Semi-Structured Interviews

The fourth objective of the research was to explore the effectiveness of planning and urban design practice in providing liveable public open space. It is a complex matter and required in depth explanation from specialists in the field to assess it. Therefore, semi-structured interview was selected as a tool to achieve this objective after reviewing relevant documents. Face-to-face interviews were designed to explore the effectiveness of urban design and planning practice in providing liveable public open space in Muscat. A comprehensive perspective of the place was examined through detailed case study spaces of selected squares and plazas. The intention was to meet professionals in urban design, architecture, planning and community representatives so that they could answer a set of questions about their perception on the effectiveness of the Omani planning system in promoting liveability in the public open spaces focusing on the selected squares and plazas. The questions was designed to cover certain issues of public open space in Muscat from historical, contemporary

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understanding, importance, economic value, environmental value, political value, social value, urban design, planning practice and ending with general recommendations (see Appendix H). Questions were designed as open ended and each interview lasted around 45-60 minutes. Meeting arrangements were made in advance and a confidential letter was sent to each interviewee.

Table 3.2 shows all the 22 professionals and community representatives who were interviewed and a brief description of their positions. All interviews, except one, were audio recorded, which made it easy to capture and transcribe information later.

Interviewees included both those who took part in the design of the selected locations and those in charge of urban design and planning in departments within government, private and education sectors. The survey questionnaire was targeting the case study space users; this raises the question of the perception of those in the community who do not use the spaces. In order to reach them, community representatives were interviewed to explore why they are not using the spaces. One of the Vice Chairmen from Majlis Al-Shura (Parliament Council) was interviewed to understand the decision making process. This method aimed to explore professionals’ knowledge of good quality public open spaces and influence of planning and urban design practice in producing them in Muscat.

Chapter Three Research Strategy

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Interviewee Position

Academic A professor from the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University.

Two lecturers from the Planning Department, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University.

Four lecturers from the Architecture Department, College of Engineering in the High Technical College, Muscat.

Architect Two architects from the Oman Tourism Development Company with long experience in Muscat Municipality. One of these was one of the senior architects and part of provision process of three of the selected case study spaces.

Three architects from Central Design Directorate, Muscat Municipality.

A senior architect from the project management department, Diwan of Royal court affairs.

Planners Two planners from Muscat Planning, the General Directorate of Planning at the Ministry of Housing.

A senior authorised architect from Muscat Planning, the General Directorate of Planning at the Ministry of Housing.

A professor in planning from the Urban Planning Directorate, the High Supreme of Town Planning.

An senior planner from the Urban Planning Directorate, the High Supreme of Town Planning (the High Supreme of Town Planning was cancelled and replaced by the Supreme Council for Planning in 2012; these interviewees have become part of the new authority)

Policy maker Authorised policy maker from Majlis Al’Shura (the Parliament Council).

Community representative

Three community representatives who are elected by the community to represent them in Majlis Al’Shura (the Parliament Council).

Table 3.2: The interviewed professionals and community representative.

As previously discussed, different types of methods were selected to meet research objectives and answer the research questions. Data collection tools were designed to evaluate liveability concepts in, public open spaces learned from the literature review. Table 3.3 provides a brief overview of the research objectives, their related questions, the chosen method, participants in each tool, methods and the expected outcome of the findings from each method.

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Research objective Research question Data collection Participants Methods Expected Data Finding

Obj.1: To review the concept conceptualised and analysed in international literature produced in the West?

R.Q.1.2: How has liveable public open space been conceptualised and analysed in international literature produced in the Middle East context?

R.Q.1.3: What planning and urban design approaches have developed around providing liveable public open space in the West?

R.Q.1.4: What planning and urban design approaches have developed around providing liveable public open space in the Middle East?

Chapter Three

R.Q.4.1: Why is public open space in the Middle East the way it is?

R.Q.4.2: What is the process whereby public open space is provided in the Middle East?

R.Q.4.3: What are the weaknesses in the planning and urban design to provide liveable public open space in the Middle East?

Document review The researcher Reviewing and analysis of

archival materials, documents, open space specific to an area, eg. the Middle East?

The researcher Synthesis of the main findings. Highlight the weaknesses in the current public open

Table 3.3: Methods of inquiry to meet the research objectives and questions

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