COVER STORY qatartoday
by sindhu nair
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ifteen years ago, Doha was devoid of any architectural innovation. The word ‘architecture’ referred only to the small buildings reminiscent of an earlier period of Qatar’s history. But now slowly and surely, the architectural landscape of the country is changing, with world famous architects designing important landmarks -- like the Museum of Islamic Art by I M Pei. That’s one facet of the construction boom; the other is the pillars of glass dotting the Corniche.
he West Bay currently has 104* listed towers; The Pearl-Qatar has over 35* towers; the Barwa Financial District, Al Waab City and Lusail all have numerous residential and commercial towers in the masterplan. The glass towers at the West Bay, though modern in design, are not best suited for the dessert climate, and are classified as ‘environmental disasters’. In a country that is emphasising its cultural roots; do these glass blocks convey the culture and the traditions to the outside world? Why should a country which has a distinct Qatari architecture so suited for its climatic condition copy a style that is clearly not its own? Qatar Today poses this question to those in the field -- some who have been witnesses of this growth and others who were actively involved in the process. We explore the built environment and map the architectural growth of the country. *( Emphoris.com, which lists the tall buildings in the world.)
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Aesthetic Development At the recent launch of the Knowledge Enrichment Centre, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misned commented on the gap between the country’s modern buildings and its cultural traditions. To bridge the gap, she called on Doha’s architects to base their architectural innovation on the historic Qatari building style. Issa Al Mohannadi, CEO of Dohaland, has been instrumental in conceptualising projects that have an identity rooted in history. He says that the built environment of the country is more of a blind replication rather than a representative evolution of regional aesthetics. “The pattern of development and growth in recent decades has tended towards isolated (single) land uses with a modernistic urban sprawl and heavy reliance on car transport. Most aesthetic values in architecture were drawn from Western influences and are marked by the anonymity of modern architecture, with very few drawing inspiration from Qatari heritage. “Dohaland aims to reverse that trend, and set Qatari and regional architecture on the long forgotten path of developing and evolving their own architectural language.” He is quite emphatic when he says that he wants the city to be recognisably Qatari, and “we also want it to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. More importantly, we want it to be people friendly.” Ibrahim Jaidah, the Managing Director of Arab Engineering Bureau, is passionate about Arabic architecture and has been trying hard to revive traditional art through his designs. His work in the country has won him three Arab Cities Award, one Islamic Cities Award and three Aga Khan nominations. He feels the emerging trends in aesthetics are quite positive. As an example, he cites the new law by the planning department which states that buildings cannot be fully glazed but has to use a combination of solid structures and glass. 36
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“We want our city to be recognised through our architecture. When someone visits our city, or even sees a picture of one of our buildings in a postcard, we want them to say, ‘Oh yes. That is Qatar’ “
Issa Al Mohannadi, CEO, Dohaland
Souk Waqif Museum of Islamic Art Qatar University Qatar Foundation buildings “These are good moves which will prevent us from making architectural bloopers. It will help avoid copying of world architecture here, which has been a fad for some time now. It is dangerous to have a fad in architecture because fashion fades while architecture should not.” Associate Director of Allies and Morrison Architects and General Manager of their Qatar branch office, Simon Gathercole agrees wholeheartedly with HH Sheikha Mozah’s observation. His firm is involved in the Musheireb development by Dohaland, He believes that Qatar’s culture and heritage must be reflected in its buildings, and his firm is striving to create that architectural language. “We’re exploring how architecture can work to bridge the gap between twentyfirst century design and lessons from the past. We do not want to mimic the past,
but to reinterpret it,” he says. Director of Architecture at GHD, Martin Hay compares facades to clothing. “Most of us if given the choice would not choose our clothing on the basis of cost alone. Why then do we often put up with facades in which the cheapest possible solution is adopted to make a short term financial gain? Not only do these ‘clothes’ appear shabby after a while, they also give the impression that the owner does not care.” He says that while there are many fine modern developments in Doha, there are many that aren’t. “Architectural ‘style’ will always be debated, however one cannot escape the collective responsibility to ensure that at the very least, buildings demonstrate a commitment to quality,” he says. “Personally I am very fond of traditional Qatari Architecture, however as in all other parts of the world this has developed from a limited range of building typologies and needs to be sensitively adapted. Developments in construction technology and requirements for sustainable development create new possibilities and the skill will be in incorporating the new while respecting traditional cultural values,” says Hay. Director of Development, Qatar, Halcrow, Dean Thompson, feels that things are looking up in the construction sector. According to Thompson, there is a combination of good and bad in West Bay, that creates a vibrant character. “I think to date the speed at which things happened meant that quality wasn’t considered as well as it should’ve, but now with the sustainability initiatives that are in place, everybody is slowing down and saying, ‘we have to do more than just build a building, we’ve to add value, we’ve got to make it attractive to an occupier and to a tenant.’” “But there are some really key architectural buildings in the Education City. They are not so overt that they compete
with each other, but there’s a character to the campus that people can enjoy,” he says.
