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.
Qatari development company Dohaland’s flagship project ‘Musheireb’ has won two awards at the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards, through one of its appointed architects, mossessian & partners. The ‘Mixed Use’ category and the ‘Overall Winner’ was awarded for the mixed use cluster of buildings around the Al Barahat Square, a new civic space in Doha, Qatar, and the centerpiece of Phase 1B of Dohaland’s $5.5 billion (QAR 20 bn) ‘Musheireb’ development.
Founded in 2002, the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards include eight categories and are awarded every year for international projects that are under construction. The judges seek out projects that combine architectural excellence and consideration for the context, both environmental and social. Past winners include Jean Nouvel (2010, for One New Change) and Foster & Partners (2003, for the Swiss Re building).
Commenting on the award, Dohaland’s CEO Eng. Issa M. Al Mohannadi said, “The architectural design that mossessian & partners have developed for the Musheireb project has truly been groundbreaking and we share their delight in winning this prestigious award. The recognition underscores Dohaland’s leadership position in urban regeneration internationally and is testament to our commitment to engage with the best partners.” mossessian & partners is one of four practices working on Phase 1B of the Musheireb scheme, a pioneering 35 hectare project that aims to revive, regenerate and conserve the historical downtown of Qatar’s capital city. Due for completion in 2016, Dohaland’s mixed-use scheme will offer residential, commercial, retail and leisure facilities through creation of over 100 buildings, all of which will be constructed by Dohaland.
mossessian & partners’ design for the mixed use cluster of buildings around the Al Barahat Square features a, 65,000 m2 civic space comprising nine mixed-use, residential, commercial and retail buildings around a major public square at the heart of the Musheireb scheme. The judges of the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards applauded the scheme for the significant attempt to create “a contemporary vernacular architecture in the Gulf. Public space is combined with extensive shading and its scale relates to everyday life”.
Musheireb aims to reverse the pattern of urban sprawl and heavy reliance on car transport that characterises the downtown of so many cities and entice residents back to the city center by creating a realm that is truly integrated with multiple, interwoven usages. Dohaland’s distinctive mandate is to develop a modern downtown that takes cues from Qatari vernacular and urbanism, yet has a highly contemporary, sustainable approach: the entire scheme is targeting average LEED Gold certification, making it the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.
mossessian & partners is part of the team of architects and master planners working on the second phase of Musheireb, which include Allies and Morrison Architects; Adjaye Associates; John McAslan and Partners; and Arup/Aecom/Allies+Morrison as the joint Master Planning team.
Launched in March 2009 as a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Dohaland aims to set a benchmark for sustainable downtown development that uses a bespoke architectural language which is forward looking, yet draws its inspiration from the past.
