Design in

Practice
Articles

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 DESIGN IN PRACTICE
IJIA publishes Design in Practice articles that focus on the contemporary prac-
tice of architecture, urban planning and landscape design in the Islamic world,
which includes the Middle East, parts of Africa and Asia, and also more recent
migratory geographies. In these articles, the issues and complexities of the
day-to-day practice of architecture are studied from contextual, conceptual
and critical perspectives.

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 IJIA 1 (1) pp. 131–147 Intellect Limited 2012

International Journal of Islamic Architecture

Volume 1 Number 1
© 2012 Intellect Ltd Article. English language. doi: 10.1386/ijia.1.1.131_1

Rosanna Law and Kevin Underwood

AECOM

Msheireb Heart of Doha:

An Alternative Approach to
Urbanism in the Gulf Region

Abstract Keywords
The objective of this article is to highlight some of the challenges faced by emerg- Msheireb
ing Gulf nation states in modernizing their cities. The Msheireb Heart of Doha Doha
Masterplan is used as an exemplar project to offer an alternative approach in urban fereej
planning and regeneration in the region. The article describes how the challenges of Gulf urbanism
land ownership, privatization, climate, social diversity and cultural relevance are regeneration
dealt with in the masterplan, which seeks to create a modern Qatari homeland that modernization
is rooted in its local traditions and heritage. Towards the end of the article, reflec-
tions and evaluations are examined to prompt further thoughts and discussions.

The aim of the Msheireb project headed by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah
Bint Nasser al-Missned and patronized by the Qatar Foundation, in the Qatari
capital of Doha, is to initiate large-scale, inner-city regeneration that will
create a modern Qatari homeland rooted in traditions and to renew a piece of
the city where global cultures meet but not melt. Qatar is a proud nation that
embraces an active role in the world stage. Qatar’s bold ambition is demon-
strated by the creation of Al-Jazeera, the establishment of Education City as
a regional higher educational hub, the hosting of international sports events
and many other positive actions that result from participative and forward-
thinking approaches. However, in a rapidly homogenizing world where the
boundary of cultural identities and economic models are increasingly fused
and blurred, Qatar recognizes the need to establish a clear cultural identity
expressed through urban planning and architecture. The Msheireb Masterplan
and the associated discourse on Qatari architecture is an attempt to address

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

the question of what will make a modern homeland for this ambitious Arab
nation. It is a thread that links the nation’s past with its future. It is a mirror
that shows modernity in the face of tradition.
Modernization and progress are often misunderstood as ‘Westernization’.
This is particularly evident in the urban development projects built in the
countries around the Persian Gulf in recent decades. Driven by the need to
diversify their economies and pave the way for non-oil-based service indus-
tries, the Gulf States poured investments into building ever-wider highways
and taller skyscrapers. The urban design approach that typifies these develop-
ments is symptomatic of the political landscape, pattern of land ownership
and field of vision of these nation states. The objective of this article is to high-
light some of the challenges in the modernization process, demonstrate how
attempts made in the Msheireb Masterplan can offer an alternative approach

AECOM.
Figure 1: Msheireb Heart of Doha Masterplan.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

in social, economic, cultural and environmental terms (Figure 1). The prag-
matic objectives of the Msheireb Masterplan are:

• To promote a sustainable way of living within a compact city framework

that reduces automobile usage, increases density and promotes public
transport and mixed use

• To renew a piece of city infrastructure so as to reduce its reliance on fossil

fuel

• To promote better integrated social communities at the heart of the city

where locals and expatriate workers share walkable neighbourhoods,
public spaces and amenities

• To modernize a piece of Qatar’s capital city in ways that will resonate with
local history and cultures

In fulfilling these objectives, some of the following challenges of moderniza-

tion are addressed through the masterplan:

