DOHA RESIDENCE
Doha, Qatar
by Isabel Duprat
watercolors Luiz Paulo Baravelli
The light of that landscape made a big impression on me. The almost white sand, similar to suspended talcum, turns itself into a veil that, with the effect of the wind, makes the landscape diaphanous and slightly yellowed by the intense and constant sunlight. The feeling, intensified by the heat, is disconcerting. The sand penetrates the skin and gets tangled in the hair. I wanted to protect my head and neck. The square scarf that I like to always carrie with me, made it more comfortable.
Thinking of a garden in a place that on arrival seems to be so indecipherable was an exciting process.
The landscaping project for a residence designed by Bernardes & Jacobsen in the desert by the sea should bring physical comfort to future residents. A less abrasive outdoor living.
What we sought as a principle in the project was the creation of fluid spaces integrated with the internal spaces and that could bring between architecture and external areas a feeling of unity and complementation.
The architectural plan itself gives an essential dimension to the gardens, placing them as important articulating elements between internal and external spaces. As the first element to be noticed, we have the entrance axis marked by clusters of spectacular phoenix palms, densely packed and irregularly distributed in linear beds: a counterpoint between formality and organicity. On the left, water floods the area between the axis of the architecture blocks with a large fluid patio. A small island in the center is protected by more lush vegetation to appease the flat light of the inclement sun. Feeling good in the cosiness of the oasis.
The floors and waters of the water mirror are knitted like a large tapestry with flower beds intertwined with colorful flowers and shrubs, creating full and empty, highs and lows, open or cozy places with small spaces marking either formal or organic measures.
A walkway has been designed permeating the entire area around the property, allowing the garden to be enjoyed in its entirety, with trees interspersed with the covering vegetation and grass to minimize the effect of the suspended sand.
Conditions were created to design an internal garden of lush vegetation with a tropical atmosphere in contrast to the characteristics of the external gardens.
At the time of the project development, given the little variety of native tree and shrub species in Qatar and the unavailability of these species in plant nurseries, we opted for the use of exotic plants that were adapted to the difficult climatic conditions.
Intervention area 80.000 m²
Project 2010
Casa Tropical: Houses by Jacobsen Arquitetura. Philip Jodidio, Thames & Hudson, 2020
