Sohar Remodelling

Sohar, Oman

"Fathy was commissioned by the Sultan of Oman to help to plan the redevelopment of the central commercial area of the port city of Sohar, which had been destroyed by fire. This market, which was to be built in several stages, was to be located near the shoreline and was designed to benefit from the almost constant breezes from the water toward the land. Divided into sections related to the items for sale, this market was based on a 3.60 metre module, to be covered exclusively by barasti trusses. Fathy felt that this new adaptation of a traditional roof covering was more appropriate to the region, inexpensive to build, and more effective in gathering and funneling the sea breezes into the shops. The alternating wedges of the barasti truss roofs arranged on top of the commercial spaces give the long, linear market a lightweight and almost sail-like aspect when seen from the seaside which is very sensitive to its location."

Source:

Steele, James. 1989. The Hassan Fathy Collection. A Catalogue of Visual Documents at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Bern, Switzerland: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 55.