• The short-term profit-driven motives

• Fragmented land ownership and its impact on the development pattern

• Local climate and its impact on movement and urban form

• The loss of community spirit and identity in the process of modernization

• Image of the city – creation not transposition

The Short-term View

For world-class cities such as New York and London, the presence of a city
mayor seat is crucial in advocating the city’s interest. Unified political leader-
ship and a comprehensive development framework are important contributing
factors to a city’s success. This unified voice is often lacking in the Gulf States.
Consequently, energies dedicated for urban development are dissipated and
piecemeal developments lack continuity and a long-term view. With the frag-
mentation of land ownership and development control, commercial develop-
ers tend to focus their attention solely within the red-line boundary of a single
commercial plot. Given the boundary constraints, commercial drivers ensure
that floor to area ratios yield positive investment returns. The only option is to
build vertically.
The Msheireb project offers a longer-term view with the leadership
and commitment from the Qatar Foundation and its subsidiary Msheireb
Properties. The Msheireb project is intended to be a long-term investment and
endowment for the education charity. With this projected interest, Msheireb is
to be a part of the city that is built to last and Msheireb Properties will main-
tain stewardship of the development for the foreseeable future.
By consolidating land ownership, Msheireb Properties brings fundamen-
tal and wholesale changes to this part of the city that would otherwise be
piecemeal and inconsequential. This wholesale approach encourages a unified
vision whereby spaces between buildings are as important as the buildings

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

themselves. The value of the real estate lies not just in the square footage of
accommodation but in the places and urban setting created by the build-
ings. Streets and neighbourhoods are designed as collective entities rather
than buildings being designed individually within their plots. The compact
city model offers efficiencies and sustainable strategies at a masterplan scale
that are not achievable at the individual building level. The scale of interven-
tion allows the mid-rise high-density model of a compact city which contrasts
sharply with that of the West Bay area of Doha.

Movement and Distances in the Local Climate

Cooling is a key challenge for any urban development in the Gulf region.
In the past, the traditional fereej1 formed the building blocks of cities where
families were clustered together as urban settlements (Figures 2 and 3).
Common social values were shared within the neighbourhood and the fereej
was an expression of clan lineage and a shared way of life. Its tight-knit
pattern responded to both social as well as climatic needs. The narrow and
naturally shaded sikkat2 network connected different parts of a fereej and also
with the wider settlement. Unlike Haussmann’s notion of the public realm
where boulevards cleanly define urban blocks, these sikkats are residual spaces
shaped and sculpted by the internal functions of the private domain.
With the arrival of air-conditioning, this inextricable link between urban
form and climate was broken. In a full reversal of the fereej figure ground,
the sub-urban villa and skyscraper are positioned in the middle of the plot
surrounded by car parks and are exposed to the sun (Figure 4). In a nega-
tive spiral, the spread of car ownership further fuels urban sprawl which in
turn encourages more car journeys. As these skyscrapers mushroom to fulfil
perceived demands, they create a no-man’s-land in between car parks, trans-
portation networks and air-conditioned offices. Walking between these build-
ings has become a near impossible feat in the desert heat.
For Msheireb, the scale of intervention in the masterplan allows for a
more comprehensive approach in solving problems associated with vehicles
and walking distances. To establish a fine-grain urban fabric where streets
are narrow and buildings on both sides create natural shade, vehicles – in

Qatar Museum Authority. Qatar Museum Authority.

Figure 2: Doha fereej, aerial, 1952. Figure 3: Doha fereej, oblique aerial, 1952.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

AECOM.
Figure 4: Villa versus courtyard figure/ground.

particular, large trucks – are diverted underground for parking and servicing.
This means that streets at ground level can be made narrower to create shade
and sufficient vehicular access can bring urban life to this part of the city.
Fundamental to the Msheireb Masterplan is the concept of the grid and
the lattice, which, in pragmatic terms, are movement networks for cars and
people (Figures 5a–5b). Inspired by the figure ground pattern of the traditional
fereej, the concept of sculpting the void was developed for the masterplan. The
lattice of sikkats is designed to evoke memories and capture the incidental
qualities of the fereej (Figures 6a–6b). In an age dominated by automobiles,
the sikkats are intended to create enjoyable pedestrian experiences. Incidental
spaces and intimate courtyards with shaded area seating are weaved into the
sikkat routes, allowing people to pause and socialize.
The grid, on the other hand, allows vehicle access into the 31-hectare site
from the wider modern city network. Rather than superimposing a standard
and orthogonal city grid, the Msheireb Masterplan draws references from the
historic street pattern, bringing together the new and the old (Figure 7). This
street grid underpins a comprehensive transport strategy for the masterplan,

