I already have mentioned the development of Msheireb area in Doha, one of its oldest neighbourhoods, in my previous posts. Four museums located in this area, known as Msheireb Museums. And one of them is the house of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Jassim Al Thani, who was a son of Sheikh Jassim the Founder of Qatar. Sheikh Jassim ruled Qatar from 1878 to 1913.
This house is located at 25°17'11.08"N; 51°31'46.75"E. This house was restored and repaired a few years ago and now it is not just a good model of Qatari architecture, but houses a small museum that tells the story of Qatar in general and of this neighbourhood in particular.
Tariq Amir
May 4, 2019.
Doha - Qatar.
The main entrance. (20.04.2019.)
Looking towards south-east corner. (20.04.2019.)
Rooms along the eastern wall. (20.04.2019.)
The structure behind the entrance. (20.04.2019.)
Rooms along the western wall. (20.04.2019.)
A double storey structure at the south-east corner. (20.04.2019.)
A view from the outside. (20.04.2019.)
Main building inside the compound, a view from the outside. (20.04.2019.)
HH the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani
& HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
A model of the house. (20.04.2019.)
Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Hakim of Qatar (1878 - 1913).
"Sheikh Mohammed Bin Jassim Al Thani (1881 - 1971) was the son of Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of the modern nation of Qatar. He was appointed mayor of Doha and the oasis town of Umm Slal Mohammed at a relatively young age. During his long political career, Sheikh Mohammed witnessed remarkable changes in the fortunes and fabric of Doha as it evolved from a fishing and trading town to the wealthy capital of the soon-to-be independent State of Qatar.
The house was one of the first to be built in Msheireb. While the house's precise date of construction is unknown, its towers, courtyard, accommodation blocks, and outbuildings can all be seen clearly in an aerial photograph taken in 1947.
Although Sheikh Mohammed lived here only for a short while, his house played a valuable role in district life. Its many functions, which included a doctor's clinic and housing for the poor, testify to the adaptability of this house to the needs of the community."
A corridor, left of the main entrance. (20.04.2019.)
A picture of Barzan Towers in Umm Slal Moahammad. (20.04.2019.)
Another corridor displaying the model and other information related to the new developments in Msheireb.
"Msheireb masterplan indicating the context for the Diwan Amiri Quarter, including the National Archive. Scheme design Stage."
Decorative tiles and screens found in Msheireb district. (20.04.2019.)
Turning left after entering the house you will find a big gallery behind the corridor. It displays a lot of items depicting life and activities in Msheireb, prior to its latest development.
The Origins of Mesheireb
"Doha is thought to originate from two neighbouring settlements - Al Bidda and Doha. Al Bidda is known to have been established by 1801 and was the larger of the two. Both were in existence by 1820s. The name "Doha" probably stems from the Arabic ad dawha ("the big tree"). The fishing and trading supported by its bay stimulated its growth from village to market town. The British surveyor John Lorimer noted that by 1903 Doha was home to 12,000 people, who owned 800 camels and 150 horses. As Doha developed, its growing population began to settle in the area to the west now known as Msheireb.
Msheireb means a "place of drinking water". Its well provided some of the best water in Qatar and formed a focal point for the community. Many residents of Msheireb remember being sent down to the well by their mothers, while others recall how women would line up patiently to collect water."
Map of Al Bidda, 1823
"Trigonometric map of Al Bidda (El Biddah), drawn by Lieutenant Brucks, and Guy of Britain's Royal Navy in 1823."
Aerial Photograph of Doha, 1952
"The course of Wadi Msheireb is clearly visible, running from the young neighbourhood of Msheireb past the burial ground and into the sea. A wadi is a valley or streambed that remains dry except during the rainy season."
The Early Development of Msheireb
Msheireb developed as a base for tradesmen in the pearling and fishing industries, in particular boat builders, carpenters, metalworkers, and pearl dealers. It as home to small manufacturers producing goods such as purple dye and cloth from goat hair and a place where people traded with nomadic Bedouin groups visiting Doha for supplies.
