Was honored to host members of Japan Institute of Architects and AIA Japan during their visit to Qatar…
Day 01
Group Image, at Qatar National Convention Center auditorium. Largest auditorium in Qatar with 2500 seats and three terraces.
We had an amazing time in Qatar with our colleagues from the Japan Institute of Architects and members of AIA International Chapter who visited us this October. Despite a very tight schedule, they managed to experience the best of Qatar’s architecture and culture.
On the first day, Mr. Satoru, the group chairman from UME Architects, met with me in Doha. From there, we headed to the Qatar Foundation for private tours of one of the largest educational areas in the Middle East. Along the way, we glimpsed the skyline and saw one of the lesser-known gems of brutalist architecture, designed by Kenso Tange in the 70s, located right opposite the famous Museum of Islamic Arts designed by I.M. Pei.
The first stop of the day was the Qatar National Convention Center, designed by Arata Isozaki. This building is a magnificent example of the form meeting function. The functional elements of the center are placed in the back volume, organized to maximize functionality. The sculptural front of the building, which from the interior almost feels detached from its functional back, is highlighted by a sleek skylight that emphasizes this separation.The large atrium lobby created by the merging of these volumes offers wide open spaces that intrude into the functional areas, enhancing the overall users experience.
Image of QNCC atrium lobby.
The group also noticed the sleek structural columns inside the building, comparing them to those in Japan and concluding on the seismic differences between Qatar and Japan. Our next stop was the Qatar National Library, where we had the opportunity to be greeted by the architect himself, Mr. Rem Koolhaas. He is one of the architects who has significantly contributed to Qatar’s architectural portfolio, including the Qatar Foundation.
Image of group outside the QNL
The Qatar National Library is one of the first and possibly the only national library built in the 21st century. Unlike stereotypical library designs, the QNL is open, bright and lively, and can be compared to those in Stuttgart and Seoul. It allows users to interact with each other and explore the stepping walls of books on each side of the library, which cleverly integrate private and silent niches for those who need focus. With its design and layout, it serves not just as a library but also as a student learning and gathering space. Local staff showcased various smart solutions, from book storage and digitalization to interactive screens with book themed games for kids. This less conservative approach to library design has turned the place into a community hub, attracting families over the weekend, especially during hot summer days.
One detail that caught the group’s attention was the open basement area, which has a completely different material treatment from the rest of the library. It mimics the archaeological excavation site, featuring some of the oldest books, pictures and sculptures in the library.
Image of Qatar National Library central area.
As we continued through the Qatar Foundation, the group visited the QF Headquarters. From its terraces, we had the opportunity to view the entire master plan and gain different perspectives on the works of Arata Isozaki, Rem Koolhaas, Antoine Predock, UN Studio and others.Surprisingly, what appears as a cube from the outside is an open and inviting building from the inside. With asymmetrical central atrium, various functional volumes protruding inside of it and connecting bridges interacting with each other, it offers a unique experience. In Qatar’s harsh summer climate, we experienced the benefits of the atriums and courtyard where a constant breeze of fresh air circulated through the building.
Image of QF HQ internal courtyard.
Image of QF HQ viewed from the QNCC Atrium.
The last stop of the day was the Qatar National Museum, a masterpiece designed by Jean Nouvel that resembles the desert rose commonly found in Qatar’s Sea-Line area, now protected from the excavations by the Ministry of Environment. The museum’s architecture speaks for itself, but it was interesting to learn from our local guide that the entire museum was initially planned to be placed underground, mimicking the natural environment of desert roses, which are sand crystals usually found about 1 meter under the sand. The modern museum encircles the Old Doha Palace, perfectly blending the old with the new and giving a deserved value to both.
Image of QNM viewed from the old palace area within the museum.
Day 02
On the second day, with special thanks to Ms. Megha, AIA country representative for Qatar, who accompanied the group for their final trips, including the off-road safari to see Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East artwork situated in the Dukhan desert area of West Qatar.
The group visited the Museum of Islamic Arts, designed by I.M. Pei, who went on a seven months journey researching the Middle Eastern and Islamic architecture before starting the design of the museum, for which he found an inspiration in an old mosque inside Egypt’s Cairo.
Group Photo inside the Museum of Islamic Arts.
Afterward, they had the opportunity to visit one of the exhibition galleries hosting modern art and various international exhibitions, the Riwaq Gallery “hangar”, which has become a well-known display of the best international art in Doha. In the same district, amidst abundant greenery and beautiful scenery, there is another Richard Serra artwork, the 7 sculpture. This piece features seven steel plates leaning on each other, forming a small landmark icon shaped into a star, with its center almost mimicking the architecture of I.M. Pei’s MIA. The perfectly assembled urban plan of Old Doha Port, interconnected with parks and pathways with cycling tracks, allowed the group to visit the Mina District with just a short walk.
Group Image inside the Mina District, Old Doha Port.
The second stop, well known from Qatar postcards, was the Pearl. This exclusive yet open residential area features marinas and a carefully sculpted reinterpretation of Andalusian, Moroccan and even Venetian architectural styles, blended with touches of Middle Eastern architecture.
On the way back, the group had a chance to see another masterpiece by Jean Nouvel, the Burj Doha Tower. Some might say it almost identically resembles its counterparts in Barcelona or London, but upon closer look, it’s perfectly sculpted for its location. The parametric facade, featuring the local mashrabiya patterns, is designed to provide a balance between shade and light where needed in the interior.
The last stop of the day was Msheireb Downtown, one of the recent urban and architectural additions to Doha’s master plan, led by the Msheireb Properties team. The group observed a stark contrast to The Pearl, where local architecture was interpreted in a contemporary way, both on an urban and architectural scale.
Msheireb Downtown master plan model.
Msheireb Downtown represents a new urban center in the old Doha area, designed with a focus on user experience. It’s the first “smart and sustainable” city center newly built anywhere in the world. The area features narrow alleys, a main pedestrian boulevard, integrated tram lines, and a variety of concept shops, restaurants, and snack corners. Although it might appear to be filled with exclusive high-end retail shops, careful management has ensured a mix of different spaces, well integrated with pedestrian areas, small parks, and children’s playgrounds, making it a perfect spot for everyone.
One interesting fact about Msheireb Downtown is its well-managed vehicular circulation. The entire area is connected underground with a network of public and private parking, with dedicated heavy traffic lanes running beneath the city. Msheireb Properties recently won a Guinness World Record for the largest underground car park, with more than 10,000 parking spaces.
Image from Last day activity, and safari with Qatari (local) drivers to the Richard Serra’s East-West
Photo credits: JIA, AIA Middle East, Author
Written by: Amar Hromo