Uncovering the architectural scene of Qatar

Regardless of the scale, all of the designs have a special place in my heart, even the small ones. A milestone was one of my high rise buildings, Al Barzan Tower in West Bay, where I mixed modern and traditional elements. This building got a lot of attention, as it was one of the earliest buildings in West Bay. A few more landmarks are Al Sharq Village & Spa; we turned it into an operational five-star resort, the Ministry of Interiors, a statement-building, and the restoration of Doha Fire Station. 

The process starts with the client’s excitement. I let them explain what they have in mind. You need to understand what they need. Then, the inspiration comes from the site itself; is it a project in the desert? Or downtown? 

Afterwards, you need to do deep research and brainstorm with your team. What we always aim to achieve is to come up with ideas that create a feeling. We don’t want to create a “box” that just fits the purpose. Once we tell the client our story, the journey begins. The next steps include dealing with engineering and all mechanical procedures; everything needs to be put together. It’s great, though, witnessing all these people and different teams working together towards the same vision. 

I was fortunate to get an opportunity to compete for this fantastic project among teams from all over the world; the research I had to make, selecting the patterns, working around interior design… it was fascinating. We worked with consultants from all over the world, and that was a beautiful journey, a fun ride! What I felt during the opening day was a feeling I will never forget. 

Let’s go back in time. When I started my practice, people were not used to locals working on architecture and designs. They were used to dealing with architects from all around the world but not from Qatar. It took me a few years to prove that I could do as good as architects from other parts of the world, and even better, as I could also understand the local culture.

One more challenge is running a successful business. You may be very creative when dealing with designs, but running a business is a different story. You have to make a profit, pay the bills, keep your people happy. You need to keep a balance between the emotional and the business approach. 

The biggest challenge here is to use new technologies smartly. To understand each environment and implement the right technologies.

Sustainability is fundamental, and Qatar has gone a long way in this direction. All our stadiums are sustainable, the water consumption is 40% less than any other city’s stadiums. As a founder of the Qatar Green Council, I must say that we have to be very careful of how we treat the environment. Our priority should be to protect it. Qatar has implemented some great measures on this, on which materials to use, and there are good incentives when a building is green. 

Qatar has become a great architectural city that presents masterpieces, such as stadiums, the Pearl, Museums, Msheireb Downtown. It introduces a new architectural language! I believe that architecture and design students can come here and do a tour; our city is making a mark on this field.

The country is developing a lot the city planning; all entities are working towards making Doha a walkable city, with bicycle routes.