“It is dangerous to have fads in architecture because fads fades while architecture should not.”
Infrastructure Woes The development of a country does not lie wholly in its architecture but also requires creating an infrastructure that helps everything else fall in place. Sadly, the infrastructure of the country is far from perfect. . Mohannadi feels that there is a need for prioritisation and coordination. “Great strides are being made in developing the infrastructure for Qatar. Major investments are currently in place and being proposed for new rail, highway, power and water, and telecoms improvement across the whole country but the execution pace is the key.” He adds, “Accessibility is a key success factor for any development. And developers need to seriously consider innovative, sustainable ideas to minimise the need of using transportation, as much as possible. We need to start thinking about the balanced mixed land-use development concepts. On the other hand, we also need to move fast to elevate the public transportation systems so as to make it A-class and change the local perception to adapt to and consider more environmental friendly means of transportation.” Jaidah feels that the infrastructure of the country doesn’t match the development, but the gap is narrowing. “After five years, moving from one place to another will be easier,” predicts Jaidah, “Monorails and underground rail system are being planned, which will positively affect the transport systems.” Hay feels that in a rapidly developing country, infrastructure will always be lagging behind. The transport system is already under strain; water and drainage are in need of major improvements too. “ Transport, water, sanitation and utilities are fundamental prerequisites for any successful city. These are expensive and
Ibrahim Jaidah
Managing Director, AEB Museum of Islamic Arts Sheraton building Qpost building
Housing Issues
A
few years ago, Doha had a serious problem -- lack of affordable residential units. A year of intensive construction followed and now the city seems to be spoilt for choice. Does this reflect a surplus? Jaidah feels that there was a shortage and there has been a correction, which points to a healthy state of affairs. This surplus too, according to him, is necessary for the correction of inflation in the realty sector, . Mohannadi says, “Typical suburban housing density is low in Qatar and this generates high transport demand when residents drive to schools, mosques, offices and shopping malls. Housing density and provision should be considered parallely with other amenities such as health, education, transport and job opportunities, to enable efficient functioning of the city as a whole. It is the mixed used concept that we need to start thinking of to implement sustainability into our daily life.” The quality of construction can definitely be improved, feels Mohannadi, particularly in terms of overall planning
and sustainability. “The end users also need to be choosier, , so as to improve the quality of offering. At the end of the day, small projects are needed to allow developers to test the market and thus promote innovation in sustainable technology and creativity,” he says. Thompson feels that if development continues in the same way as is targeted, then there should not be any surplus. But he also hits the nail on the head when he says that housing for the low income group is the critical need of the country. “I see a shortage of housing in the lower economic ranges. Dubai was a prime example, catering completely to the top end. Qatar has to cater to the lower income bracket as well. The country is basically developed by the labour that’s here. So you need to cater to them, and you need to integrate them into the society as well so they don’t feel like they’re outsiders, otherwise you end up with a less stable environment than you would normally have.”
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take time to implement . It is best to make that investment in terms of money and time at the very beginning, since retrofitting or refurbishing major infrastructure in developed urban areas is complex and unsustainable,” feels Hay. Thompson deals with transportation issues on a daily basis. “. At the moment, the public transport system is not equipped to accommodate all those who need it. We always have to remember that with the hot climate here for a certain part of the year, people are not going to walk long distances from the tube station to another location; they need some way of moving around.
