Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology (SJEAT)
Volume-3 | Issue-07 | 446-463
Original Research Article
Sustainable Neighborhoods in the State of Qatar: Msheireb Downtown Doha
Eman Saleh AL Fadala, Raffaello Furlan
Published : July 30, 2018
Abstract
Over the past three decades, rapid urban sprawl, a changing economy, and
shifting demographics have caused rapid developments, which included the urban
regeneration of existing neighborhoods. In the 1940s, after oil and natural gas
discoveries in the State of Qatar, Doha experienced massive transformations on social,
economic, cultural and environmental levels. These transformations have created (A)
the need for creating sustainable neighborhoods and (B) raised questions related to how
existing neighborhoods can be more sustainable in the future. This study investigates the
neighborhood of Msheireb Downtown Doha and the reasons which have caused its
urban regeneration. The study investigates (1) practical forms of sustainable urbanism
principles by analyzing the Msheireb project and (2) how this urban project can be
enhanced according to these principles. The research design encompasses a summary of
the literature, the site analysis, structured interviews and a resultant vision of a
sustainable concept for Msheireb to define the actions needed to implement the
sustainable neighborhood concept. The findings reveal that, comparing the image of old
Msheireb with the current regenerated one, the later neighborhood is compact,
pedestrian-friendly and mixed use, which in turn encourage people to engage and
promote a higher level of social interaction and therefore, contribute to enhancing the
urban livability of the neighborhood.