Botanical garden, Educational institution, Tourist attraction
Oman Botanic Garden
Planned as the world's largest botanic garden, this 1,000-acre site in the Al Hajar foothills near Muscat recreates Oman's eight habitats, from wadis and deserts to mountains, with plants found nowhere else.
The story
Architecture firms Arup and Grimshaw, working with Haley Sharpe Design, released plans for the garden in 2017. The site lies about 20 miles from Muscat on an ancient seabed that tectonic activity lifted to roughly 328 feet above sea level. The buildings were designed around the sun's orientation and local weather patterns to make the most of natural light and temperature. The collection is meant to hold the roughly 1,200 plants native to the region, including 76 species found only in Oman, such as certain aloes and mountain flowers. Plans also include education and research facilities, shops and restaurants. The garden aims to waste no water at all and to earn LEED-Platinum certification. Despite its scale, everything is meant to be seen in a few hours.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦Expect plants from across Oman, from the north to the south, including desert environments.