Now and later What’s the look 15 years hence? The planning of the city has emphasised aesthetics, says Jaidah. “The shape of the Corniche and the radial roads all add so much beauty to the city,” he says. “But the planning of the residential areas is to be relooked, “says Jaidah, “It doesn’t suit us at all. We should go back to
“We’re exploring how architecture can work to bridge the gap between twenty-first century design and lessons from the past. We do not want to mimic the past, but to reinterpret it”
Simon Gathercole,
General Manager of Qatar office, Allies and Morrison Architects
Souk Waqif Museum of Islamic Art
earlier planning of Arab cities, with focus on pedestrian facilities, meeting places and a sense of community living. All this has to come back, for a city to thrive.” Jaidah wants the country to have an identity of its own, and not be looked at as a copy of another. “Mohannadi hopes to see “responsible decisions by developers and decision makers to hold values, local culture and sustainability at the heart of their identity. Going forward, I also hope to see Musheireb and many other projects forming iconic landmarks within the city both culturally and globally recognisable yet providing a comfortable neighborhood in which to live, work and thrive. I believe it will heavily influence many local developments so Doha will have its own brand of modern Qatari architecture.” Hay feels that 15 years later Doha will become a city that offers high quality of lifestyle and facilities for major institutions, businesses and for families or individuals who can afford to invest or live here. “Doha has limited areas of high natural amenity, therefore creating and maintaining high quality developments
“Architectural ‘style’ will always be debated, however one cannot escape the collective responsibility to ensure that at the very least, buildings demonstrate a commitment to quality”
Martin Hay
Director of Architecture, GHD Khalifa Tower and Stadium the Sheraton Hotel the Islamic Cultural centre (Fanar) the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Museum of Islamic Arts
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will be fundamental to its success. Current developments such as The Pearl-Qatar, The Lusail development and particularly the Musheireb project will reinforce this. “ Qatar’s relatively small size is also its strength, says Hay. “And there will be a point where it makes more sense to sustain fewer developments of higher quality than to create developments for the sake of a transient property market. Good and considered development control is fundamental and ultimately more sustainable.” Thompson hopes that there is less emphasis on high-rise.”From an urban design point of view, if you look at the heights of the buildings within Lusail, overall its human-scale buildings. They are kept to the right scale. With high rises, you have a high density population on a very small piece of ground. This is not a very healthy option” This kind of construction is not justified by a lack of space, Thompson points out. “The traditional Middle East architecture is about small spaces, shaded allies, close environments, close-knit communities. The old buildings form natural spaces between them to shade each other so you reduce the heat load on buildings. It’s a very different architecture. You don’t want your city to be filled with towers; you want it to be a sprawling communities. Proper neighbourhoods,”says Thompson. Gathercole echoes Jaidah’s sentiments, calling for a ‘pedestrian movement’ within the city. “I feel that more work must be done to encourage Qatari families to move back into the city centre and to make the country more pedestrian-friendly. Doha will become more vibrant if families live in the heart of the city and if people were encouraged to walk the streets, as well as use their cars.” In 15 years, Doha has potential to become a true model of a modern Arabic city, one that embraces new low energy technologies, sustainable design strategies
“The traditional Middle East architecture is about small spaces, shaded allies, ,closeknit communities. The old buildings form natural spaces between them to shade each other so you reduce the heat load on buildings. It’s a very different architecture.”
Dean Thompson,
Director of Development- Qatar, Halcrow
Carnegie Melon University-Qatar Souq Waqif and building processes with traditional, locally rooted designs and architecture, says Gathercole.
