A stunning ensemble of places, coherently organised and inter-connected, greater than the sum of parts.
The story of Qatar, from disparate desert tribes dotted around the coastal fringes to the modern, cultural
and dynamic country we know today has been one of emergence. With the country formally emerging fromthe symbolic moment of the Battle of Wajbah and the death of 400 men, woman and children, now hascome the time to formally remember these dead and celebrate the creation of modern Qatar, close to thesite of this famous battle, at the boundary between city and desert.Our proposal for Wajbah Memorial Park is to create 400 contemplative spaces, courtyards and rooms.Gardens that will create a setting for rest, curiosity and contemplation.
Coupled with this will be an iconicland art installation, “Emergence” by the renowned artist Jason Bruges, which is composed of an array of400 hundred independent dynamic vertical fins, approximately ten metres tall.From Khalifa Avenue the Wajbah Memorial Park will appear as a monolithic gateway to Doha, a strongsingle entity that will offer glimpses into spaces and intriguing elements beyond and draw the viewer intothe park to find out more.
The rippling wall has a rhythm that relates to the activities beyond. To the souththe art work will shimmer, ripple and glow creating further intrigue and sit within an area of reclaimeddesert vegetation.Once in the park the monumental nature of the form gives way to a series of 400 rooms cut from the builtform and the strong tree structure proposed.
The forms relate to the traditional Islamic design of gardensas introspective, contemplative spaces that offer shade and comfort. Water is a key theme, drawing on thepower of the Wadi image, it will stitch together the different characters, in both ephemeral and permanentforms. The water will form a central focus to the rooms as fountains, pools and irrigation for the gardens.December rainfall will be collected on the productive south park and used to feed irrigation and waterfeatures.There will be a dedicated interpretation route through the park.
Smart Phone Apps and Children’s DiscoveryTrails will lead the visitor and tourist through the park, stopping at key moments with interpretationelements such as engravings, a museum, hidden objects and smart screens all informing the viewer of thehistorical emergence of Qatar..