of cooperation and partnership between the municipal and academic sectors in the engineering and architectural fields and the exchange of experiences between the two sides, Muscat Municipality organized a workshop for students of engineering colleges specializing in the study of architecture on the future of architectural identity in Muscat Governorate, in which a number of academic students participated, with the aim of extrapolating the aspirations of the new generation in The future identity of architecture in Muscat and learning about the visuals of architectural identity from the perspective of future generations.
Figure (3): Muscat Municipality organized a workshop for students of engineering colleges
Historical Background, Barka City:
Each city has a character that distinguishes it from other cities, and the urban heritage is one of the most important aspects of the cultural heritage that every country is proud of, because of the original values stemming from its civilization, and because it is a true translation of all the progress it has reached in various fields of life. The city of Barka is rich in authentic urban heritage, reflecting cultural aspects of its history and the personality of its inhabitants, Barka is in the Governorate of South Batinah and is about 86 km from the city of Muscat, overlooking the coast of Al Batinah, and the residences in the city were built with reasonable density.
Figure (4): Barka City-Oman
Barka city located in Oman, AL Batinah south governate, it is the center of it, Marina Beach project is one of the new projects on the city’s beach and a model for the architectural and tourism development of the city.
Figure (5): Marina Beach- Barka
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning announced the launch of 5 new sites for real estate developers, as part of the National Initiative for Integrated Residential Neighborhoods “Sorouh”, in the governorates of: Musandam, Dhofar, South Sharqiyah, North Batinah and South Batinah (Hai Al-Naseem).
Figure (6): Sultan Haitham City Figure (7): Hai Al-Naseem
Analysis study:
The research depends on the analytical study of a set of samples, examples and models of residential building facades, and the importance of the analytical study comes from the fact that it gives a clear evaluation and analysis of all cases from various aspects to be evaluated and known to reach the goal of research and study, and that the selection of samples for the study was according to several bases, namely:
The studied models (11 traditional models, 54 modern models, 27 contemporary models) were selected for analysis to cover all components of the facades with their various elements, foundations, and techniques, according to two tracks (design analytical study, evaluation analytical study), noting that all selected models are currently based within the city and were selected by the researcher.
Descriptive Study
Urban Planning:
Table (1): descriptive study – urban planning for Barka city
All Zones | ||||||
Zone1 | Zone2 | Zone3 | Zone4 | Zone5 | Zone6 | |
Region | South Batinah | South Batinah | South Batinah | South Batinah | South Batinah | South Batinah |
City | Northern part of Barka city | Northern part of Barka city | Mid part of Barka city | Southern part of Barka city | Southern part of Barka city | South of Barka city |
Neighborhood |
One in Old Barka, On the Beach | Multi in Barka Souq, near to the Beach | One in Barka Souq & Traditional Barka | One in Modern Barka, on S.Q highway | Multi in Contemporary Barka, near to both Highway | One in Hai AL Naseem, extension of Barka city |
Block |
4-5 blocks in one neighborhood | 8-10 blocks in different neighborhoods | 12-15 blocks in one neighborhood | 10-12 blocks in one neighborhood | 8-10 Blocks in different neighborhoods | Multi blocks in one neighborhood |
Building |
Old residential style in one level | Traditional style in two level &functions | Traditional & modern Style in multi levels | Modern style in multi levels & functions | Contemporary residential style with 2-3 levels | Modern style in multi levels & functions |
Commercial |
No commercial buildings | commercial function mixed with residential | commercial function mixed or separate with residential | commercial function mixed or separate with residential | No commercial buildings | Separate commercial function |
Educational |
No Educational buildings | No Educational buildings | Sperate Educational buildings | No Educational buildings | Sperate Educational buildings | Sperate Educational building |
Cultural | No Cultural buildings | No Cultural buildings | Spearte Cultural buildings | Culturalfunction mixed in one building | No Cultural buildings | Spearte Cultural building |
Religious | Spearte Religious buildings | Spearte Religious buildings | Spearte Religious buildings | No Religious buildings | No Religious buildings | Spearte Religious buildings |
