This piece from Fast Company Design looks at plans for an eco-conscious-yet-inappropriately lush desert development being planned in Oman, and wonders whether a project so out of place will actually work.
"Klingmann describes Khawr Awqad as 'surrounded by residential communities and luscious green agricultural fields to the north and east and the expanse of the Arabian Sea to the south and east...a unique destination with a focus on eco-literacy and education, eco-tourism, and sustainable green living.'
It's a gorgeous vision. But where, exactly, is all this luscious green land coming from? Klingmann is a vague on the details and water is a scarce resource in Oman. And in fact, Khawr Awqad also features other questionable elements, such as 'peaceful waterscapes,' and a three-dimensional poolscape with warm and cold water pools. Which will all evaporate in the dry desert air, unless they're constantly refilled."
The green, walkable community could be built in this desert on the backs of other successful sea water desalination projects and other techniques to avoid desertification, but the manmade oasis may be too unrealistic to come about.
FULL STORY: A Manmade Oasis: Scam or Sustainable Dream?
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research