Students during the exhibition at Qatar University.
Doha: Aspiring young architects showed off their designs for the Qatar of the future, in a day of exhibitions, seminars, lectures and debates organised by Qatar University’s Department of Architecture and Urban Planning (DAUP).
The Architecture Day on May 8, featured students’ projects including designs for a kiosk at Aspire Park, the redesign of the interior of QU food court and the design for a waterfront villa, among other urban intervention projects in the historic centre of Doha and the emerging business district of West Bay. The students gave presentations on the background to the projects, their influences and specifications and the final designs to an audience which included industry experts, alumni, QU faculty, families and students.
The annual exhibition culminated in a panel discussion – Doha Architectural Debate: critical reflections on the design practices and the urban scene in Doha, coordinated by Dr Yasser Mahgoub and Dr Djamel Boussaa from the DAUP – which included architect Dr Rashid Al Matwe; Professor Attilio Petruccioli, Dr Djamel Ouahrani, and Professor Ashraf Salama. The debate generated lively discussions among the panelists and the students.
College of Engineering Dean Dr Rashid Alammari celebrated the students’ achievements, saying: “These projects highlight the talents of our young architects, in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030. They show that our students are capable of competing with the best of their peers internationally.”
Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning Professor Ashraf Salama said: “Innovation and collaboration are at the heart of QU’s architecture programs. We want our students to use the inspiration from their culture and surroundings to create buildings, which answer the needs of society and the demands of the environment.”
The Peninsula