Sporting | No sporting buildings | No sporting buildings | No sporting buildings | No sporting buildings | Sperate sporting buildings | Sperate sporting buildings |
Green area | No green areas | little green areas | some green areas | little green areas | more green areas | A lot of green areas |
Parks | No parks | No parks | No parks | One or two parks | No parks | A lot of parks |
Public space |
Public spaces on the beach | Public spaces near the beach | Public spaces in souq | Little Public spaces near to highway | No Public spaces | Public spaces in the site |
Administrative |
No administrative building | Little administrative buildings | little administrative buildings | More administrative buildings | Little administrative buildings | Little administrative buildings |
Highway |
Batinah highway passed through it | Near to Batinah highway | Little far to Batinah highway | S.Q Highway passed through it | Near to S.Q & Batinah highways | Near to Muscat Highway |
Architecture:
Table (2): descriptive study – Architecture for Barka city
Zone1 | Zone2 | Zone3 | Zone4 | Zone5 | Zone6 | |
Elevations | One level old residential style | Two level traditional style | Multi-level traditional & modern style | Multi-level modern style | 2-3 level contemporary residential style | Multi-level modern style |
Openings | Small and different shapes and styles | Bigger and similarity in styles and shapes | Bigger and similarity and modern, traditional style | Bigger and similarity, modern style | Modern and contemporary style, color, materials, and elements | contempora ry style, color, materials, and elements |
Style | Old residential | Traditional mixed | Traditional & modern mixed | Modern mixed | Contemporary mixed | Modern mixed |
Materials | Local materials used in traditional styles | Traditional materials mixed with modern | Traditional materials | Modern materials | Contemporary materials | Modern materials |
Shapes | Simple and functional | Functional with traditional aesthetics | Blend of traditional and modern | Modern functional shapes | Contemporary shapes | Modern functional shapes |
Colors | Earthy tones | Earthy tones with traditional patterns | Mixed earthy and modern colors | Modern color schemes | Contemporary color schemes | Modern color schemes |
Levels | Single level | Two levels | Multi-level | Multi-level | 2-3 levels | Multi-level |
The study explores deeply into the concept of architectural identity and its significance in sustainable urban development, utilizing Barka City in Oman as a case study. It describes architectural identity as the distinguishing qualities and attributes that distinguish a particular location or structure, as influenced by cultural, historical, social, economic, and environmental aspects. The analysis emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between modern development needs and the preservation of Barka’s distinctive architectural history and urban fabric. It promotes a strategy that harmonizes contemporary designs with traditional Omani architectural components, resulting in a unified feeling of place and social sustainability.
The study emphasizes that preserving architectural identity is more than just an aesthetic concern; it also promotes cultural continuity, community resilience, and a sense of belonging among people. It acknowledges the challenges faced by globalization, technological breakthroughs, and shifting societal norms, which can all destroy local identities. The study analyses the distinct architectural styles, materials, shapes, and functions found in different neighborhoods by conducting a thorough survey of several zones within Barka City. It emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between historic and modern aspects, ensuring that new developments match the city’s existing identity while still serving current demands.
Sustainable urban development in Barka City should prioritize merging modern architectural designs with traditional Omani architectural components, preserving the city’s specific cultural identity while addressing modern necessities. This strategy promotes social sustainability by instilling a sense of belonging and communal resilience in residents.
The study emphasizes the necessity of contextually relevant planning and design solutions that honor Barka’s historical roots while encouraging required progress. By establishing a balance between heritage preservation and modern needs, the city may promote an inclusive growth path that improves livability for all while preserving its unique architectural legacy.
Finally, the study emphasizes the importance of architectural identity in sustainable urban development, acting as a catalyst for cultural continuity, social cohesion, and a strong feeling of place in a quickly changing urban landscape.