The Wave, Muscat building a 'green' community
The Wave, Muscat, a world-class, mixed-use community development project, spread along six-km of natural beach, is an environment-friendly project taking shape in the Sultanate of Oman.
The project lays emphasis on “green” initiatives in its design and development by using energy-efficient construction modules and adopting best principles in creating green spaces, and through innovative approaches to landscaping techniques and by using sustainable techniques for recycling water.
“All the initiatives which we have undertaken are not mandatory for the construction but we believe that “going green” is in fact imperative and an intrinsic part of The Wave, Muscat, by which we will be recognised as socially-responsible sustainable developers. We are looking to applying for accreditation from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This recognition is important to us when one considers that a prime motivation for a developer is to create a certified sustainable building that would make their project stand out among competitors,” says Nick Smith, CEO, The Wave, Muscat.
Shedding light on the green initiatives at The Wave, Muscat, Iain Liversage, senior projects manager on site, says: “Sustainable buildings use design techniques, materials and technologies that minimise a building’s impact on the environment in their design, construction and operational systems while adequately servicing and supporting activities within. The Wave, Muscat, will boast a slew of green design features, from a water recycling system to energy-efficient air-conditioning that will incorporate multiple aspects of environmentally-friendly designs.
“The units at The Wave, Muscat, have an enhanced thermal envelope, the walls have cavity insulation with low E-glazing which helps reduce heat loss from within the building and reduces solar gain from outside. Green spaces have been created throughout the development not only to enhance the experience for our residents but also create habitats for local bird life.
“Turning trash into treasures is the philosophy behind the artificial reef we would be creating around the sea bed adjacent to Kempinski Hotel. Studies have shown that artificial reefs have the potential to attract a staggering array of marine life thus supplementing what would naturally occur in this area, which could also be a potential diving site in the future.
Matt Reynolds, Atkins supervising senior landscape architect at The Wave, Muscat, says: “The landscape designers (Landscape Designs LLC, Oman) have focused on providing a landscape treatment that minimises the use of water through a selection of gravels, paving and a palette of plant species accustomed to the Sultanate’s climate and soil conditions. The choice of appropriate plant species will ensure that the green areas throughout the streetscapes and parks will remain attractive, healthy and green whilst affording the predicted levels of foot-traffic. Additionally, the designers have carefully incorporated shade tree planting to provide a year-round cooler micro-climates and shaded spaces for people to comfortably congregate and socialise within these public spaces.”
To further reinforce the character to these public spaces, the use of the endemic ‘date palm’ can be widely seen along the streetscape network. The date palm planting is socially and culturally symbolic of a prosperous country and successfully provides a framework to the traditional Omani landscape of The Wave project.
Recycling water is also another technique central to establishing sustainable landscapes. The utilisation of treated sewage effluent (TSE) for use in the drip irrigation lines which efficiently deliver the water requirements to the planting without posing a threat to the public will also soon be activated.
The Wave, Muscat, is being developed through a joint venture comprising Oman’s Waterfront Investments (representing the government of the Sultanate of Oman), National Investment Funds Company (representing the Omani Pension Funds) and the UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Group
