Demystifying Doha

Ashraf M. Salama is Professor and Founding Head of the School of Architecture, and Dr Florian Wiedmann is a Researcher in Architecture, both at Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

• 1: Introduction: Globalisation and the Emerging City; 2: Overview of Architecture and Urbanism in the Arabian Peninsula; 3: The Urban Evolution of Doha: From a Vernacular Settlement to an Emerging Service Hub; 4: Contemporary Urbanism in Doha: From Decentralised Governance to Integrated Urban Development Strategies; 5: Contemporary Architecture and Image-making Practices in Doha; 6: Dynamics of Population and the Urban Environment of Doha; 7: The Challenges of Sustainable Urbanism and the Future of Doha; 8: Conclusion: Introducing an Analytical Framework for Emerging Doha

’The authors provide an authoritative account of the development of Doha in the context of the rapid growth of Arabian Gulf cities. The book identifies the social and cultural changes associated with this growth and its positive and negative impact on the city of Doha. Such unbridled growth as seen in Doha can have deleterious consequences as the authors clearly identify. They propose the need for an urban development vision that integrates social, cultural and economic factors. Consequently, this book is a necessary guide for Doha’s decision makers in the public and private sector as well as design and planning educators and professionals. Although Salama and Wiedmann focus on the Arabian Peninsula they develop a unique investigative approach relevant for the study of other regions as well.’ - Henry Sanoff, North Carolina State University, USA 'The book gives a comprehensive overview of the urban and architectural development of the Arabian Peninsula but in particular about the rapid growth of Doha. It offers a profound documentation of the urban structure and environment as well as the architectural forms of the city, while introducing significant knowledge on an area, which is often not well considered by international professionals planning in the metropolis. Salama and Wiedmann concentrate not only on Doha, Qatar and the Arabian Peninsula but also analyze the evolution of architecture and urbanism as products of contemporary global trends in governance, development strategies, image-making and the human encounters with the city. Demystifying Doha is a valuable source for every planner and architect working in Doha as well as those working in neighboring countries of the Arabian Peninsula.’ - Albert Speer, Albert Speer & Partner GmbH, Germany