Oman's Ministry of Culture began construction on a monumental cultural complex that will group together the National Library, the Archives, and the Theater of the Sultanate within a desert site near the coast. The 70,000m² building is being constructed 30 kilometers from the capital city of Oman, in the bed of a wadi hollowed out by the runoff from torrential rains. This is both in response to major natural climate challenges (flood risk, an arid desert climate) as well as infrastructural concerns (the creation of spaces capable of hosting large public and cultural events). The natural and agricultural context of the location inspires simple landscape solutions.

In reference to the architecture of Oman, a mineral canopy covered by a fine latticework extends over the building complex and its exterior spaces, filtering the rays of the sun.  The complex is set on a plinth, seven meters above the talweg of the riverbed, in order to protect the buildings from periodic floods.  In response to the building, the complex is lost within a 40-hectare palm grove, filtering the sunlight and creating an oasis of protection for visitors. Under the shade of the date palms, the stratified vegetation is organized into orchards.  Their native species are common to the rawdats: lemons, mangos, papayas, to name a few.  A water supply system modeled on the traditional falajs is used for irrigating the plantations. This proliferation of vegetation allows for the parking lot to be fully integrated into the site, visitors losing themselves within a parcel of gardens at once fresh and familiar.