AECOM.
Figures 5a and 5b: Grid and lattice.

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

Andrew Holmes. AECOM.

Figures 6a and 6b: Traditional sikkat in Doha.

facilitating both public and private transport. A local tram route will allow resi-
dents and visitors an alternative to walking during the hottest months. Local
bus stops and taxi drop-offs are interspersed across the streets of Msheireb. In
addition to these public transport facilities within the site, the city-wide metro
lines will connect Msheireb with other key destinations within Doha such as
West Bay, the new airport and Education City. For private cars, a substantial
basement parking garage is created to house circa 12,000 cars for local resi-
dents, businesses and visitors.
The intention of this grid and lattice urban structure is to encourage people
to leave their cars, use more public transport and walk in relative comfort,
particularly in the winter and the ‘shoulder’ months. The new streets largely

AECOM.
Figure 7: Historic streets and grain.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

AECOM.
Figure 8: Prevailing winds and narrow shaded streets diagram.

follow the direction of the prevailing sea breeze to help clear pollution and
heat generated by vehicles. The width of these north–south streets are kept
narrow so that buildings naturally cast shadows onto the streets and thus
reduce the ambient temperature of the area (Figure 8). East–west-oriented
streets are more exposed to the high midday sun and colonnades are intro-
duced to provide shading.
In addition to its response to the local climate, the grid and the lattice also
give rise to a masterful composition of spaces within the masterplan. Grand
and straight streets are a short distance from the quiet and hidden sikkats; the
regimented formality of main squares is a block away from the incidental bara-
has adjacent to town-house clusters; the contemplative heritage houses are a
minute away from the hustle and bustle of Barahat Al Nouq (Figures 9–11).

AECOM.
Figure 9: Figure/ground composition of concept masterplan.

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

Allies & Morrison. Mossessian & Partners.

Figures 10a and 10b: Proposal-sikkat characters.

AECOM.
Figure 11: Masterplan temporary/indicative street names.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

Unlike city spaces based on the scale of cars, well-crafted moments within the
masterplan further encourage people to walk and explore Msheireb and bring
a human scale and pace to this part of the city. However, formal beauty is an
empty vessel without the programmes and functions that bring the city to life.

