DOHA A FEAST FOR THE SENSES

West Bay skyline

DOHA DOHA

Doha: A Feast for the Senses. Doha positively delights with aesthetic pleasures. It’s time for the world to turn its eyes to Doha - The city is so much more than a stopover - it is now “a destination”.

Anji Connell

MIA Cafe at MIA Park

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” suggests that appearances are often misleading, that we shouldn’t judge the value of something by its outward appearance alone. Doha is a city that at first glance appears “glitzy,” but look more closely, and you will discover tantalising glimpses of a city inspired by ancient Islamic design and culture. Doha is a city of contrasts. From the bustling souqs selling everything from spices to camels to the timeless sights such as the ancient dhows sailing across the gulf backdropped by the spectacular futuristic skyline.

Only 100 years ago, Doha was a small, low-rise settlement of largely nomadic people that is now one of the world’s wealthiest countries, drawing in the biggest names in architecture and the international art world.

QATARI VERNACULAR.

Qatar was radically reshaped by growth and development after the discovery of the Dukhan oil field in 1937. However, it is now witnessing the birth of a distinguished and unique Arab architecture focusing on innovatively preserving its identity. Great examples of this are I. M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art [MIA], and Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar [NoMQ]. There is no building more emblematic of modern Doha than this extraordinary building. The new Msheireb Downtown District is the “world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project where contemporary architecture and technology blends with a local aesthetic.

FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP.

The energy-rich emirate has spent more than US$200b in readiness for the tournament. It is the first world cup to be held in the Middle East and the first to be held in winter. Qatari summers can reach more than 42 degrees C. In winter, the temperature can still be over 25 degrees C. To counter this, the World Cup stadiums will have giant air conditioning systems pumping cold air to keep the players and fans cool. With eight stadiums, thirty-two teams, a million fans, and a month-long footballing entertainment it promises to be quite an event and one of the most lavish ever!

Image Credit: Anji Connell www.anjiconnellinteriordesign.com @anjiconnell_acidplus And Courtesy Images Richard Serra’s “East-West-West-East”

Souq Wafiq Jean Nouvel’s National Museum Souq Wafiq

Nobu at Four Seasons Hotel

National Museum of Qatar

THE ART.

Doha is an art oasis amid a desert, where all art forms happily coexist. An impressive lineup of immersive, informal, and interactive public art installations created by leading international artists has turned the city landscape into “a vast outdoor art museum experience.” And amazingly, in this pristine city, street art has grown into an exciting alternative movement of artistic expression. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani is the chairperson of Qatar Museums, the umbrella organisation for the city’s art and culture, and the powerhouse behind Doha’s bid to become ‘the art Mecca of the Middle East’. And indeed, Qatar’s place in the art world will be loudly heralded in 2022. Doha has been named as a UNESCO City of Design, Design Miami is launching in the city in addition to the nation’s first private members arts club, the CP Club with fourteen individual townhouses, each designed by the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren, and India Mahdavi. The Culture Pass Club [CP Club] will host special events - and members will have priority access to renting the homes during the World Cup.

DOHA HIGHLIGHTS.

Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC): Japanese architect Arata Isozaki took inspiration from the concept of the ‘Sidra Tree,’ considered a beacon of wisdom and solace in the desert and a haven for poets and scholars who gathered beneath its branches to share knowledge. The facade resembles two intertwined trees reaching up to support the exterior canopy.

Jean Nouvel’s Doha Tower

The Zaha Hadid Al Janoub Stadium

The Quatar National Convention Centre

The Aspire Tower Jean Nouvel’s Doha Tower IM Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

Al Riwaq Art Space: This state-of-the-art venue hosts ambitious exhibitions showcasing the work of leading local and international contemporary artists and designers. Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art: The museum offers an Arab perspective on contemporary art. It is the only collection of Arab modern and contemporary art in the World. The Fire Station: The former 1950’s fire station is now a contemporary art space nurturing emerging talent through its artist in residence programme. M7: This newly minted fashion innovation hub houses a gallery, exhibition space, café, and Qatar’s first concept store, Studio 7 where Asma Derouiche has deftly curated this celebration of Arab craftsmanship.

