UMM SALAL MOHAMMED
Sensitive transformation of a historic site into a popular cultural destination
Makower Architects developed a preliminary masterplan for Umm Salal Mohammed, one of Qatar’s most significant historic sites, setting out a long-term vision that balances heritage conservation, landscape, agriculture and visitor experience with a mission to make it a popular cultural destination. As one of Qatar’s heritage highlights, it is to set a new standard for living heritage - ‘al turath al haiah’ – and to make a legacy for future generations. The study reimagines the estate as a living cultural destination, structured around seven core themes that connect land, memory, family life and journeys through the site, while creating a coherent framework for future development, interpretation and public access.
Umm Salal Mohammed is positioned on the edge of the city – between Doha and the Desert. It will form a gateway to the tourist attractions of the North where the communities of Qatar first settled long before Doha was a town.
Umm Salal Mohammed is positioned on the edge of the city – between Doha and the Desert. It will form a gateway to the tourist attractions of the North where the communities of Qatar first settled long before Doha was a town.
We commenced our work by carrying out a thorough review and research process of the context and history of the site to inform our proposal. There were two main houses, rich in ornament, while the secondary buildings were very plain. The timeless simplicity and solidity of these structures gave us a clue for how to introduce new buildings amongst the old whilst achieving a lasting harmony.
The landscape was characterized by rich layers of history and strongly sloping / stepped levels. A more harmonious composition would reference the original arrangement of buildings but also create a magnificent and appropriate setting for the two main houses and other buildings, providing a vantage point from where to view the lake.
The masterplan proposes a Home Farm acting as the main visitor centre, alongside working farmland, date plantations and a seasonal farmers’ market. A series of shaded walking routes and narrative trails connect key destinations, including the two historic houses, the lake and the farm.
The vision includes a small museum, artists-in-residence accommodation, spaces for cultural events and interpretation, and potential facilities such as cafés, craft workshops and educational spaces. Together, these elements create a flexible framework for a tourist attraction that celebrates memory, family, landscape and traditional ways of living, while supporting long-term sustainability.
Location:
Doha, Qatar
Use:
Tourism, heritage conservation, landscape, agriculture
Status:
Design completed
Size:
31 ha
Client:
Project Date:
2013
Collaborators:
Awards:
