Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, today inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony of DOHALAND’s signature project, renaming ‘Heart of Doha’ as ‘Musheireb’, given the historical significance and importance of the area.
The unique groundbreaking ceremony also witnessed Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Chairperson of DOHALAND, reviving an age-old Qatari tradition by leaving her royal handprint on the cornerstone of the ‘Musheireb’ project.
The inspirational ceremony, which marked the beginning of construction of Phase 1A of ‘Musheireb’ project, drew from the rich history of Qatar, encompassing the country’s desert, maritime and architectural heritage.
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned noted in a television show played during the ceremony that: “Our past clearly reflected that communities in Qatar have always been close knit. People lived and worked together in harmony with the climate, with the land and with each other. We had our own ways of dealing with our environment which was sustainable and human in scale, and thus, our architecture reflected the unity of our family’s identity.”
Engineer Issa M. Al Mohannadi CEO of DOHALAND affirmed that the ‘Musheireb’ project will recreate the city’s architectural scene and will strive to become a source introducing Doha visitors to our deep roots and special identity.
The handprint on the cornerstone also commemorated the historic event when Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned unveiled DOHALAND’s floating Knowledge Enrichment Centre moored on the Doha Corniche. The unique ceremony was attended by around 300 prestigious guests, government dignitaries and renowned figures in the energy, education, real estate, environment and ICT industries.
The cornerstone is symbolic of a time when people inadvertently left their marks on the walls and surfaces of the houses they built with their own hands, thereby forging an actual physical connection with their dwelling. The ‘Musheireb’ project will mark the return of this old link between the communities and their environment, where habitations were more than mere structures where people lived - they were backdrops of peoples’ aspirations, struggles and achievements, integral and living elements of a nation’s hopes.
“Skyscrapers and isolated living compounds are not the communities we aspire to in Doha. We therefore decided to revive our past, rediscover our traditions, and regenerate the communities we have lost in this globalized world. We will do this by combining the spirit and aesthetic of yesterday with environmentally friendly and sustainable knowhow of tomorrow,” said Eng. Issa M. Al Mohannadi CEO, DOHALAND.
DOHALAND’s signature project, ‘Musheireb’, is a pioneering effort developed to revive the old commercial centre of the city, by deploying a community-based architectural language across a massive 35 hectare site. Ultimately, ‘Musheireb’ will form an iconic landmark within the city – a district that is globally recognisable yet provides a comfortable neighbourhood in which to live, work and thrive.
To achieve this, DOHALAND partnered with industry leaders and experts who were given the task of aligning the ethos of the past with the latest in environmentally friendly technology to derive an architectural language that was both relevant and truly Qatari. Elements of sustainability and eco-friendly practices such as maximizing efficiency in water and electrical usage, reducing carbon footprints, and sustainable waste management, were all incorporated in the project master plan. So too were aesthetic values inspired by traditional Qatari architecture and reflected in the design and ornamentation, all blended in innovative modern ways that ensure residents feel at home.
The elaborate ceremony included a delightful presentation highlighting the rich history of the Qatari people, from the Bedouin desert life to the pearl diving and fishing expeditions on the coastlines, as well as the builders who constructed the charming old houses of the country.
DOHALAND’s Knowledge Enrichment Centre, an innovative floating venue, is set to become the culture and knowledge hub of the city. It will bring the people of the city together and offer a venue for attending workshops, seminars, conferences and exhibitions that encourage the new culture of exchanging and sharing knowledge and ideas. The Knowledge Enrichment Centre’s activities and events will reaffirm DOHALAND’s values of Heritage, Innovation, Sustainability, Enrichment and Environment, through engagement, empowerment and edutainment.
The ‘Musheireb’ project aims to rediscover the heart of the city, converting it into a model community complete with everything an ideal city can offer. Through its comfortable homes, friendly neighbourhoods, and Main Square, the ‘Musheireb’ will be the hub of modern city that incorporates the distinctive qualities of Doha and meets the needs of modern-day citizens.
The project also emphasises the importance of family and social relationships between people. It attempts to rediscover the essence of the Qatari community, making it possible through compact neighbourhoods, pedestrian friendly streets and shaded pathways, and major facilities and services such as schools and malls all within walking distance. “This will help reinvigorate the traditional kinship networks that are very important for the Qatari people as well as enhance the sense of local community and urban identity,” said Eng. Issa M. Al Mohannadi.
