HPA were invited to bid on this project from an international shortlist. The project was briefed as the development of an International Standard Heritage and Tourism Destination. The site is two hours from Doha, the capital of Qatar. The site features a 16th Century Fort and Archeological
diggings from an ancient port city – Al Zubara.
HPA were engaged to master plan the development comprising a Museum / Interpretive Centre , storage facilities, car parking, visitor amenities, significant gardens and an interpretive master plan package that bound the whole site.
Dating to the 16th Century Al Zubara Fort is an iconic and culturally sensitive place. Retaining the Forts visual dominance in the landscape was considered paramount in site planning. An exclusion zone was established with all new buildings being planned outside that zone and below
a nominal ground line. Development comprised structural rectification of the Fort, subterranean car parking for 90 vehicles, a 1200m2 subterranean building, 4000m2 of garden.
