While Doha, Qatar, is home to acclaimed architecture, including Jean Nouvel’s National Museum, OMA’s National Library, and I.M. Pei’s decade-old Museum of Islamic Art, the city abounds in flash and trash, even though (or perhaps because) it’s the capital of one of the richest countries in the world. The Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is trying to raise the bar—most notably with Msheireb Downtown Doha, a model development that replaces a crumbling sector of the inner city and should be completed next year.
Constructed in phases over the past 10 years, Msheireb now comprises more than 100 buildings, grouped in megablocks of irregular shape that contain a mix of residential, office, retail, dining, and hospitality, as well as three mosques. Four below-grade levels accommodate parking and services. Most structures in the complex are low-rise, except for towers of just over 20 stories on the southern edge to draw winds through the development. Broad and narrow streets are oriented to channel breezes and maximize shade in a city where temperatures regularly reach 100 degrees; overhangs and arcades enhance the pedestrian experience. Every building is targeted to achieve a LEED Gold or Platinum rating. Visitors and residents are encouraged to walk or bicycle, or use an electric tram that loops around the community or the new station on the citywide subway network to get around.
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