What does our city say? Like many other art forms, architecture has a language; it communicates different messages to different people. While Italy has a distinctively romantic setting with a strong Renaissance feel, Singapore has a strong post-modern vibe. What sentiment, then, do the the buildings in Doha convey to the outside world? Mohannadi is clear about what he wants the city to be. “We want our city to be recognised through our architecture. When someone visits our city, or even sees a picture of one of our buildings in
a postcard, we want them to say, ‘Oh yes. That is Qatar’. “We want to maintain our unique identity. We want our architecture to be an introduction to our deep roots and special identity. On a more practical level, we want to make this city more community and people friendly.” For Jaidah, it’s about uniqueness and the associated memories. “Like the Museum of Islamic Art and the Souq Waqif, these buildings should ignite memories of the country.” Many cities have followed the ‘Bilbao effect’(the wow factor in buildings) and commissioned landmark cultural institutes housed within architectural iconic developments. According to Hay, “Architecture demonstrates an investment in quality and a respect for the environment and its citizens. It states that you are serious when it comes to culture and civic pride. My own view is that if Qatar can strike a balance between the occasional landmark or iconic building, with considered urban development that embodies quality in design and sensitivity to the needs of its citizens on a day to day level, it will achieve something where many cities have failed.” Gathercole cities the Knowledge Enrichment Centre. “The KEC itself and the exhibition it houses, reinforce the importance of innovative contemporary design that is also rooted in the past. This comes from understanding the evolution of the city and changing ways of life as well as from architectural and urban form. Engaging visitors and the local community with issues of development and design can be a very powerful way of changing people’s perception of Qatar as well as encouraging excellence in the built environment.” People-focused development, according to Gathercole, will also make Doha a more interesting and pleasant place for tourists to visit. (With inputs from Elizabeth Weingarten)
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The best buildings in Doha
01
02
03
04 05
Museum of Islamic Art
Souq Waqif
villagio
the pearl qatar
zig-zag towers
(The poll cover a 100 respondents, of varying professional and economic backgrounds)
Tall Building Statistics for Doha 40
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136 51 existing
under construction
15 07
unbuilt
Planned
06 07
08
qatar national convention center
The RasGas Building (with the silver sphere in between)
Alfardan Tower
People Speak:
Are you happy with the way the country has developed
architecturally?
09 10 Tornado Tower
Burj Qatar
50% o 50% satisfied
negative
not so sure
Reasons for answering ‘Not so sure’:
Reasons for answering, ‘Satisfied’:
Some of the towers aren’t original. They’re just copies. l I am working in a hotel right next to City Centre, and guests complain about the construction. They say it is too much noise. l There doesn’t seem to be a building plan. l Sometimes construction disrupts peoples’ lives too much. l There is too much construction going on.
l
l
It’s very beautiful, cool and modern looking. The whole place reminds me of an Arabian Singapore. It’s very well developed. l It has become a sophisticated, modern city. Fourteen years ago, there was nothing here. l The shapes of the buildings are shocking and innovative. l The architecture plan is moving in the right direction. It’s nice that Doha is trying to retain its heritage while also emphasizing new projects. l
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Architectural Aspirations of an Emerging Metropolis Ashraf M Salama
T
Professor of Architecture, QATAR UNIVERSITY
he ‘World City Network’ of Taylor ranks Doha as a city with the highest global connectivity. While the developments represent important economic and infrastructure efforts, Doha’s aspirations in architecture should be underscored. Historically, Doha was a fishing and pearl diving town. Up to the mid 1960s, the majority of buildings were individual traditional houses that represented local responses to the surrounding physical and socio-cultural conditions. During the 1970s Doha was transformed into a modernised city. However, in the 1980s and early 1990s the development process was slow compared to the prior period due to either the overall political atmosphere or the heavy reliance of the country on the resources and economy of neighboring countries. Over the past decade or so, the wealth produced by Qatar’s oil and gas exports has generated a construction development boom in the capital Doha, and the surrounding vicinity. This resulted in significant growth at all levels from urban development and infrastructure provision to cultural and educational facilities. Like its neighboring growing capitals, Doha has ambitions and aspirations and is attempting to position itself on the map of world emerging economies. Its architecture
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is continuously materialising its aspirations. These are not only statements of forms and architectural compositions made by famous architects, but serious ventures that speak to the environment and culture with different degrees of success.
Aspirations from the 80s: Qatar University, Q-Post Notably, architectural aspirations are not new, the early ones being the Qatar University (QU) Campus and the Q-Post building. QU campus is one of the early attempts to establish a local architectural identity designed by the Paris-based late Egyptian architect Ahmed El Kafrawi. Based on an octagonal unit design idea, wind-tower structures are created to provide cool air and reduce humidity. Towers of light are also introduced and are intended to control the harsh sunlight, and abundant use of mashrabiyas (Traditional ScreenedWindows) and some stained glass also serve to mediate the environment. Open and partially covered courtyards, planted and often with fountains, are plentiful throughout the site. The architect placed strong emphasis on natural ventilation, one of the many links in which Kafrawi relates to traditional architecture of the region. As specific models, he used the few still existing wind-tower houses in Doha and modernised their basic principle. Inaugurated in 1988, the main structure
of the Q-Post (GPS-General Postal Corporation) is another building from the 80s. The building was designed as pigeon loft to symbolise pigeons which were used to send messages in ancient times worldwide. Reducing the amount of solar again through deep openings while utilising dramatic effects of day lighting are major design features.
