Dohaland, a subsidiary of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, has launched a $5.4 billion ‘Heart of Doha’ project, to regenerate the architectural landscape of Qatar.

Heart of Doha, described as the new blueprint for urban planning, is Dohaland’s first project launched this May. The project will be spread across a 35-hectare site that is expected to transform the architectural centre of the capital city, and the project owners say it would be rooted in Qatari culture. The development is located in Inner Doha, close to the historic origins of the country.

The mixed-use development will feature 226 buildings, ranging from three to 30 floors, including a national archive, a theatre, museum, hotels and a heritage quarter. It will be located adjacent to the Emiri Diwan, Qatar’s seat of government and the ruler’s palace.
The master plan lists out a series of sustainable design objectives to make optimum use of microclimatic effects to enhance thermal comfort, ensure maximisation of water and energy efficiency, promote sustainable waste management and reduce carbon emissions across the site.

The new development will focus on reduced car use leading to traffic decongestion and better connectivity. A basement that extends over the entire area would accommodate approximately 13,700 car park spaces, effectively removing vehicles from streets and retrieving outdoor spaces for the community.

UK engineering and design firm, Arup Associates has been appointed as the principal consultant with global design firm EDAW/ AECOM providing urban design, planning and landscape architecture services and Allies and UK’s architectural practice Morrison Architects will offer architecture services.

The project is estimated to be completed by 2016