OMA’s Plans for “Iconic” Qatar National Library
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has announced the launch of the Qatar National Library (QNL), to be designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA.
The QNL, a public access library, will symbolically connect the country’s past and future. As her highness explained: “The library’s vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future demonstrates the significant role QNL will play in unlocking human potential as Qatar builds a knowledge-based economy. A modern dynamic National Library for the country is essential in reaching this goal.”
As such, Rem Koolhass – an architect known both for his iconic structures as well as his success with the Seattle Public Library - has been hand-picked for the important design, soon to be, according to the QNL website, ”one of the most [...] iconic landmarks in Qatar and the region.” As a library on the cutting-edge of digital archiving, the building will require innovative facilities (including over 300 public computers, wifi and multi-media production studios); however, it will also serve the community as a relaxed, social gathering place.
More images of OMA’s plans for the Qatar National Library, after the break….
World Football Museum ‘Crystal Ball’ / AVP Arhitekti + Sangrad
Designed by AVP Arhitekti + Sangrad, the intention for the World Football Museum ‘Crystal Ball’ is to reaffirm Qatar’s worldwide position through a landmark to become a symbol of future architectural design. As a standard within the sustainability and energy renewable field, they take advantage of the natural resources and latest technology in structural design, façade materials and functionality of the whole development. This results in low energy consumption and aims for a zero-carbon emission solution. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Lekhwiya Sports Complex / Perkins Eastman
The New York office of top international architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman shared with us their design for the Lekhwiya Sports Complex—a mixed-use sports venue that will be the home stadium for Qatar’s premier football team, Lekhwiya Club. The 19,529 sm (210,210 sf) complex also will be used as a training site and home base for a guest team participating in the 2022 World Cup. More architects’ description after the break.
Musheireb Master Plan / mossessian & partners
mossessian & partners have won the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects “Overall Winner category” Award for their element of the Musheireb scheme, a sustainable downtown regeneration project in Doha, Qatar for the Dohaland development group.
Al Barahat Square / mossessian & partners
London based architects, mossessian & partners, have shared with us their recent work, Al Barahat Square in the Musheireb development in Doha, Qatar. Additional images and a press release for this new civic space after the jump.
Sports City Stadium for Qatar 2022 / Populous
There’s still a long road to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, but the design and construction of the 12 stadiums has already started. We will be featuring as many as we can, for you to see how will future stadiums look like. To start, sports architecture experts, Populous, shared with us their design for the Sports City Stadium, located along the Persian Gulf in the eastern coastal city of Doha. More images and complete architect’s description after the break.
Video: Qatar’s Stadiums for 2022 FIFA World Cup
Yesterday, FIFA announced the nations that will host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup™. Russia will be hosting the most important soccer event in the world in 2018 and Qatar will do so four years later. We’ve already featured Erick van Egeraat & Mikhail Posokhin’s VTB Arena for Russia. Now, we want to share with you this video showing five stadiums for Qatar 2022. Enjoy it!
Q Weekend House / Paul Kaloustian Architect
Paul Kaloustian Architect shared with us his project Q Weekend House, a villa for a Sheikh in Qatar who wants to visit the house for a few days each month to disconnect from everyday life. More images and architect’s description after the break.
In Progress: Doha Office Tower, Qatar / Ateliers Jean Nouvel / Nelson Garrido
A year ago, we featured a set of Tim Harris’ early construction photos of Jean Nouvel’s Doha Office tower previously on AD, and now photographer Nelson Garrido has shared some new shots of the 45 story cylindrical structure. The building’s dia-grid gives much character to the project, as it not only provides structural support but also gives the volume a textured appearance from far away that turns into a more delicate patterning in closer range. The facade is layered with metal brise-soleil based on a traditional Islamic pattern. The fairly standard geometry module becomes a complex visual as it is rotated and flipped to provide maximum shading for the interior of the building. In this way, the arrangement of the panels is both functional and supplies the aesthetic touch that will define the tower.
More of Garrido’s photographs after the break.
Zig Zag Towers / MZ & Partners
Architects: MZ & Partners
Location: Doha, Qatar
Project High: 141.7 meters
Project Area: 295,500 sqm
Photographs: Nelson Garrido