Loss of Community Spirit

The lack of a comprehensive development framework has led to the piecemeal
development of single-use compounds of villas, shopping malls and resorts
surrounded by car parks. Social spaces such as barahas next to mosques and
sikkats embedded within the tradition fereej have been replaced by car parks and
drive-through fast-food outlets. To recreate social spaces in this part of Doha, a
mixed-use strategy has been proposed. Cities come to life at different times of the
day because of the mix of activities associated with programmes, functions and
uses. The mix of uses in Msheireb aims to bring not only long-term economic
diversity into the area but richness and variety in the demographic mix.
To attract various family and household sizes, different designs of residen-
tial neighbourhoods are created within Msheireb. One of the retained historic
streets is Al Kahraba Street. ‘Kahraba’ means electricity in Arabic, and it was
the first street with electric lighting in the heart of the city. It has since been
a focal point for the local communities and it continues to evolve into new
residential neighbourhoods within the masterplan. At the northern end of
Al Kahraba Street where buildings are low and the urban grain is fine, the
town-house fereej is the most appropriate typology given their low-rise mass-
ing and compact form. Their adjacency to the ceremonial Al Rayyan Road and
the lack of destinations immediately north of Msheireb make this a quieter
part of Msheireb suitable for family living. At the southern end of Al Kahraba
Street is another residential neighbourhood with a focus on apartment build-
ings that fit well with the medium-rise massing in this area. Apartments
are more suitable for young families from both Qatari and other expatriate
communities. The third residential area is located above the main shopping
streets. Activities here are more intense and the apartment mix caters to a
younger generation who would enjoy the intensity of the city, especially in
the evening. It is important to note that the apartments are not the domi-
nant model for Qatari families but early consultations suggest that there is a
demand for urban living for the young and educated professionals. These resi-
dential neighbourhoods are served by local mosques, primary schools, nurser-
ies, medical facilities and local walking and cycling networks. This is intended
to create a critical mass of residents in Msheireb in the evening.
During business hours, office workers will come to Msheireb to work.
To cater to businesses from small offices to corporate addresses, a variety of
office floor plates are available. Being more resilient to noise and traffic than
residential uses, offices are generally located along the edges of Msheireb
Street, Al Diwan Street and Al-Rayyan Road. With the anticipated arrival of
the future metro, office headquarters are created along Msheireb Street where
an undulating skyline marks the presence of Msheireb within the wider city
and views from Doha Bay. These large-floor-plate buildings gather towards a
crescendo at the junction of Al Diwan Street and Msheireb Street and create
a strong vista terminating in Al Kahraba Street. Unique office uses such as
Diwan Annex, an extension of the administrative function of the Emiri Diwan,
is positioned on Al Rayyan Road immediately south of the seat of power.
Other offices with smaller floor plates are located at prominent addresses

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

within Msheireb such as Barahat Al Nouq and New Ukaz Street. This inter-
spersing of smaller-scale offices amongst other uses can bring life to the heart
of Msheireb to ensure the place is animated throughout the day.
Perhaps the most important use that brings activities to the streets is retail,
including cafes and restaurants. Most of the ground floor within Msheireb is
dedicated for retail use, which ranges from corner shops to international brands
and luxury goods. The hierarchy of retail is implicit within the urban frame-
work and a figure-eight-shaped retail loop connects the primary retail streets.
This loop is connected with Souk Waqif along Sikkat Al Wadi and to the new
proposed city park via Al Kahraba Street. This retail loop brings together
many key spaces and sikkats within the masterplan connecting residential and
commercial uses. Finer-grain retail units catering to traditional clothing and
accessories are located along Al Kahraba Street. Home-furnishing stores, which
require larger floor plates are located along New Ukaz Street, the shop windows
along which provide good retail visibility. Large-format family food shop-
ping demands an even larger floor plate and they tend to create blank exter-
nal facades, which are deliberately positioned in the basement. International
brands are located within The Galleria, a north–south sikkat that can be sealed
off and air-conditioned during the hottest months of the year. The most luxuri-
ous retail shops are positioned immediately south of Barahat Al Nouq, along
Reemas Street. The variety of spaces within the masterplan will create a range
of retail opportunities and thus bring a broad spectrum of clientele to Msheireb.
Complementing the retail uses are the cultural forum, galleries, hotels and
museums, which are conceived as destinations in their own right.
In addition to these newly crafted destinations, important heritage areas
such as the Eid Ground has been preserved and renewed. A number of heritage
houses are restored as part of the masterplan, maintaining a historical dimension
in an otherwise ‘instant’ city. This heritage quarter creates another destination
and experience within Doha where cultural exchange could take centre stage at
the very heart of the city. This mix of uses has emerged organically with the urban
framework to create a multiplicity of urban grain that is distinctive and memora-
ble. The union of the physical urban framework with the choreography of urban
activities is what makes the Msheireb Masterplan convincing and organic.

