Qatar Rail’s Doha Metro project wins three International Property Awards

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), the company overseeing the construction of Qatar's integrated railway network, was awarded “Best Arabian Architectural Design for Public Service’ and the ‘Best International Architectural Design for Public Service’ at a prestigious event in London this month. The awards presented by the “International Property Awards” recognize the quality of the design of Qatar Rail’s “Vaulted Spaces” design for stations on the Doha Metro.

A panel of 20 international architects’ judges have given the two distinguished awards to Qatar Rail during the international nomination event attended by Qatar Rail's Deputy CEO, Eng. Hamad Al Bishri and Mr. Mohamed Timbely, Senior Director of Architecture and MEP Department. 

This recognition follows a win at the regional event in Dubai last month where the company was named best “Public Service Architecture – Qatar” for the same project. 

The regional award was handed to Qatar Rail’s senior representatives Mr. Mohamed Timbely, Senior Director of Architecture and MEP Department and Eng. Hassan Al-Marwani Technical Interface Director. 

The International Property Awards are running the awards since 1995 and are open to residential and commercial property professionals from around the globe. They celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. An International Property Award is a world-renowned mark of excellence.

Qatar Rail is the first company from Arab countries to win the International Public Service Architecture category.

According to the organisers of the award, the stations design for the Doha Metro create a unique combination of a recognizable design across the network with an approach which allows each line in the system to have a distinct identity and individual stations to have designs which embody the culture and history of the area they serve. 

All stations in the network will reflect an overall design concept – called “Vaulted Spaces” which is based on traditional Islamic architecture. The stations will therefore bring together the modern high tech elements of the country’s future, yet will also celebrate its traditions.

Commenting on the triple recognition, Qatar Rail's Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Saad Al Muhannadi said: 

“Those three awards recompensed two years of efforts where we tried to appropriate the concept of the Vaulted Spaces in order to be part of the heritage, culture and the national vision of the state of Qatar. It’s not only about architecture; it’s about a vision that we share”. 

Derived from the historic Islamic architecture, the “Vaulted Spaces” Doha Metro station design was uniquely selected by the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in 2013. It highlights the region’s vernacular architecture, acting as a bridge between the country’s past and future. One of the key elements of the design is that it gives the exterior shape of the station, by using modern bright materials to stimulate the interior of the oyster.

The first phase for the Doha Metro’s architectural works, covering 37 stations, is set for completion by 2018 while the second, extending to over 72 stations, by 2030.