Zaha Hadid designs geometric flower-shaped tower for sustainable Qatar city
By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) released a design for a new 38-story hotel and residential building in Lusail City, Qatar’s first sustainable city.
Designed by Hadid before she died in March, the shape of the tower was inspired by the Desert Hyacinth, a flower native to the Arabian Gulf region.
The nine-point form of the unnamed tower’s podium surrounds a central core. Gizmag reports that it will contain a mashrabiya latticed facade to lower solar heat gain. The tower will contain 70,000 sm of floor space, 120 residential units, and 200 hotel rooms.
The tower will be one of the highlights for Lusail City, an environmentally sustainable community that will eventually have 200,000 residents. The city boasts water taxis, bicycle and pedestrian networks, and a 38-km light rail system. Developments for marinas, hotels, resorts, entertainment districts, and luxury shopping are in the works.
Arup Engineering and Atelier Ten also worked on the tower project. It was commissioned by Al Alfia Holding. The tower is scheduled for completion in 2020.