Msheireb Downtown Doha

Like many Gulf cities, Doha has over the years imported models of suburbanisation dominated by the automobile with energy-intensive buildings and an urban character with little connection to local culture or climate. Against this backdrop, the Qatar Foundation, under the leadership of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned, embarked on a project to offer an alternative form of urban living. A prominently-located 31 hectare site, near to major institutions and the coastline was identified to reorient Doha’s centre of gravity around a new cohesive urban (and urbane) quarter.

Sitting in the heart of Doha, Msheireb’s northern edge is Al Rayyan Road, one of the city’s main east-west arteries. To its east lies the historic Souq Waqif, an important attraction; and to the north sits the Diwan, the seat of royal power, beyond which is Doha’s picturesque waterfront corniche. Some of the city’s oldest streets crossed the site and these routes are preserved. Several historic buildings were retained, the Heritage Houses converted into the Msheireb Museums by architects John McAslan + Partners. One of the largest stations in Doha’s new metro system is an anchor in the southwestern corner of the site, providing car-free connections to the rest of the city, and out to Doha’s international airport.

Arup developed an approach to sitewide infrastructure whilst EDAW created an urban structure of tightknit, compact urban blocks. We then developed a manifesto of sorts to guide the development. Called the Seven Steps, it articulated a contemporary ‘Qatari’ architectural approach that defined the character of the place. These prescribed a continuity in the development’s new buildings with the form and expression of traditional Qatari architecture; a shared approach to materiality and the arrangement of buildings in an ‘informal’ manner to embody the qualities of the traditional Islamic city; the integration of shaded streets, active rooftops, courtyards and terraces by using the form of buildings, colonnades and overhangs to make walking around the neighbourhood comfortable; and deep, layered facades which would minimise the impact of harsh sunlight, which in combination with natural ventilation and building systems would yield both internal comfort and minimise energy use.

As befitting a project of this scale, our involvement has been over a long period which began in 2006, the first phase of construction commencing in 2010, and overall completion scheduled for 2020. The goal has been to learn from the past to build a contemporary piece of city, and to support Qatar's transition to a post-oil economy by creating an attractive urban core that will be a magnet for both local and international visitors, residents and companies. Msheireb's sustainable targets have been ambitious and measurable too - the development will have the highest concentration of LEED-Platinum and Gold buildings on a single site in the world.

With several of Msheireb's buildings now open, Doha has the beginnings of a sustainable mixed-use compact downtown. The project has been explicitly held by its patrons as an essential means to achieve key goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which calls for a vibrant, high quality public realm. Msheireb, we hope, will also lead to a wider paradigm shift in urbanism and attitudes to urban living in Qatar and the Gulf region.