Proctor & Matthews were invited by an international engineering consultancy to prepare a concept masterplan and urban design proposals for a significant site in the heart of Homs. Known as I.P.C and occupying a substantial 27 hectares of inner-city land, the site lies immediately west of the ancient citadel and Homs old town and is surrounded by densely populated residential neighbourhoods. 

Formerly a barracks, the site now derelict with no previous access to the public, presents a significant barrier to the adjoining neighbourhood in the north, east and west with Homs university lying immediately to the south. 

The brief called for a significant number of new homes, retail space, a new school, a city park/oasis a new business district, a market hall/souk, a bus interchange and a new civic arrival space for Homs railway station.

The masterplan and built form hierarchy proposed extends the historic morphology in this part of the city, delivering a seamless connection to the surrounding districts and erasing the memory of the military barriers. The plan absorbs and extends the existing street geometries and reflects the historic built scale and urban forms supporting an extension of Homs' vibrant city culture. 

The sites existing green infrastructure is retained and extended providing a new green lung/oasis for the entire city district. A new market square and souk will provide the social heart for both new and existing residents specific housing typologies unique to Syria and Homs were designed to meet the housing requirement and meet modern standards.