Colors of the City: A Century of Architecture in Doha is a dual-themed exhibition which is part of the Design Doha Biennial organised by Qatar Museums, an event celebrating design and innovation in Qatar and the wider MENA region. Curated by Dr Glenn Adamson (Artistic Director of Doha Design) and Dr Peter Tamas Nagy (an art and architecture historian), the exhibition allows visitors to explore Doha’s architectural evolution through an array of mediums including 3D models, photographs, interviews, and films. On display at M7, it will be open to the public until the 30th of April, 2024.
The first section of the show illuminates global influences in Doha’s architectural landscape. It focuses on Qatari adaptations of such styles as Art Deco, Classicism, and Modernism brought about by architects or simple workers from Europe, America, the Middle East, and South Asia. In this section, one can see treasures of the mentioned styles found in the capital of Qatar as the result of deep research conducted by Dr Peter Tamas Nagy. The research led him to coin new labels to signify Doha’s distinct architectural language: Doha Deco, Doha Classicism, and Doha Brutalism. The examples of Doha Classicism featured in the exhibition include, for instance, a mosque in Wakrah and the Zaman House situated near Bank Street. Meanwhile, Doha Brutalism is represented by the Gulf Cinema building.
The second part of the exhibit is devoted to famous award-winning architect Ibrahim Al Jaidah and his acclaimed works. It invites visitors to have a look at his diverse portfolio, from the iconic Al Thumama stadium shaped as a traditional Arab head cap — a pride of the FIFA World Cup — to large malls and hospitality projects. In each project, the architect retains the identity of his culture. Combining modernism with elements of Qatari architecture, he creates remarkable landmarks that help shape Qatar’s architectural identity. The highlight of this section of the exhibition is a miniature model of Doha recreated with all towers and buildings designed by Al Jaidah. In addition, the visitors can see carpets he designed in collaboration with Iwan Maktabi.
To get more information about Colors of the City: A Century of Architecture in Doha, please visit the official web page of the exhibition.
You might also be interested in reading our article about four upcoming architectural wonders in the UAE.
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