Abstract
Qatar used the unprecedented oil revenues to reshape its cities and particularly the capital city; Doha. Such rapid urbanization has led to unprecedented changes in the country’s urbanity, city image, sense of place, and housing neighborhoods. The changes were not only manifested in the physical forms but also in social and cultural values and traditions. Therefore, urbanization has deep implications for Qatari society. This paper investigates the ways by which the concept of livability and social interaction between residential neighborhoods’ dwellers can be achieved. The paper considers a holistic approach where the main three topics of investigation are analyzed to articulate a better understanding of the phenomenon and suggest an implementation process for reintroducing livability as a governing concept in planning and designing residential neighborhoods in Qatar. The growth burst that Doha’s built environment has seen in the last two decades is nothing short of phenomenal. Nonetheless, with the massive amount of developments, other issues as livability,aesthetic control, and design governance became of importance to preserve the identity of Doha’s built form. Significantadvancements have been achievedover the past few years with the launch of the new Qatar National Master Plan 2032 (QNMP) to guide the sustainable urban planning developmentand the development of the digitized building approval process moving the full documentation and approval process online. Nevertheless,an activedesign control mechanismto achieve the livability and coherence of the built environment is yet to take place. This paper assesses the current control measures that government bodies have put in place, focusing on the gaps involved with controls in the building process and integration with the urban context. Subsequently, the paper uses various forms of data collection from both primary and secondary sources, including several interviews with industry professionals to understand the current and foreseeable plansto meet the QNMP’s goals, in particular, the Zone Control and Design Regulations objectives for residential neighborhoods including the promotion of future residential developments that are compatible and compliment the character of surrounding residential areas, the improvement of the visual and environmental character of the locality and the Strategic Objective of planning for a promoted connectivity, a vibrant public realm, and to improve environmental and social conditions. The paper suggests a framework with three main pillars, using heritage as a catalyst for contemporary planning patters, establishing aesthetic criteria for thearchitectural and urban setting in residential and mixed use neighborhoods. And, revising the planning regulations to go beyond the mere building codes and regulatory basic aspects. Such framework with its comprehensive nature and integrated structure would allow the contemporary and future neighborhoods in Qatar to be sustainable, resilient and livable. Keywords Doha, Qatar-Livability-Aesthetic Control-Design Regulations-Design Governance-Urban Design.
