An Innovative Methodology for Achieving Compatibility between Heritage and Contemporary in Architecture (Case Study: Omani Architecture)

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents an innovative methodology for achieving correlation between heritage and contemporaneity in architecture within analytical study of Omani buildings examples to explain the role of heritage in fulfilling the society needs of architectural design. It examines 3 main aspects: first aspect: Heritage - The study explains the different types of heritage as well as the importance of heritage for society, with an explanation of the various factors that have effect on the formation of architectural and urban heritage, such as cultural, social, economic, legislative, educational, and technological factors. The 2nd aspect: Elements of Heritage – Here, the study classified the different needs of society from architecture and planning to four main needs: social, climatic, visual, and planning needs. These different needs require a set of architectural and planning solutions and treatments at the level of the general formation of the building, as well as at the planning level, these solutions and treatments have produced heritage elements that are being used down for generations. The 3rd different trends of correlation between heritage and contemporaneity in architecture. Four key dimensions of society needs are identified and applied to the cases: planning; climatic; social; and visual requirements. The analytical study reveals that climatic and social requirements play most important role in contribution to moulding the role of heritage in architectural design. Understanding such role and properties of heritage is essential for achieving urbanized and architectural correlation between what is inherited (architectural heritage) and what is imported (contemporary architecture) so that, the architectural and urbanized product reflects the uniqueness and derives its elements from Omani architectural heritage, while not lagging behind the civilized ride represented in contemporary.