Gems in Education City One statement of a manifested aspiration is that of Arata Isozaki, who is well known for his deep interpretation of the contexts in which designs are developed. He designed the Liberal Arts and Sciences building (LAS) which is a focal point for all students in the Education City. Occupying an area of approximately 22000 sq mt, the building is introduced to accommodate the Academic Bridge Program (ABP). As a visually striking and architecturally stunning intervention, the building is designed around a theme developed from traditional Arabic mosaics that are evocative of the crystalline structure of sand. This was based on intensive studies to abstract the essential characteristics of the context while introducing new interpretations of geometric patterns derived from widely applied traditional Islamic motives. Another building of Isozaki is the Weill Cornell Medical College, a striking functional composition of courtyards,
bridges, and polyhedrons and ovoid lecture halls. Reflecting the locality, a combination of triangular and squared shapes are used for openings and partitions. Other vertical surfaces were introduced that were traditionally used in Arabic- Islamic decorative arts utilised in houses and public buildings. A third selected statement of a manifested aspiration is that of the award winning Ricardo Legorreta who continues in his design of the Engineering College of Texas A&M University to root his work in the application of regional Mexican architecture to a wider global context. Typically, his work is recognisable for its brightly-coloured and the sustained attempts to amalgamate local traditions with contemporary needs. Legorreta uses elements of Mexican regional architecture in his work including bright colours, plays of light and shadow, central patios, courtyards and porticos as well as solid volumes. The concept is based on introducing two independent but adjoining masses linked by large atrium; these are named the Academic Quadrangle and the Research Building. The overall expression of the building demonstrates masterful integration of solid geometry and a skillful use of colour and tone values.
Souq Waqif The reconstruction of Souq Waqif represents another aspiration of conserving the past of a nation. The literal translation of the area is ‘The Standing Market’, a Souq with an old history said to span 200 years. It contained different types of submarkets for whole sales and retail trades, with buildings characterised by high walls, small windows and wooden portals, and also open air stalls for local vendors. Bedouins used to hold their own markets on Thursdays selling timber and dairy products. Also, it was a gathering space for fishermen. Over a period of three decades from the 60s, the Souq was derelict and most of its unique buildings fell in despair.
Recently, it has acquired a new image by returning it to its original condition. However, while it kept its function, new arts galleries, traditional cafes and restaurants, cultural events, and local concerts were introduced as new functions attracting most of the city residents and visitors. It seems that the country’s aspirations are endless and this is evident in the current surge in the design and construction of new buildings. These buildings are not physical masks of power, buy embody a considerable number of the forgotten enduring values of architecture. These can be exemplified by different factors. They respond to the contextual characteristics mandated by climatic and symbolic attributes. This is manifested in different treatments and articulations addressing sun movement and air flows around the buildings, the use of durable and reflective materials -- the dramatic effects of natural light in the interior spaces, the orientation of openings or double walling and skylights, and the deep interpretation of traditional elements and adapting them to the nature of use. With different degrees of success they respond to the needs of users and local populations, to the city and also to the artistic and spiritual needs of the people. They emphasise the role that human values play in creating responsive environments by skilfully addressing the clear separation between gender related activities. They integrate building management systems into new interpretations of traditional forms. They adopt flexibility of use and as an important factor for expansion in the cases of educational buildings. While these manifested aspirations represent cognizant actions of architects toward creating responsive educational, cultural and commercial environments that meet the aspirations of enlightened client organizations and their communities, it remains to be seen how new aspirations would fit in harmony.
It seems that the country’s aspirations are endless and this is evident in the current surge in the design and construction of new buildings.
Ashraf M Salama
Architects for Peace, January 2010 Dr Ashraf M Salama is member of the editorial board of Architects for Peace. He is an architect, scholar, and professor of architecture, He is the Chair of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Qatar University, has held a reader in architecture position at Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, the chief editor of Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, collaborating editor of Open House International- OHI, editorial board member of TimeBased Architecture International, and International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
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