National Bank of Oman new headquarters built with Omani stone, for all of Oman

Energy Wednesday 08/November/2017 22:30 PM
By: Times News Service
National Bank of Oman new headquarters built with Omani stone, for all of Oman

Muscat: National Bank of Oman’s (NBO’s) new headquarters, inaugurated on Wednesday evening under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, was built by an Omani company for all of Oman.
The building’s façade, made from Omani stone sourced from quarries in Sohar, consists of two primary elements: a load-bearing natural stone structure at the base and high-quality precast concrete towards the upper floors. Omani stone is used in large deep blocks at the bottom to evoke the character of a natural landform. Plants are placed on raised terraces across the building to provide relief and connection with the landscape.
Surrounding the building’s striking central atrium, inspired by Oman’s dramatic gorges, is the new main branch with its state-of-the-art innovation corner, as well as an open-plan workspace.
The atrium brings together materials referencing the country’s landscape, water, filtered natural light and the movement of people to create a memorable interior space. This balances public access with security requirements to create a multi-functional facility that serves as both a staff resource and event area.
Even the base of the stepped Omani stone terraces reflects the local mountains and landscape in its exterior, and the upper floors’ vertical precast panels are inspired by the architecture of traditional Omani forts such as Nizwa, Nakhal and Bahla.
All materials were sourced locally where possible, and the main contractor, Al Turki, is a local company.
The banking sector in Oman has entered a new era of growth following the official unveiling of the headquarters.
The 50,000-square-metre, nine-storey landmark, equivalent to seven football pitches, is the latest fixture complementing Muscat’s skyline.
Located opposite the Grand Mosque, between the airport and city centre, the building reflects the landscape, architecture and culture of the Sultanate.