Traditional Qatari architectural elements will prevail throughout the development, rediscovering the wisdom of Qatari traditions that employed sustainable and innovative techniques taking advantage of climatic conditions such as wind and sun to provide cooling, shade, as well as modern advantages such as solar energy.
Qatari architecture also contributed its aesthetic principles of simplicity and elegance, calm proportions and balance, helping rediscover the beauty of Qatari heritage. Greatly influenced by Islamic architecture, abstract patterns and perfect geometry will highlight the development.
“The ‘Musheireb’ project will transform the landscape in the city. When you set foot here you will know that this is Qatar, an advanced country that is deeply connected to its roots, with its own identity and aesthetics. Other countries will want to emulate our city, and the ‘Musheireb’ will become the model everyone will seek to replicate,” added Eng. Issa M. Al Mohannadi.
The site comprises approximately 35 hectares, bordered by Al Rayyan Road to the North, Jassim Bin Mohamed Street to the East, Musheireb Street to the South, and Al Diwan Street (part of Ring Road A) to the West. Most significantly, the ‘Musheireb’ site is immediately adjacent to the Emiri Diwan, Qatar’s seat of government and ruler’s palace. The project makes provision for additional palace office and guards facilities. The site is adjacent to the newly redeveloped Souk Waqif, a successful mixed-use scheme based on a traditional souk, and Al Koot Fort. The total project GFA will be 760,000 sqm.
The development will contain 226 buildings and will be home to 27,637 residents. It will have around 13,700 parking lots as well as a dedicated tramway, with a combination of commercial and residential properties, retail, cultural and entertainment areas. There will be parks and open spaces with a total area of 122,217 sqm.
The main structures that will be built at the ‘Musheireb’ project will be:
National Archive: High security is achieved without compromising public accessibility. Vehicular servicing, below ground under Masat Street.
Theatre and Museum: A theatre auditorium will provide a target capacity of between 500-700 people
Hotels: Three types of Hotels are provided as follows:
1) Lifestyle Hotel: Located at Barahat Al- Naseem, 175-225 rooms, target room size: 90-95 sqm gross per room. Luxury serviced apartments- 110sqm gross per room.
2) Luxury Hotel- 5*+: Located at Masajid Square and Bin Thani Square, 225-300 rooms, room size: 90-95 sqm gross per room.
3) Business Hotels- 5*+: Located at Nakheel Square, 250 rooms, room size: 85-90 sqm gross
Education:
Primary School total GFA is 5,522 sqm
Location- Al Kahraba North
The Primary school will provide a target capacity of 300 students.
Heritage:
The Heritage Quarter lies to the east of the ‘Musheireb’ project, between the Diwan Quarter and Musheireb Area. It spills out to the main site to cross Jassim Bin Mohamed Street and engages with Souk Waqif and the Fort. It is a cultural destination built on the heritage of existing buildings while potentially incorporating modern museums, Islamic gardens, and art galleries. The heritage quarter comprises:
Eid Musala Ground
Infrastructure:
Dedicated below grade servicing for heavy goods vehicles
Purpose built under road service-ways
Centralized District Cooling
Proposed gas network
Vacuum Waste Disposal system (ENVAC)
Dedicated Cycle-way
Full system redundancy
Centralized security / ICT
The ‘Musheireb’ is more than just another city centre; it embodies the vision of Qatar’s leadership, the aspirations of its people and the symbolism of the nation’s future. It is where the ancient and the modern meet to engender not dissonance but symmetry, where technology and traditions merge to create not conflict but harmony, and where human history and individual enterprise come together to forge not confusion but a stronger sense of identity. Truly the heart of modern Doha, it is a cohesive translation of heritage and innovation into a single architectural language that goes beyond cosmetic embellishments to create a deeply rooted yet refreshing urban culture.
Located in Inner Doha, the old city centre of Qatar’s capital is being regenerated to recreate an amalgamation of old traditions and new technologies that encompass sustainability and an appreciation of Qatar’s historical legacy. The QR20bn ‘Musheireb’ project will be completed in five phases, with the first phased due for completion by 2012. The entire project is due to be complete by 2016.