Khalifa International Stadium

National Museum of Qatar Gift Shop

Wafiq Boutique Hotels Studio 7 at M7 Ghandi’s Three Monkeys Subodh Gupta Boho Social - Katara Cultural Village

Richard Serra’s 7: This monumental sculpture of seven 78 feet high steel plates arranged in a heptagonal or seven-sided shape celebrates the spiritual-scientific significance in Islamic culture of the number 7. The Miraculous Journey by Damien Hirst: This is a series of fourteen monumental bronze sculptures chronicling the gestation of a foetus inside a uterus, from conception to birth, ending with a statue of a 14-metre tall anatomically correct baby boy. Qatar National Library: The Rem Koolhaus building with its stunning diamond shaped facade. Katara Village: The new cultural hub is an immaculate ultra-chic take on an ancient walled city. Don’t miss the Greek-style open-air amphitheater, the Katara Masjid Mosque, and minaret designed by world-renowned Turkish architect, Zainab Fadil Oglu, which is next to the traditional Arabian pigeon houses. The Corniche: This crescent-shaped promenade along the water’s edge has a splendid 7k boardwalk with spectacular views of the Gulf and Doha’s shimmering skyline. Taking it all in on the deck of a dhow as the sun is setting will leave you with a memory to savour. Souq Waqif: Spend a day here strolling through the souqs vibrant labyrinth of enchanting courtyards, cafés, and spice-scented alleyways where you can buy almost everything from gold and traditional Qatari garments to spices, camels, and falcons! The Desert: No visit to Qatar would be complete without a visit to the desert. Experience an exhilarating desert safari over the dunes to Khor Al Adaid, the Inland Sea accessible only by 4x4 vehicles, where you can try camel riding, sand boarding, or hit them on a quad bike, ATV, or dune buggy. Try paragliding or take a helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view.

Head to Zakreet in the Ras ABrouq Nature Reserve in a 4X4 for the ultimate road trip. A barren desert landscape of blinding white sand and astonishing limestone rock formations, with jutting overhangs that have been carved over time by the winds carrying desert sand. They look like giant mushrooms. Here too, you’ll see Richard Serra’s staggering desert installation “East-West/ West-East. Four 14 metre steel plates are spread over 1 kilometre in perfect alignment. Impressive at any time but even more incredible and evocative at sunrise or sunset. Continue to Khor Al Adaid where the turquoise blue water of the Gulf licks the golden-hued dunes - it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Al-Shahaniya Camel Racing Track: Offers a chance to see some of the best groomed and most expensive camels on the planet. Some are worth as much as one million Qatari riyals [$3.3m]. Incredibly they are ridden by robotic jockeys remotely controlled by camel herders who closely monitor who’s in the lead via walkie-talkie.

Mondrian Doha 12 Chairs Caviar Bar The Mondrian Doha

The Miraculous Journey - Damien Hirst

National Museum of Qatar Parisa

THE EATS.

Doha’s dining scene is made for indulgence without guilt or caution. The usual heavyweight suspects, Ducasse, Puck, Nobu, Jean-Georges, Guy, and Gordon, are all boldly here. Highlights include the world’s largest Nobu’s fabulous rooftop for sipping cocktails with fabulous views over the gulf and West Bay. MIA Park Cafe - the best view in Doha. IDAM at MIA.

THE SLEEP.

The Mondrian Doha

This Falcon-shaped hotel is a visual feast of gleaming whimsical opulence mixed with a mix of traditional Middle Eastern motifs from the famed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. Expect the unexpected.

The Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale Mushaireb

Designed by the legendary Parisian designer Jacques Garcia this is an elegant urban sanctuary with rooms overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Arabian Gulf, the verdant garden, or Doha’s old city. Vertigo, the 28th-floor bar, has a 360-degree view of the corniche and the city.

The Mandarin Oriental Doha

In complete contrast, the David Collins Studio-designed hotel highlights Qatari heritage with its sophisticated, elegant design. It has one of the city’s best rooftop spots for sunsets.

Waqif Boutique Hotels

Nestled in the heart of the historic Souq Waqif Souq is a collection of 9 historic buildings featuring intricate décor and architecture.

And for a lucky few, The Culture Pass Club.

Boho Social CP Club Souq Wafiq