Architecture of Qatar
This tradition extends to other buildings, which feature many decorative elements such as arches, niches, intricately carved plaster patterns, gypsum screens (kamariat and shamsiat), and battlements atop walls and towers.
As construction techniques evolved, clay, which was unsuitable for the rainy winter season, was gradually replaced with gypsum mortar for plastering walls.
[2] Qatar's architectural heritage, like that of other Arabian Peninsula countries, includes buildings from the 17th to early 20th centuries, with at least one surviving structure dating hundreds of years earlier: Murwab Fort.
[3] The architecture in Qatar has been significantly shaped by climate and environmental factors, which have influenced the design and variety of buildings, including houses, mosques, forts, and marketplaces.
[4] Due to the region's desert climate, which features minimal rainfall in winter and high temperatures and humidity in summer, flat roofs are predominant instead of pitched ones.
Additionally, for ventilation and lighting, other openings known as badjeer are commonly constructed in upper rooms but are rarely found in lower ones.
The design of Qatari houses includes shaded areas like terraces and verandas to provide comfortable spaces for outdoor activities.
The majlis also functioned as a forum for social interaction, discussion, and conflict resolution, with a particular emphasis on the wisdom and authority of elder members.
In the past, the "dour", or spacious rooms designated for these gatherings, hosted seafarers, dhow captains (noukhadha), and enthusiasts of folk arts between pearl fishing seasons.
[8] The majlis represented the homeowner's temperament and status, and it continues to hold an essential communicative role within Qatari society, facilitating interactions with outsiders.
[6] Typically, the majlis was a designated room near the courtyard entrance, allowing guests access without intruding into the private parts of the house.
[6] Another type of majlis, known as the dikka (pronounced dacha or dicha in Qatari Arabic), was an elevated earthen platform typically found outside.
These washrooms, often adjoined to each of the typically one to two main rooms of a house, were designed to ensure privacy while facilitating easy access to water from the well.
All family members used the washrooms at all the times of the day for various purposes, including bathing, washing hands and feet, and other personal hygiene activities.
[5] The architectural approach to accessing homes in Islamic societies varies widely, influenced by factors such as land availability, safety, and noise insulation.
The positioning of street doorways is carefully considered to avoid direct alignment with opposite entrances, enhancing privacy and preventing potential nuisances.
Utilizing locally available materials such as stones, limestone, sandstone, and coral, craftsmen built these rectangular or square rooms with meticulous attention to detail.
[10] Qatari mosques, much like their counterparts in the broader Persian Gulf region, exhibit a distinct architectural style characterized by a rectangular or square courtyard.
This courtyard typically features a qibla gallery on one side, oriented towards Mecca, and covered with thin wooden logs known as danshil or the more robust khashab-al-murabaa.
[11] The structural design of mosques in Qatar, dating from the late 18th to early 20th centuries, typically includes a wooden pulpit and minimal ornamental details.
The ceiling structures incorporate lightweight bamboo or reed lattice patterns, providing a decorative yet functional element.
The gallery pillars are generally square in cross-section, although historical records indicate the existence of cylindrical columns in older mosques like those in Zubarah.
[11] Windows in the qibla gallery are designed to allow ventilation and light, with wooden frames and iron bars providing security.
[11] Minarets in Qatari mosques vary in shape, ranging from conical to cylindrical, and often include balconies for the muezzin to call to prayer.
These structures are typically adorned with plastered stone or wood railings and may feature decorative elements like small columns (hilya) on their domes.
[11] Qatar's forts represent an essential part of the country's architectural heritage, reflecting the strategic and defensive needs of different historical periods.
[15] Situated 110 km from Doha, near Zubarah, Ar Rakiyat Fort is a typical desert fortress with a rectangular plan, four corner towers, and rooms along its northern, eastern, and western walls.
[27] The Qatari Peninsula's surface is predominantly limestone, covered with a thin layer of sand, loess, and clay, forming the region's agricultural soils.
These mats provided additional support and protection in roofing structures, contributing to the overall stability and weather resistance of traditional Qatari buildings.
[33] Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has played a significant role in bringing art to Qatar,[34] particularly with the latest art installations at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) showcasing pieces of work by numerous global artists in collaboration with Qatar Museums Authority.
