Qatar Government Center (Tange's competition entry)
Location
Doha
Doha
Country
Qatar
Qatar
Architect/Engineer/Team
Kenzo Tange
Kenzo Tange
Construction
1976/1977
1976/1977
Project Status
Unbuilt
Unbuilt
Building Type
Public complex
Public complex
Notes
The Government Center competition was launched in 1976 by Qatar (under the rule of Emir Sheikh Khalifa) with the aim of conceiving a single complex that would literally and figuratively unify the portfolios of the fractious ministry system and project an image of an aesthetically and technologically modern nation-state. In that vein, internationally renowned architects were invited for the competition, among which Kenzo Tange, James Stirling, The Architects Collaborative, and Günter Behnisch submitted entries.
Tange’s proposal features towers for ministerial employees radially arranged along a low, curving mega structural band, housing the ministers’ offices, parallel with and looking out north over formal landscaping and the Corniche into the West Bay. Vertical circulation for the offices was to be organized within circular corner towers which gave a particular character to the project. These tubular cores with the continuous band provided a coherent identity for the whole ensemble within which the various ministries are not differentiated.
Despite it being the winning project, it was never realized due to a number of difficulties, many regarding practicalities specific for each of the ministries, but notable is that pertaining to the desire of the ministries to be distinguished and independent from one another, showing the political contention with the Emir's vision.
Nevertheless, the Tange scheme progressed and was radically altered taking into consideration the changing parameters, yet, it too, was not built.
See also Qatar Government Center (TAC's competition entry) and Qatar Government Center (Stirling's competition entry).
Tange’s proposal features towers for ministerial employees radially arranged along a low, curving mega structural band, housing the ministers’ offices, parallel with and looking out north over formal landscaping and the Corniche into the West Bay. Vertical circulation for the offices was to be organized within circular corner towers which gave a particular character to the project. These tubular cores with the continuous band provided a coherent identity for the whole ensemble within which the various ministries are not differentiated.
Despite it being the winning project, it was never realized due to a number of difficulties, many regarding practicalities specific for each of the ministries, but notable is that pertaining to the desire of the ministries to be distinguished and independent from one another, showing the political contention with the Emir's vision.
Nevertheless, the Tange scheme progressed and was radically altered taking into consideration the changing parameters, yet, it too, was not built.
See also Qatar Government Center (TAC's competition entry) and Qatar Government Center (Stirling's competition entry).
Sources
Adam Himes, “Competing Visions for a Modern Emirate: The Government Centre of the State of Qatar”, International Journal of Islamic Architecture, 7:1, 2018, p. 143–69, doi: 10.1386/ijia.7.1.143_1
John Lockerbie, the resident architect and planner for the Llewelyn-Davies team in Doha from 1972 and later chief architect and planner in the Technical Office of the Emir in 1975, catnaps.org
John Lockerbie, the resident architect and planner for the Llewelyn-Davies team in Doha from 1972 and later chief architect and planner in the Technical Office of the Emir in 1975, catnaps.org
Information in this database is updated constantly. Do not hesitate to send us comments, information, or illustrations (with appropriate credits) to database@arab-architecture.org
First design proposal plan
Source: catnaps.org
© John Lockerbie
Model view
Source: catnaps.org
© John Lockerbie