Architecture Firm Unveils Climate-smart Egyptian City

Architecture firm SOM has unveiled a 20.6-square-kilometer master plan for Alam Al Roum, a proposed coastal city along Egypt’s Mediterranean shoreline near Marsa Matrouh. Designed for developer Qatari Diar, the project will incorporate 22 kilometers of seawater-connected, swimmable lagoons intended to support recreation and help manage stormwater. According to the firm, the plan responds to the region’s climate and anticipates changing coastal conditions. Buildings and public spaces are oriented to capture sea breezes and sunlight, and the site will be elevated and shielded with natural defenses such as wetlands, stabilized dunes, and living shorelines. Planned districts include beachfront neighborhoods, town centers, resorts, golf facilities, an education district, and a business hub. Additionally, a grand boulevard will link a marina with an inland mobility hub, while the downtown waterfront will feature a cultural pier, lighthouse, and amphitheater.