Abstract
The demand for housing and community design development has increased in recent years. Consequently, intense competition exists for innovative housing designs that meet the necessary needs, particularly in hot, dry regions where high temperatures significantly affect people’s lives. In the case of Oman, it is crucial to have a sensible design that allows buildings to adapt more effectively to the climate. The research aims to measure the keys to innovative housing design within the framework of an architectural design studio from an academic perspective. Moreover, it highlights a project’s design process through various stages in an advanced architectural studio. Additionally, it describes how a designer’s role is vital in proposing practical solutions to offer multiple apartment designs in a sustainable housing complex to meet the essential requirements of the community centres. In this context, the study aims to describe Green Scape Residences as an innovative housing project design included in the advanced architectural design studio. In this regard, the project is a testament to innovative housing design, including nearly 600 apartments, commercial units, restaurants, two schools, and a kindergarten. It was also categorized into various groups of blocks (high-rise, mid-rise, and low-rise blocks), each featuring different types of apartments. Furthermore, the research identified 15 keys to architectural brilliance adopted in the project’s design process. Then, the 15 keys were assessed through a survey from academia and industry to identify the key elements that effectively influence the creative housing design framework. The findings of this research highlight the significant keys to innovative housing design from an academic perspective. Eventually, this will establish the foundation for developing different frameworks that enhance creative housing design principles in the architectural design studio.