Image of Doha
Another dimension of the challenges of modernization relates to Kevin
Lynch’s notion of the image of the city. Keen to position themselves in the
global economy, emerging nations such as Qatar need to be seen as promising
locations for businesses and foreign investments. A new postcard with soaring
skylines similar to those of Hong Kong and Manhattan is perceived to be the
quick fix for modernity. Ring roads and high rises are facsimiles from another
culture. This imposition of ready-made solutions has the potential to stifle local
creativity in formulating first-hand questions and the search for answers that
are rooted in local culture. Image creation is needed, not transposition. Images
of cities vary. Some images are centred on signature architecture such as the
Sydney Opera House and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, others draw inspira-
tion from public spaces such as Trafalgar Square in London, Las Ramblas in
Barcelona and Place Vendome in Paris. Some relate to special activities and
festive events on the annual calendar, such as the bull fighting in Catalonia,
Spain. Heritage and history such as the Great Wall of China are equally iconic.
Other city images emerge from intersecting moments within the city grid, for
example the Flatiron building on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

The new image of Doha and Msheireb is to emerge from the site features,
the merging of the old and new streets, the mix of uses that re-energize the
old heart, a series of well-connected and memorable public spaces and a new
language of architecture. Far from a cover image make-over exercise, the
Msheireb project taps into the collective memories of Doha and the Msheireb
site to find urban traces which refuse to be erased by waves of modernization.
Tracing back to the aerial photo of 1947, the people of Qatar lived close to the
sea coast and traditional fereej were clearly discernible (Figures 12 and 13).
The reliance on fresh water in a desert environment is further reinforced by
the presence of a natural wadi (in Arabic, a wadi is a dry riverbed that contains
water only during times of heavy rain) which followed the contour of the land
and ran along the current Souk Waqif alignment towards the sea (Figure 14).
The memory of this wadi is still lodged in the name of the very street along
which the wadi used to run: Msheireb Street – the Arabic word ‘msheireb’
means ‘channel’. Msheireb Street defines the southern edge of the Msheireb
project and a new wadi route was introduced one block back to evoke memo-
ries and bring microclimatic benefits. The name of this district as well as the
masterplan project owes their origin to this natural landscape feature.
This new wadi sikkat connects Msheireb with Souk Waqif which is a
pedestrianized street packed with small shops, cafes and restaurants. Open
spaces and informal squares are sculpted along this new wadi to create serial
visions and interesting places where people can meet and socialize comfort-
ably in shade and in public without the obligations for purchase. These serial
visions create dynamic views within Msheireb and add another scale in seeing
the city based on walking, not driving. Connected to this new east–west wadi
are three north–south-running sikkats, which in turn connects other key
public spaces, notably Barahat Al Nouq, the main square within Msheireb.
Public squares have a long tradition in Western civilization with association
with markets, balances of power, justice and punishments. Its insertion into
downtown Doha not only demonstrates the demand and need for people

Qatar Museum Authority.

Figure 12: Doha flash flood after a storm (date unknown).

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

Qatar Museum Authority.

Figure 13: Doha aerial photograph, 1947.

Allies & Morrison.

Figure 14: Old wadi alignment – Souk Waqif today.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

spaces in a car-based city, it also questions the meaning and role of the public
realm within an Arabic context. The metamorphosis from a desert cross-path
in the 1940s, through the introduction of the first roundabout in Doha, to the
grand public square within Msheireb, the journey of Barahat Al Nouq is the
story where a nation renews her image in a changing world.
Another key aspect fundamental to the image and identity of Msheireb
is its form that has been shaped by the introduction of cars. Conspicuous in
their absence in the 1947 photo are roads. With the discovery of natural gas
and the advancing technology in liquid petroleum gas, Doha expanded expo-
nentially from the 1950s onward with motor cars. New roads were carved
hard into the urban landscape and important long-distance routes such as
al-Rayyan Road began to appear in the 1952 aerial photo. The alignments
of old streets are retained and new streets were introduced in between. The
intersection of new and old geometries creates interesting moments within
the masterplan with strong vistas and visual deflections. Drama is intrinsically
embedded within the masterplan geometries onto which a new architecture
will graft and flourish.
The need to establish an architectural identity and character for Msheireb
is fundamental in creating a new image for the city. Instead of transcribing
from the past, influences are drawn from studying the architectural heritage,
archaeology, craft traditions, natural environment and the landscape of Qatar.
The study is culminated in the ‘Seven Steps of Architecture’, which attempts
to summarize the architectural origin and principles for a new Qatari architec-
ture. The intention is not to impose a single answer but to establish a creative
dialogue for pluralistic and creative responses. The themes of the Seven Steps
are timelessness, diversity and unity, form and geometry, aspect of home,
aspect of street, designing for climate and elements of architecture. To illus-
trate these principles, two examples from the private and public domains are
discussed here: places of dwelling and places of meeting.

