Msheireb Properties claims top spot at Tarsheed Awards

Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation and Qatar’s leading sustainable developer, were presented with an award at the fifth anniversary of the National Programme for Conservation and Energy (Tarsheed) at a ceremony held at Kahramaa Awareness Park, Doha.

Launched as part of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation’s (KAHRAMAA) National Programme for Conservation and Energy, the Tarsheed Awards’ ceremony is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al- Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar and was attended by His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The annual Tarsheed Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and regional professionals.

Winning the Best Conserving Building Award in the Government category of the Tarsheed competition, the Cultural Forum building is located at Msheireb Properties’ flagship project, Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD). With aims to have the largest concentration of gold and platinum LEED certified buildings – Msheireb Downtown Doha is set to be the world’s first sustainable regeneration project.


Receiving the awards, Mr. Abdulla Hassan Al-Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties said: “We are extremely pleased to receive acknowledgment for our commitment to sustainable urban regeneration which translates our endeavours to support the plans of sustainable development as stated in Qatar vision 2030. Msheireb Downtown Doha is emblematic of our mission to build sustainable modern communities that change the way people think about urban living.”
He continued: “Our groundbreaking project is aiming to adopt methods which reduce the consumption of energy in the buildings. The project has already broken records, proudly boasting the largest number of buildings to have achieved Gold and platinum LEED certification. Msheireb Downtown Doha is a blueprint for other developers in the region and from around the world to respect the environment, preserve cultural traditions and improve the quality of life for communities. “
The Culture Forum was honoured for its energy and water saving features, use of non-potable water, rainwater recovery and on-site renewable energy generation. Its energy efficient building design includes improved building envelopes of walls and windows, recessed windows, energy recovery to the outside air entering the building, optimised ventilation using carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors and a high efficiency district cooling plant. The overall energy savings for the Cultural Forum is 25.2 percent.
Sustainability is central to Msheireb Downtown Doha, in terms of both the conservation of natural resources and the quality of its design. Building design included thicker walls, and orientation that enables building to benefit from the shade of adjacent buildings, which cools the local environment and reduces air-conditioning requirements. While adoption of the latest technology enables Msheireb Properties to produce renewable energy, monitor electricity use, and make the most efficient use of water. Translating in reduced emissions, energy and water savings and minimised waste.
The objectives of the 4th annual Tarsheed Conserving Building Competition, led by KAHRAMAA are to motivate developers to adopt building conservation practices and encourage them to embrace energy conservation strategies that work towards Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

Msheireb Museums showcase a new exhibition in collaboration with UCL Qatar’s Masters Students titled ‘Back to Msheireb: Shared Streets – Shared Stories’

Doha, 4 April 2017: An exhibition that interprets the vibrancy of Qatar’s historic Msheireb district as a center of commerce opened 4 April 2017 at Msheireb Museums in Msheireb Downtown Doha. Entitled ‘Back to Msheireb: Shared Streets – Shared Stories’, the exhibition is organised by students of UCL Qatar, as part of their yearly UCL Qurates initiative of the Masters in Museum and Gallery Practice programme. The exhibition will remain open until 27 July 2017 at Mohammed Bin Jassim House in Msheireb Museums.

“This student-led project is a crucial, assessed component of the master’s programme, which seeks to bridge the gap between museum theory and practice. The project affords our students – who are undergoing rigorous graduate training to further professionalise or to enter the museum profession, in Qatar or abroad – the unique opportunity to implement knowledge acquired on the programme, working collaboratively with a museum. The staff’s dedication to the project, and their commitment to student learning and to their continuous professional development, has been pivotal in making the project a mutually rewarding and successful experience,” said Dr Sam Evans, Director of UCL Qatar.

Over the last few months, this year’s group of students have had the opportunity to explore and conduct curatorial research around Msheireb Museums’ collection of objects and oral history archives, curating a temporary exhibition that complements the scope of the permanent galleries in the Mohammed Bin Jassim House.
Located within the Heritage Quarter, a historic area of Msheireb Downtown Doha, Mohammed Bin Jassim House is one of four heritage houses which has been restored to create a trusted cultural destination that enriches the community. Rooted in history, these reconstructed buildings and gallery spaces allow the community to engage in the significant aspects of Qatar’s past and memories of life before the country’s rapid economic development.

