Zaynab_bint_mohammed

Oman's first female architect who designed sustainable housing solutions for the Sultanate's expanding port cities in the 1840s

Zaynab bint Mohammed (1815-1889) broke gender barriers as Oman's pioneering female architect during the boom years of Muscat's port development. She designed the iconic Sarouh Quarter housing complex in 1842, which combined traditional Omani architecture with innovative ventilation systems to combat the region's extreme heat. Her work addressed the housing crisis caused by the Sultanate's growing maritime trade.

Bint Mohammed's designs featured:

• Wind tower cooling systems
• Interconnected courtyard layouts
• Modular construction techniques

Her 1850 treatise Al-Masakin al-Muhandisa became a foundational text for Omani urban planning. Modern architects continue to reference her work in sustainable design courses. The Muscat Heritage Foundation maintains a digital archive of her blueprints.