Places of Dwelling and Meeting

Like English country houses, social life, etiquette and hierarchy are written
into the architecture of the traditional fereej. Social propriety was engrained
within the internal layout that illustrates how these living quarters are
related to each other. Understanding the structure of the traditional neigh-
bourhood and fereej has allowed architects to create a new fereej which reflects
Qatari values and encourages families to move back to the heart of the city,
away from the suburban villas. The spatial layering from public to private
domain extends seamlessly from the public sikkats to a raised central court-
yard shared by a cluster of town houses. A common majlis forms part of the
cluster and marks the interface between the public and the private domains.
The threshold between the central courtyard and the town house is screened
to provide the transitional space where women can pull down their hijab just
before they enter the public domain. Once within the house, the second layer
of threshold is a liwan (reception space) filled with air and natural light where
family guests are welcomed into the public part of the house. The liwan itself
is lined with a patterned screen where the strong natural light is filtered.
Similar to the traditional courtyard house, a woman’s domain penetrates deep
within the layout but visual connections from private to public domains are
maintained between the haram and the liwan. Similar to traditional Qatari
architecture, the facades are plain and simple, using traditional off-white

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

Figure 15a and 15b: From Barahat Al Nouq to quiet sikkat outside private fereej.

render materials which weather well in the local desert climate. The plain
facades are punctuated by projected or angled planes that allow light into the
living quarters and yet maintain privacy (Figures 15a–15f).
Contrasting within this intense interior private domain is Barahat Al Nouq,
which was conceived as the ‘urban majlis’ – a room where visitors to Msheireb
are welcomed and received (Figure 16). Drawing on the traditional majlis,
Barahat Al Nouq is ordered, simple and elegant. In the same way that hosts
and guests are seated on the cushioned floor around the perimeter of the tradi-
tional majlis, Barahat Al Nouq is edged by a highly ordered colonnade where
people can inhabit the perimeter in restaurants and cafes. Reflected light
through the traditional malqaf (in Arabic: wind-catcher) is reinterpreted in the
form of the suspended roof where natural light is filtered through. The richness

Figure 15c and 15d: Enter into a courtyard within private fereej from surrounding sikkat.

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

Allies & Morrison.

Figures 15e and 15f: Entrance into a courtyard within private fereej from
surrounding sikkat.

in colourful and geometric decorations within the traditional majlis is reinter-

preted in the architecture around the square. Using microclimatic modelling
these façade patterns are intelligent responses to solar exposure. Lesser perfo-
rated patterns are located where more shade is needed and highly perforated
patterns are positioned where more daylight will benefit the internal layout.

Mossessian & Partners.

Figure 16: Main square, Barahat Al Nouq.

