Weird and Wonderful Buildings Part Five — The Tornado Tower

There are many innovatively designed skyscrapers in Doha, like the Aspire Tower Museum of Islamic Art, Dubai Towers, Doha Tower, Qatar National Museum and the Hamad International Airport. The Tornado Tower is one of the most eye-catching.

Qatar is the world’s richest country per capita, it’s capital Doha is characterised by an ever growing series of sky scrapers, it’s skyline is flecked with cranes and roads are full of bulldozers and construction vehicles. In the 1930’s Qatar was struggling, it’s position at the centre of the pearl trade was being eroded — high quality pearls were being manufactured. In the 1940’s oil and natural gas were discovered and with the boom in oil prices from the 1980’s onwards the city began to grow and grow.

The Tornado Tower was designed by CICO Consulting Architects & Engineers & SIAT Architekten + Ingenieure München GmbH, the engineers were CICO Consulting Architects and Engineers and the contractor was MIDMAC-Six Construct JV. The tower is also known as the QIPCO Tower is 195m (640 ft) high and has 52 floors. It was completed in 2008, it has a restaurant, shops and a bank at it’s base, 16 elevators serve the 904,000 ft of office space. The top three floors are for luxury office space and are surrounded by terraces and balconies.

In addition innovative use of materials, energy reduction, reduced emissions and water consumption made The Tornado Tower a green building pioneer when construction started in 2006.

Here’s a selection of other architecturally striking buildings in Qatar :-

The Aspire Tower (designed by Hadi Simaan and AREP)

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (The geometric design was inspired by ancient Islamic architecture such as the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei).

The Burj Qatar by Jean Nouvel (Burj Qatar was shortlisted for the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2012).

Katara Hotel (designed by Kling Consult — the design was inspired by the seal of Qatar)

Qatar National Museum ( Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel designed this dramatic building, based on a desert rose).

Hamad International Airport by HOK Architects

Al-Wakrah Stadium, Aerial View by ZHA

Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup — I am looking forward to seeing Zaha H adid’s Al-Wakrah and Speer’s Al Shamal Stadiums. Proposals for floating hotels, man made islands with water taxis, luxury villas and more climate controlled stadiums, hotels, shopping malls and offices are in development.

Qatar is definitely high up on my list of places to go and see!

Call Claire —+27 82 399 0180

bluedesigns5@gmail.com

www.bluedesigns.org

I love Architecture. I think it’s vital to talk about all aspects of Architecture — whether it be planning, construction, design or green building. I have written 3 E-Books & over 110 articles. Please feel free to let me know if you have any queries regarding architecture, planning & construction & I will assist you.

I am originally from the UK and moved to South Africa in 1999. I started Blue Designs in 2004 after working as a driver for Avalon Construction on a luxury home in the Featherbrook Estate. In my spare time I am an artist and writer.

Other Articles I have written include :-

My Imaginary Speech Addressing The United Nations

Building Green? Here are some tips.

Common Mistakes People make when Designing a House

The Advantages of Sustainable Building

Considering Buying or Renovating a Heritage Home? Pros and Cons

Renovation vs New Construction — which is Greener and Better for the Environment?

Bizarre Buildings Part Two — Space Age Fantasy

Weird and Wonderful Buildings Part Three — Three Buildings that make Music

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Sources :-

https://www.archdaily.com/881561/against-all-odds-photos-show-qatar-determination-construct-world-class-cityhttps://www.e-architect.co.uk/qatar-architecturehttp://www.timeoutdoha.com/mobile/aroundtown/features/71293-amazing-architecture-in-doha

#ClaireCardwell #ClaireLCardwell #BlueDesigns #Architecture #TheNakedArchitect #Architect #Doha #Qatar #DohaArchitecture #QatarArchitecture #TornadoTower #HamadAirport #DohaAirport #QatarNational Museum # JeanNouvel #ZahaHadid #ZHA

#KataraHotel #KlingConsult #Katara #BurjQatar #MuseumofIslamicArt # I.M.Pei #Pei

Originally published at https://www.bebee.com.