Status: Completed
Clients: Qatar Foundation , British Council
Collaborators: Deena Al Terawi, Gizem Kahraman, Omer Can Aksoy.

In 2016, the British Council extended a compelling invitation to our studio to engage in an international exploration of Doha's urban fabric. Our proposal, 'City of Play,' was selected and subsequently collected the coveted Unlimited Doha Design Prize. Inspired by Qatar's forthcoming role as host to the 2022 World Cup, we proposed connecting pedestrian spaces citywide, e􀀃ectively weaving together the previously disjointed urban arrangement. The resulting scheme was a mesmerising urban panorama where children could play safely. The British Council's brief stemmed from a pressing need to unlock Doha's urban potential while ensuring inclusivity for all. Our designs reinvigorated the urban realm and brought cohesion to a city often described as fragmented. Our masterplan created safe, engaging spaces that would beckon children and families to partake in the City of Play. The concept was born from the realisation that Doha’s urban spaces could do much more than merely exist as access routes; they could become playgrounds of creativity and interaction. By interlinking pedestrian spaces, we envisioned an urban realm that celebrated movement, community, and playfulness. Local materials, and local construction techniques combined in the creation of elegant, new, functional structures that seamlessly blended with the urban fabric. Our dedication to precision and ingenuity infused life into this urban transformation. The play spaces, walkways, and urban furniture are a fusion of form and function, o􀀃ering delightful surprises at every turn. At ScottWhitbyStudio, our ethos transcends the mere creation of spaces; it extends to the nurturing of sustainable environments. The City of Play, by design, fosters a culture of reuse and responsible resource management, subtly nurturing a greener, more communal civic life for Doha.