Mr. Hafiz Ali, Director of Msheireb Museums said: “We are delighted to include such a carefully curated exhibition which documents the city’s history and progression and allows us to preserve and share these stories with the community. Msheireb Museums are honored to provide a platform that nurtures our future leaders’ development, enhances the cultural scene of our city and enables people to learn more about Qatar’s rich heritage.”


The increase in economic wealth and employment opportunities in Qatar led to a growth in foreign populations from countries such as India, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and the Philippines from the 1970s. Msheireb became the popular destination for shopping, and a hub for small local communitybetween the 1980s and 2000s – long before the wider “mall culture” spread throughout the country – and allowed the meeting of diverse cultures, tastes, languages, and traditions.

‘Back to Msheireb’ presents a selection of found objects and oral histories of
personal memories of this former commercial neighborhood through an installation of pop-up stores inspired by the eclectic and often quirky character of this part of Doha.

Dr. Serena Iervolino, Programme Coordinator at UCL Qatar said, “I am delighted to have worked in partnership with Msheireb Museums on this year’s UCL Qurates initiative. Together with the other Museum Studies faculty, Dr Catharina Hendrick, I have had the pleasure of seeing a particularly skillful group of students blossoming throughout the project. Working in a mature and collaborative manner, the students have developed and delivered an exhibition of professional standards. Today I am proud to acknowledge and celebrate with colleagues their significant team achievement.”

Since the inception of UCL Qatar in 2012, the students of Masters in Museum and Gallery Practice programme have collaborated with Qatari cultural institutions to create and develop temporary creative exhibitions.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos of the exhibition on social media using #UCLQurates #BacktoMsheireb. For museum hours and more information, visit www.uclqurates.squarespace.com and @UCLQurates on Facebook.

Msheireb Properties awards joint venture contract to Teyseer Contracting Company and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)

Doha, 2nd April 2017: Msherieb Properties, developer of Msherieb Downtown Doha and Qatar’s leading sustainable real estate developer, announced today it has awarded the contract for major construction work of Phase Four to Teyseer Contracting Company and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC).

Spread over 132,000 square meters of gross floor area Phase Four is the last phase to complete Msheireb Downtown Doha. Featuring the development’s tallest building, Phase Four will consist of a major public plaza and 11 mixed-use buildings, which include commercial offices, residential and retail space, 5-star hotels, medical office building containing clinical and administrative spaces, and six car parking basements. This vibrant area will also offer residents and tenants access to Msheireb station, the largest Doha Metro station, which marks the crossing of Qatar Rail’s three metro lines, the Red, Green and Gold Lines.

The award of the last and fourth phase of Msheireb Down Town is the last contract that has been issued to complete constructing the project, enabling Msheireb Properties to realise their vision of transforming Qatar’s urban landscape. The newly appointed partners, in collaboration with Msheireb Properties, are ensuring that Msheireb Downtown Project stands up to the demands of modern life and the testing conditions that our local environment presents, providing an exciting new way to live and work.

 

Mr. Ali Al Kuwari, Chief Officer for Design and Delivery at Msheireb Properties, commented, “We are delighted to working with Teyseer Contracting Company and Consolidated Contractors Company. Their wealth of expertise, local knowledge, and commitment to Qatar’s 2030 vision provide us with the confidence that together we will deliver the highest quality of standards, and create an iconic project that enhances the city’s urban landscape.”

Mr. Osama Al Jarbi, the general manager of Consolidated Contractors Company said, “The joint venture of Teyseer Contracting Company, TCC and Consolidated Contractors Company, allow us to enhance our services and contribute towards a world class destination that improves the aesthetics of the city and makes living and working more convenient and comfortable. On this occasion, we have the honour to partner with Msheireb Properties and we are commit to delivering exceptional quality of work and utmost professionalism, which all parties have become distinguished with.”

Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) is a pioneering project developed to revive the old commercial centre of the city of Doha by bridging the past with its cultural ties and ancestry, with the demands of a modern day city. The development aims to build sustainable and innovative initiatives that enrich communities and individual lives, promote environment friendly living and rediscover and implement heritage and culture.