Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) was awarded “Best Arabian Architectural Design for Public Service’ and the ‘Best International Architectural Design for Public Service’ at an event in London.
The awards presented by the “International Property Awards” recognise the quality of the design of Qatar Rail’s “Vaulted Spaces” design for stations on the Doha Metro.
A panel of 20 international architects’ gave the awards during the international nomination event attended by Qatar Rail’s deputy CEO Hamad al-Bishri and Architecture and MEP Department senior director Mohamed Timbely.
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 International Property Awards, running since 1995, are open to residential and commercial property professionals from around the globe. 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 recognisable 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.
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.