From the early 1900s to the late 1920s, Msheireb benefited from the flourishing pearl industry. It is believed that the three neighbouring heritage buildings - Jelmood House, Company House, and Radwani House - were all built in this period.
Qatar's main source of income was steadily destroyed by mass production of the cultured pearl after 1921. The Gulf region was also badly hit by the Great Recession of 1929. The fortunes of the area declined disastrously during the 1930s. Doha's population shrank severely as people emigrated in search of work. Those who stayed faced extreme hardship.
The earliest known aerial photograph of Doha, taken in 1947.
Orthographic aerial photo of Doha, 1947.
Photograph of the souq in Doha, circa 1940.
Photograph of the Al Qabeeb Mosque in Doha, circa 1940.
Msheireb's Traditional Architecture
"From the sea, Doha provides an amazing panorama of ochre-coloured sculpture. A caramel-coloured city with its houses cloaked in bronze sand, in tawny stone and in copper adobe ... A marked simplicity adorns these houses resembling clothes trunks. They have only one level ... A few rare white house, two stories high, sleepy under the intense heat, belong to noted figures ... the architecture is laced with latticework, arches and towers.
CHARLES FOUQUERAY, 1918
Doha was connected to the Gulf, Arabia, Asia, and Africa via land and maritime trade routes. As a result, Doha's buildings were similar in appearance to those found in the coastal towns of neighbouring countries, and owed as much to the needs of Eupherates, the plaster of Iran, and the Timber of Tanzania and India as they did to the rubble and gypsum of Qatar."
Layout
Settlers in Msheireb built their houses and neighborhoods in ways that sheltered them from the sun's fierce heat and took advantage of the prevailing winds' cooling effects. They erected them close together to create narrow alleys (sekeek) with plenty of shade. These alleys had the benefit of channeling breezes around the outside of houses.
Ventilation
Some of the recesses in single-story walls were split to permit air flow but maintain privacy. These malqaf were also used at parapet level to catch breezes whilst the roof was used as a sleeping area in summer.
An attractive, though uncommon, feature was the wind tower (badjeer), a tall, capped structure whose open sides faced the prevailing wind and drew a cooling breeze into the house.
Ornament
External walls were often punctuated by recesses. These reduced the need for building materials and made an otherwise blank wall visually appealing. Water spouts (marzam) and danshal would provide haphazard cornice. Windows could be decorated with brightly colored glass. Gypsum panels (naqsh) carved in geometrical shapes ornamented blanks recesses or, as pierced screens (raushan), permitted air flow and maintained privacy.
The corners of an open porch (liwan) could be enlivened with shaped brackets. The danshal and the ceiling bamboo (basgill) structure were sometimes painted to contrast with the woven cane matting (mangharour) above.
Communities
The intricate layout of a freej encouraged social ties between neighbors. Yet, in keeping with Islamic tradition, individual houses remained private. The only views ou of the houses at street level were those from the majlis, the reception room entered directly from the vestibule, just inside the main entrance. The other rooms faced inward onto the house's central courtyard.
Scale
Rubble walls were held together with mud and gypsum to create single-story buildings that were simple and solid. Their width, usually no more than three meters, was determined by beams made from danshal - a type of tree brought by sea from Zanzibar. Because danshal was so valuable, the beams were not cut to shape but instead left to protrude from facades so that they could be recycled for use in other buildings.
The Transformation of Msheireb
"The first exports from Qatar's oil industry began in 1949. The nation's wealth grew quickly. The character of Doha and Msheireb changed dramatically with the introduction of cars, electricity, and the use of cement, all within a short time.
Doha's population rose from 20,000 in 1951 to 80,000 in 1975, largely as a result of foreign labor moving to Qatar to support the growing economy. Msheireb grew to be a popular center for the shops and services that would support this burgeoning society.
