Zaha Hadid Architects’ New Sustainable Tower

Lusail city leads qatar into the future

When British architect Zaha Hadid left this world, she also left behind a design plan meant to be built.

No, it’s not a building for a futuristic movie. This building of the future is Zaha Architects’ (ZHA) plan for a 750,000-square-foot hotel that doubles as a residential tower in the Marina District of Lusail City, Qatar, that the London-based firm recently released. Exuding a definite “cool factor,” this 38-story complex commissioned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed of Al Alfia (one of the largest group holding companies in Qatar), is also planned to include sustainable features. Upon completion, Lusail City will be Qatar’s first and largest sustainable city.

The unique structure of the hotel and residential tower was inspired by the shape of a flowering plant native (pictured above) to the Arabian Gulf, the desert hyacinth. “We often look at nature’s systems when we work to create environments; at her unrivaled logic and coherence,” Zaha Hadid once explained about her projects. The Lusail tower’s geometric outline created through a nine-pointed podium that interweaves around a central base gives the tower it’s flowing appearance.

The outer shell of the building utilizes a filigreed mashrabiya (a traditional feature to Arabic architecture) façade to reduce solar gain. Flowing from domes to ceilings, ceilings to walls, and walls to floors, the tower also inherits the fluid design aesthetics classic to ZHA’s architectural heritage.

“With truly inspirational public spaces and atrium, 120 unique residences and 200 hotel rooms of Zaha Hadid’s unmistakable signature, we celebrate her remarkable legacy and continue Lusail City’s commitment to creating the region’s most sustainable, interconnected community,” expressed H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Al Alfia Holding.

From its flowing design to its sleek, modern finishes, we’re excited to see the final result of the hotel and residential tower expected to open in 2020.

Check out more beautifully designed buildings by Zaha Hadid Architects seen around the world in our new issue and on their website, Zaha-Hadid.com.

 

Project Team

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Design: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

ZHA project director: Charles Walker

ZHA project associate: Tariq Khayyat

ZHA project architect: Kutbuddin Nadiadi

ZHA project team: Gerry Cruz, Drew Merkle, Dennis Brezina, Alia Faisal Zayani, Alessandra Lazzoni, Matthew Le Grice, Mu Ren, Alexandra Fisher, Kwanphil Cho, Joris Pauwels, Jose Pareja Gomez, Katherina Hieger, Konstantinos Psomas, Leo Alves, Mei-Ling Lin, Nicholette Chan, Yifan Zhang

 

Consultants

Structure and Facade Engineers: Arup

MEP and Sustainability: Atelier Ten

Landscape: Francis Landscape

Hotel: GC Hotel Consultancy

Food Services: Tricon