Doha. File Photo.
Doha: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is planning to develop West Bay North Beach area — the sea facing area ahead of Sheraton — into a sustainable and attractive waterfront destination of choice.
For the purpose, Ashghal has invited vision plans from architects to develop a high-quality beach park with promenade, a family zone that includes children’s beach with sea pools, sports facilities including beach sports, transport nodes and cycles route along the waterfront.
“The Public Works Authority seeks to develop West Bay North Beach area within Doha City to create a major viable, connected, a sustainable and attractive destination of choice that can complement the existing recreational, leisure and hospitality offering within the City and wider Doha Municipality,” Ashghal announced on its website.
It adds: “As a prime waterfront location, the site holds considerable potential to add significantly to the City experience whilst enhancing and protecting the existing real estate value of West Bay. The development shall, therefore, be developed to meet the needs of a wide range of potential users including residents and visitors alike.”
The document titled “Vision Competition for West Bay North Beach Development”, also throws light on the project objectives saying to create a distinctive and activated waterfront that creates a new destination offering that is family orientated providing appropriate attractions and facilities for residents and visitors alike.
Also, to connect West Bay North and the Corniche to the waterfront, develop a network of well-connected, activated multi-use public spaces that fit with and complement West Bay North community and the City, complement but not compete with existing leisure, recreation, and hospitality offerings within the City are among the objectives of the project.
To identify new uses for existing embassies that complement the waterfront and West Bay, create a social, environmental and economically sustainable waterfront, provide a stimulus and opportunities for private sector involvement and manage parking demand by promoting accessibility and connectivity supported by public transit are some other objectives of the project.
Qatari registered companies and international architects have been invited to bring fresh ideas to develop the area. The participants have to submit a 3D animated fly-through showing the future plans and options.
Ashghal has also announced that the winning plan will receive a prize amount of QAR 300,000. Ashghal has instructed that the plan has to be realistic so that the entire redevelopment can happen within a time period of four years.
According to document, a participant of the competition has to develop two (2) Visions for the waterfront (including key connections through West Bay North from City Centre Mall, the existing hotels/residences, Metro and Corniche).
“The Visioning Masterplans shall demonstrate how the development of the waterfront can complement West Bay in supporting its role as a premier business and residential address. Therefore, solutions to address existing connectivity challenges shall be considered with opportunities for integrated multi-modal transportation approaches including pedestrian, cycle, bus and taxi explored to provide a viable, accessible and convenient alternative to movement and encourage a reduction in the current reliance on private vehicle as the primary mode of transport,” the document adds.
The closing date for the vision plan submission is June 11, 2018, and the details of the plan can be found on Ashghal website.
