Doha tower, designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel, is a much more elaborate cousin of the famed Burj Khalifa. The tower is an iconic high rise tower located in Doha, Qatar along the gulf city skyline and located on corniche road in the city center overlooks the waters of the gulf– an expanse of blue that can be seen through the filleted circumference of a dome that seamlessly caps the rounded skyscraper.
Courtesy of HBS
The tower comprises 46 floors above ground, 3 floors below ground and a total gross floor area of approximately 110,000 m². It has no central core, leaving more internal space available to its occupants. The design is unique, the first skyscraper with internal reinforced concrete dia-grid columns, which form a cross shape that connects with the eye-catching cylindrical facade. The design expresses the local culture, connecting the very modern with ancient Islamic designs.
Courtesy of HBS
The tower was completed in 2012 and has an approximate built up area of 110,000 square meters including 46 floors above ground and 3 floors below. The massive, rounded cylindrical skyscraper is an expression of the local culture, connecting the very modern with ancient Islamic designs. Recalling shanasheel screens, which are common in the area, the building envelope is comprised of a delicate, lace-like layered façade. This sunscreen takes the traditional Mashrabiya and butterfly-shaped linear patterns and explodes them onto a more massive scale in order to fracture light within every interior volume.
Courtesy of HBS
The screens retain their Islamic original purpose to shade the building from high temperatures as well as protect it from the unpleasant sand residue found on glass throughout the region. The design is also the first to successfully employ dia-grid reinforced concrete over the entirety of the building skin. The internal reinforced concrete forms a cross X shape that then connects with the eye-catching cylindrical façade while leaving more internal space within the core for the occupants. Finally the vast green space and vertical garden are the first of its kind in the state of Qatar, which coupled with the beautifully designed and sculpted sunscreen create a pleasant environment to work in.
Project info:
Architects: Jean Nouvel
Country: Qatar, Doha
Year: 2012
Photographs: Nelson Garrido, Courtesy of HBS
Kristin Hoover is an editor at Arch2O and a proud graduate of Virginia Tech. Since joining in July 2014, she has authored over 200 insightful articles covering everything from adaptive reuse and cultural centers to eco-buildings and urban infrastructure . With a passion for architectural storytelling, Kristin skillfully curates and crafts compelling narratives that bring design innovation to life. Her editorial work reflects a broad yet finely honed interest in how architecture intersects with society, technology, and the environment—making her a key voice shaping Arch2O’s explorations of contemporary built form.