A Qatari Renaissance in Geneva - A contemporary expression of Qatari culture resonates in the new ROOM XIX at United Nations of Geneva

A Qatari Renaissance in Geneva

A contemporary expression of Qatari culture resonates in the new ROOM XIX at United Nations of Geneva.

Photo Courtesy : Giovanna Silva and Peia Project Designed By : Peia Associati

Almost a decade earlier Qatar was responsible for the Italian makeover in the London skyline when they chose Renzo Piano to design the Shard Tower in London. Years later when Qatar decided to etch its cultural values at the UN building in Geneva yet again the role of an Italian firm Peia Associati has come to the fore. The firm is managed by Partners Giampiero Peia and Marta Nasazzi.

The United Nations office at Geneva is the secondlargest of the four major office sites of the United Nations. The building consists of numerous rooms and halls which are managed by member nations of the UN. Recently the XIX Hall in this building located at the Palais des Nations was completely renewed. Christened as The Hall of Qatar – The Multi Lateralism Hall, this project funded by the State of Qatar was commissioned to PEIA an Italian architectural firm based in Milan.

Using a concentric and radial circular design the designers have tried to make a symbolic reference to equality, one of the key ideals of the UN stands for. At the same time the hall has been designed in a way so as to make a reference to the culture of Qatar. The design team presented to the UN a contemporary interpretation of the Islamic calligraphy which is devoid of any religious affiliation and falls in line with the secular credentials of the UN.

The interpretation has been depicted as a form of artistic expression that no longer belongs only to the culture of the vast Arab world. This reinterpretation which also seeks inspiration from the matrices and geometric patterns (Musharabya) can be seen in different components of the project such as the perforated wooden acoustic panels, bronze grids, fabrics, rugs and custom-made porcelain mosaics.

The room is equipped with high-definition screens enhanced by a state-of-the-art lighting system and the largest 4K LED wall, guaranteeing the highest technological levels for communication. The individual 400 audio and video monitors are equipped with state-of-the-art translation systems, providing the most sophisticated tool for exchanging dialogues between all nations.

The ceiling of Room XIX designed using Wood Skin was inspired in part by a specific form – the dunes of the desert. The sinuous lines are discretized and divided into triangles, a recurring geometry for the optimization of complex surfaces. The Wood Skin team took a cue from Qatar’s cultural heritage and worked closely with the architects to design numerous iterations and arrive at the pattern which adorns the room. While the ceiling recalls the incessant movement of sand dunes, and the lighting system reflects the circadian rhythm of sunrise and sunset, the panels form “waves” that change shape based on the differentiation of the acoustics of the circular space. It thereby makes a symbolic reference to the mission of the United Nations to promote and facilitate peaceful and diplomatic resolutions.

The creation of waves was made possible using 7.000 thin wooden ecopanels aggregated with Wood Skin Inside technology. It makes way for the management of high and low frequencies in the dynamic wooden architecture of the ceiling and internal walls. This symbolic manifestation covers the original wooden walls that survive in the inner layers, as a respectful “archaeological stratification” for the heritage.

For the first time ever an innovative and unique lighting system was installed in a conference room to maximize comfort for United Nations delegates during long meeting sessions. Using the circadian lighting system, the room can pass through different lighting scenarios that imitate the rising and setting of the sun that emphasize the sculptural irregularity of the ceiling.

In order to introduce another comfortable light source, an automatic motorized opening system was introduced to offer a view of the park, Lake Geneva and the majestic Mont Blanc. Not only to offer a pleasant view, but also to constantly remind the planet’s environmental emergencies, including the melting of glaciers, poles and iceberg that UN is monitoring.

The capacity of the new Hall is 800 seats, with 320 seats and desks for the delegates of the States, plus same number of assistants, as well as observers and the press, making this Hall for Plenary Assemblies of 4000 square meters, the largest room and with the most advanced technology of the UN.

Connect Online@ www.peiaassociati.it