The area became renowned for its eating establishments such as Beirut Restaurant and the Garden Restaurant on Al Kahraba Street. It was also home to Doha's best jewelry, fashion, and furniture shops, whose illuminated signs vied to be the most colorful. Msheireb became the vibrant heart of Doha, pulsing with locals and newcomers."
Hunting Aerosurveys photograph, 1952
"This photograph provides a snapshot of Doha and Msheireb just at the point when oil revenues began to flow into the country."
An aerial of Doha, 1955
"This photograph, taken just three years after the 1952 Hunting Aerosurveys image, suggests the increased pace of change. In the foreground stands the new Amiri Diwan clock tower. In the background, Msheireb stretches out into the desert beyond."
The Bismillah hotel and restaurant in Souq Waqif
"The Bismillah was the first hotel in Doha and a favorite among Indians and other foreign visitors."
Electricity and telecommunications
The introduction of electricity, in the early 1950s, immediately changed life in the city. Msheireb's Al Kahrabaa Street became the first in Doha to have lighting and neon signage. Al Kahrabaa's distinctive curve is reputed to follow the path of the original electricity cable that was pulled from the back of a British engineer's vehicle. The street became one of Doha's most popular meeting places.
The introduction of electricity supported other new facilities such as water distillation and air-conditioning.
The oil company office at the Company House was the first place in Doha to have telecommunications. The building was connected by telegraph to Dukhan and Umm Said.
Ice and air conditioning
It is unclear when the first air condition unit arrived in Qatar, but in the early 1950s Company House was described by the British political agent John Wilton as having "rudimentary air conditioning." Msheireb was home to Doha's first ice factory, on Brahat Al Nouk, an informal market square at the heart of the district.
The practice of orienting buildings away from the sun and toward prevailing breezes declined as increasing numbers of houses were supplied with electricity and fitted with air conditioners.
Doha Skyline, 1953
Street view Doha, 1953
"These two photographs were taken in 1953 and show the city on the brink of profound change. The buildings and surrounding public spaces are traditional in character. However, telegraph poles signal new technological developments."
Photograph of the Al Darwish headquarters in the Souq, 1950s
Water
In 1951, the government began construction of a desalination plant in Doha, southwest of Msheireb. The water it produced was a mix of desalinated water and saline groundwater. The water was used exclusively by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Water distribution sites were later provided for the public. Watermen (kanderi) delivered water to Msheireb's residents.
Cement
The first shipment of cement arrived in Doha in the early 1950s. Construction with concrete soon replaced traditional building techniques. Doha's first concrete buildings had both Qatari and foreign details. Art Deco design became popular and led to a distinctive "Doha Deco" style throughout Msheireb, especially on Al Kahrabaa street. These charming buildings were slowly outnumbered as Doha developed and less distinctive styles took over.
The Car
The introduction of cars was an enormous challenge as densely built fereej could not readily accommodate this form of transport. New roads either had to be built in existing open space or land had to be cleared to make way for them. Doha's first roundabout appeared in Msheireb sometime between 1952 and 1956. Doha's first petrol pump was installed near Bayt Jelmood.
Some areas adapted more easily to car. At Souq Waqif, customers could drive up to the stalls and load their trunks.
Ottoman Bank in Souq Waqif, date unknown
"Ottoman Bank in Souq Waqif is an example of a modern multi-story construction in Doha. This building probably dates from 1956, when the Ottoman Bank was first established in Qatar."
Doha street view, 1967
"A network of roads quickly grew around Mshreireb and Doha as the city expanded and oil wealth allowed more Qataris to own cars. This photographs of Sheikh Ahmad's palace and the Sheikh Ali mosque was taken in 1967."
Al Shiokh Mosque, construction 1963
"Al Shiokh Mosque is an example of the modern architecture style labeled "Doha Deco."
