Msheireb Downtown Doha

We have designed three residential buildings for Phase 3 of Msheireb Properties’ flagship project. Msheireb Downtown Doha is the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project and will regenerate and preserve the historic heart of Doha. Providing high-quality apartments and communal facilities for families from the region and abroad, our designs build on the project master plan and principles. Eric Parry Architects have collaborated with four other design architects in this phase and with Gensler as executive architects. These buildings will achieve LEED Gold.

We collaborated with four other design architects in this phase for the 15 buildings that together formed four urban blocks. This included the residential spaces in the public realm that permeate the masterplan and the shared amenities at roof level.

The process included intense workshop weeks at the project office in Doha for the full design team. The process included collaborative tools from simple drawing, shared CAD modelling, through to the physicality of sketch and presentation models. The final stages included the presentation in a project exhibition room of all designs, materials and fittings for the client group approval. The full design for the buildings and interiors was completed to RIBA Stage 4 for the delivery by the architectural team at Gensler.

Our response to the masterplan and design codes was considered and emphasised themes of: the liveable city; inside and outside; an inhabited wall; and shadow and movement. These became embedded in the detailing of the residential buildings and our response to the climatic challenges.

Three examples of our collaboration are: regionally sourced limestone for wall cladding; traditional lime render walling; and glazed terracotta brise soleil screens to private balconies and to the street facing colonnades. The latter being an example of how the shade modelling was applied within the public realm. The ceramic components were developed as prototypes in our studio and samples fabricated during the design period to ensure they could be procured in the main building contract. This included the subtle glaze to the surfaces.

Our involvement after the initial procurement input has been limited (by the appointment) with the completed buildings illustrated here as of July 2019 and demonstrating their delivery to our design and material intent.