Marsa Plaza
Friedrich Ludewig, Director at ACME said: “Marsa Plaza was envisioned as the new heart of the Al Mouj community, providing green, shade, spaces to sit, talk, eat, play and enjoy the breeze from the sea. Designed with local Omani materials and patterns and built with local contractors, the space is contemporary in form but deeply rooted in the context. The spaces created by the structured floor, walls and canopies are simple to construct yet jointly create a complex and memorable space and identity for the community. Over the first summer, we have greatly enjoyed watching flaneurs pass by, restaurant guests eating out on the terraces, crowds of children play in the fountains, and to see performances on the stage facing the sea. We are delighted that Marsa Plaza has so quickly become the new heart of the community”.
Nasser Al Sheibani, CEO of Al Mouj Muscat: “Marsa Plaza is a space that is both very traditional in its purpose and very contemporary in its vision, further reinforcing our commitment to offer locally relevant design and outstanding lifestyle experiences. It is already an iconic landmark for Al Mouj Muscat, a space that brings people together for shared moments, while also opening a sense of connection to the heritage and landscape of Oman. In bringing life to Marsa Plaza, we have paid careful attention to the smallest of details, successfully fulfilling the diverse leisure and cultural needs at the heart of our diverse community”.
Project details
Design: ACME
Project Location: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Typology: Public square
Built: 2014-2019
Area: 5.500 m2 (3.500 m2 public square, 1.050 m2 restaurants and cafés including terraces)
Client: Al Mouj, Sultanate of Oman
Cost: 7.2M £
Design team: Reiner Beelitz, João Brás, Molly Hibberd, Duarte Lobo Antunes, Friedrich Ludewig, Borja Madrazo
Landscape and Utilities: Parsons
MEP: T20 Engineers
Civil engineering: Muamir Design & Engineering Consultancy
Contractor: Dubai Metal
Photo credits: © Francisco Nogueira
ACME
ACME was established in 2007 in London. The practice operates in the fields of architecture, urban planning, interior design and product design – working with private, corporate and public clients. It’s an international practice with offices in London and Berlin that foster a community of staff of a multitude of different nationalities. Employees at ACME are active stakeholders in the business, with a share in the profits and are invited to contribute to its future. They value collaborative working and flat hierarchies to engender a strong sense of ownership, entitlement and responsibility among employees and to foster a vibrant and egalitarian office environment that attracts the highest talent.