The Decline of Msheireb
"Wealth from oil revenues created remarkable opportunities for Doha but focused development away from the city's historic heart.
In 1972, the Qatar government commissioned Doha's first urban master plan. The master plan guided the city's future development. It proposed the creation of a series of ring roads to distribute traffic to new neighborhoods comprised large villas with convenient parking behind tall perimeter walls. Qatar families moved out of Msheireb to occupy the houses in these new suburban districts. Foreign workers moved into the homes that were vacated by the Qataris. The restaurants and shops of Msheireb now served a community of largely Asian residents.
Although Msheireb retained its enduring vitality and acquired fresh and vivid color, its houses became over-populated and its streets acutely congested. The district fell into a state of disrepair."
Al Kahraba Street, 1970s
"Al Kahraba Street became renowned both for its electrical and jewelry shops."
Souq Waqif , 1970s
"Photograph taken in the 1970s. As the population of Mshreireb grew, so did the number of cars in the district."
Al Kahrab Street, 2009
"Al Kahraba Street as it appeared shortly before development commenced. In the background, the towers of West Bay loom over the Garden Restaurant."
Msheireb and Doha skyline, 2000s
"This photograph shows the view along Wadi Mshreireb Street prior to redevelopment. The shops, banks and apartment blocks at the center and left of the image are being replaced by Msheireb's new retail quarter."
Qatari schoolchildren, 1961
"The first elementary school for boys opened in 1952 with 250 pupils and a teaching staff of six. The first school for girls opened three years later with 50 pupils."
Woman in Rumaylah Hospital, 1959
Extent of Msheireb's early development
"This photograph, taken in 1947, shows the extent of Msheireb's early development. Mohammed bin Jassim House is at at the district's eastern edge (center). A farmhouse used by the British Consulate in the 1950s is at Msheireb's western edge (top left)."
Eid prayer ground in Mshreireb
"View of the Eid prayer ground in Mshreireb, probably dating from the 1990s. Mohammed bin Jassim House can be seen on the left of the photograph."
Sustainable ways of building and living
"Sustainable development is described by the United Nations as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The design and layout of Msheireb's first buildings respected the environment by minimizing the effects of the sun, maximizing methods of ventilation, and using local materials whenever possible. These traditional practices have been followed in the design of Msheireb Downtown Doha. The massing of buildings and the layout of streets make full use of shading and coastal breezes. Renewable energy is being harnessed through the use of rooftop solar panels. Fresh water is being conserved through the use of efficient taps and showers, and recycled water is being used for irrigation and other purposes.
Msheireb Downtown Doha will reduce people's dependence on vehicles. In the first instance, the district will be friendly to pedestrians - it will be easy, safe, and comfortable to walk from one place to another along routes shaded by trees and punctuated by gardens. The site will contain a carefully considered network of bicycle routes. Bus and metro systems will link Msheireb to wider Doha, and centralized waste recycling will remove the need for refuse trucks."
Visualization of the new Msheireb development
"When the Msheireb Downtown Doha project is complete it will have the greatest concentration of gold and platinum LEED-certified buildings in the world."
Solar Panels developed for the 2022 World Cup Bid
"Other large-scale projects in Doha that will use solar technology include the World Cup Stadia's cooling systems."
Pipes at waste collection system center
"Because manual emptying of bins is no longer required, there is no need for large refuse collection vehicles. Waste is collected via an underground pipe network."
Waste collection system inlets in London, England
"Self-emptying bins are connected to an automated waste collection system via pipes underground. Once a bin is full, a valve beneath it opens and litter is vacuumed into an underground pipe network and transported directly to a waste collection station."As I mentioned in the beginning, this house is part of Msheireb museums, total in four in number. With this post, I have completed my series of four posts on these museums. These four buildings are a great place to learn the past of Qatar and its development during the last century and even the future.
Tariq Amir
May 4, 2019.
Doha - Qatar.