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 Rosanna Law | Kevin Underwood

Food for Thought

The Msheireb Masterplan represents a pivotal moment in urban planning
and architecture in the region. It is an attempt to instigate a debate about the
apparent stagnation in the field of urbanism and architecture in the Middle
East. Nevertheless, the project does leave open questions. Alongside the merit
of single land ownership, what are the potential drawbacks of such monolithic
control? Within the foreseeable future, Msheireb will be a private development
managed by Msheireb Properties. The question remains if the streets, barahas
and sikkats are genuinely public spaces with universal access. Although the
Msheireb Masterplan is porous and knitted into the surrounding urban fabric
in terms of connectivity and uses, the management of Msheireb will deter-
mine if a true public realm will emerge.
Another open question is the social implications of Msheireb. Implicit
within the agenda of bringing families and Qatari communities back to
the heart of the city, Msheireb is a social experiment where the concen-
tration of expat communities is replaced by more balanced demographics.
Currently, most Qataris live in villas located outside the downtown area.
The introduction of town-house clusters and apartments for this sector of
society is untested, though positive feedback was received upon consulta-
tion with young professionals. This is a scenario where the supply of suitable
accommodation could create demand for urban living for Qatari communi-
ties. Nonetheless, a good proportion of residential accommodation within
Msheireb is designed for expat communities, with an element of affordable
housing. In time, the outcome of this social experiment will be played out
and answers will emerge if supply will indeed create demand for urban living
in Qatar.
With all the brave attempts in breaking the mould of urban development
in the region, the question remains if the ‘Msheireb’ development model is
replicable and transferable, particularly within the private sector. The finan-
cial return in the short run for small- to-medium-size buildings and the
enormity of upfront capital investment are difficult to balance. However,
Msheireb is built for the long run for the benefit of Doha and it is arguable
if the city renewal of this magnitude should be solely a profit-driven private
enterprise. Lastly, is Msheireb as hasty a development as others in the
region and is an ‘instant city’ bad? One criticism of Msheireb is that in its
execution, a piece of the downtown is wiped clean and a 3–5-storey base-
ment is installed, despite the retention of key street alignment and refer-
ences made to the old street pattern in the masterplan. It can be argued
that more heritage buildings and structures could have been retained and a
more surgical approach in repairing and renewing the city could have been
adopted.
Clearly, not all answers can be found in one project alone, but the Msheireb
Masterplan marks the beginning of a design discourse that brings the art of
city-making to the fore over recent technocratic responses to the sustainability
challenge. Cities evolve and masterplans form only a part of this continuum
of change.

Suggested Citation
Law, R. and Underwood K. (2012), ‘Msheireb Heart of Doha: an alternative
approach to urbanism in the Gulf region’, International Journal of Islamic
Architecture 1: 1, pp. 131–147, doi: 10.1386/ijia.1.1.131_1

146

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 Msheireb Heart of Doha

Contributor Details
Rosanna Law is a Director/Senior Associate of urban design at AECOM
Design + Planning, London. An architect-urbanist by training, Rosanna Law
sees the crafting of places and spatial planning as an integral part of social
policies. Her design leadership for the Msheireb Heart of Doha Masterplan
has set a new benchmark for urban planning in the region. Global urban
issues such as climate change, cultural diversity and rapid urbanization are
consciously addressed through her masterplanning strategies in the United
Kingdom, Russia and the Middle East.
E-mail: rosanna.law@aecom.com

Kevin Underwood is the Vice-President of AECOM Design + Planning. As

global leader of AECOM’s resorts, leisure and tourism projects, he works with
the world’s major hotel operators, and his focus is on combining the finest
hospitality with economic, environmental and social sustainability. In urban
masterplanning and regeneration, current projects include the Msheireb
Heart of Doha in Qatar, creating a unique modern Islamic city rooted in the
past. His landscape design projects range from the settings for corporate HQs
to campus design – among the largest schemes underway is Education City in
Qatar, where academic institutions will enjoy a sustainable landscaped setting
of more than 1000 hectares.
E-mail: Kevin.Underwood2@aecom.com

Endnotes

1. Fereej (or neighbourhood as the simplistic English translation) is the

building block of a traditional Arab settlement where family homes and
extended family quarters are interconnected and grew in an apparent
organic form over time. The fereej embodies the family-based social struc-
ture and it expresses the collective identity of the clan network as well as
individual family lineage within it.

2. Sikkat or sikka are narrow pathways that connect different family clusters
and areas within a fereej especially when walking was the only means of
transport in the past.

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