Form and Function in The Pearl-Qatar Artificial Island Development

Abstract

The Pearl is an artificial island development in Doha, Qatar. Artificial island means land reclamation or landfill, creating new land from lakebeds, riverbeds, oceans, and seas. Doha grew rapidly over the last half century due to urbanization and globalization. Most research focuses on (su b)urban expansion to the north, west, and south from its coastal origins on Doha Bay. However, urban growth also occurred eastward through land reclamation projects from the Arabian Gulf for Al Corniche, the West Bay business district, Hamad International Airport, large parts of Lusail City, and The Pearl Qatar. We present a morphological study of urban form and function in The Pearl Qatar. It includes well established representations such as figure ground analysis, pedestrian sheds, ground level land uses, and active/inactive frontages mapping. We argue there is a clear formal and spatial logic in the planning, intimately tied to The Pearl Qatar's socio economic status as an exclusive residential area of Doha.