Zümra Timur

Landscape Architect · Peyzaj Mimarı

Shaded play and shared outdoor life.

AIDA · Four Neighbourhood Parks

Four neighbourhood parks at Yiti form a landscape family shaped by shade, community and terrain. A family court, shaded walk, quiet clearing and linear grove respond to their individual settings rather than repeat a single programme.

Location
Yiti · Muscat · Oman
Date
2026
Role
Landscape concept · site research · planting and material direction
Status
Concept Design

LANDSCAPE APPROACH

Four parks.
One family.

Four neighbourhood parks at Yiti form a landscape family shaped by shade, community and terrain. A family court, shaded walk, quiet clearing and linear grove respond to their individual settings rather than repeat a single programme.

Shared gathering space in the linear grove.
Shared gathering space in the linear grove.
Regional landscape and seasonal conditions.
Regional landscape and seasonal conditions.

READING THE SPACE

From climate
to landscape.

The long hot season places shade at the centre of the design. Regional climate and landscape research frames where shade is needed around seating, play and walking routes. The value lies in everyday comfort, rather than planting area alone.

  • Comfort — shade along routes and at pauses.
  • Edge — balance shared space and nearby homes.
  • Terrain — a usable landscape band.
The hot season and the need for shade.
The hot season and the need for shade.

DESIGN DECISIONS

A shared language.
Distinct responses.

Mineral ground, open views and shaded pauses establish a shared language across the four parks. Each plot’s shape and relationship with nearby homes inform the position of entrances and areas of use.

Spatial strategies for the four parks.
Spatial strategies for the four parks.

01

Mineral ground, open views and shaded pauses establish a shared language across the four parks.

02

Each plot’s shape and relationship with nearby homes inform the position of entrances and areas of use.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK

Family court.
Staying together.

In the family court, play, caregiver seating and shade are considered as one shared outdoor room. Small pockets of use, planted edges and clear views support both time spent together and comfortable movement.

Family court layout.
Family court layout.
Play and seating in the family court.
Play and seating in the family court.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK

Shaded walk.
Small pauses.

The walking park links its entrances along a continuous route. Smaller rest and play spaces join that route without interrupting it. The relationship between planted slopes and a usable middle band shapes the character of the walk.

Shaded-walk park layout.
Shaded-walk park layout.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK

Quiet clearing.
An open centre.

Rest leads this park. A mineral clearing framed by grove planting works with small shaded play and seating pockets. The usable centre creates an open connection between the two residential edges.

Quiet grove clearing layout.
Quiet grove clearing layout.
Open space and rest within the grove.
Open space and rest within the grove.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK

Linear grove.
A shared centre.

The long park concentrates its strongest shade at the central play-and-gathering space. Quieter planted ends frame this centre. Walking continuity is considered together with connections arriving from different levels.

Linear shade grove layout.
Linear shade grove layout.
Views between the residential edge and shared space.
Views between the residential edge and shared space.

READING THE SPACE

Clear views.
Softer edges.

Seating faces the shared landscape rather than residential windows. Lower planting softens the boundary while keeping a clear view between play and caregiver seating. The landscape brings privacy and shared use into balance.

  • Comfort — shade along routes and at pauses.
  • Edge — balance shared space and nearby homes.
  • Terrain — a usable landscape band.
A clear view between play and seating.
A clear view between play and seating.

PLAN AND DETAIL

Working
with the terrain.

The section explores natural rock above, a stone edge below and a usable landscape band between them. Walking, seating and small play areas sit within this band. Grades, drainage and access are considered as part of the landscape form.

Landscape section working with the terrain.
Landscape section working with the terrain.
The park within its residential setting.
The park within its residential setting.

PLANTING CHARACTER

Dryland palette.
Shade and texture.

Prosopis cineraria explores the primary shade character, with selected Phoenix dactylifera marking arrivals. Salvadora persica and other tree candidates support permeable edges. A lower matrix of Dodonaea, Atriplex and Aerva works with mineral ground and open views.

Planting palette and spatial roles.
Planting palette and spatial roles.
Shade-tree character studies.
Shade-tree character studies.
Low dryland planting texture.
Low dryland planting texture.

MATERIALS AND TEXTURE

Mineral ground.
Selected textures.

Walking surfaces, stone seat edges and gravel beds form a restrained material family. Timber or WPC and matte metal add warmth at selected touchpoints. Joints, touch, surface heat and maintenance are part of the material decision.

Mineral surfaces and tactile materials.
Mineral surfaces and tactile materials.
Exposed aggregate

Exposed aggregate

Walking surface

Light modular paving

Light modular paving

Open ground

Pale stone

Pale stone

Seat edge

Mineral gravel

Mineral gravel

Planting bed

Matte bronze tone

Matte bronze tone

Selected detail

Timber / WPC

Timber / WPC

Touch surface

PROJECT CONTRIBUTION

Project.
My role.

Landscape concept, site research, planting and material direction: Zümra Timur. In collaboration with Global Landscape Designers / Dr Kamran Seyed Azizi. Architecture and CAD bases: project team.