"QNMP & UPD FORUM"

أمة واسطورة ومتحفيه

ردور التراث والعمران والثقافة في صياغة هوية قط

One Nation, One Myth and Two Museums

Heritage, Urbanism and Culture as Tools for Assembling Identity in Qatar

Abstract

As a result of its position in the global energy market, Qatar is going through massive expansion and has

the resources to support this growth. Considering Qatar’s current thrive into a post-oil paradigm where

knowledge economy might be the generative force for development, an examination of how the State’s

new urbanity contribute to Qatar’s new vision becomes so relevant. The talk analyzes the process of

constructing a new urban brand; Dohaization, and the role of new museums in substantiating such brand

and new identity. This talk critically narrates the case of two iconic museums in the contemporary

urbanity of Doha. The talk also examines the role of museums in approaching a new paradigm by

moving from consuming old heritage to constructing a new tradition and manufacturing an alternative

contemporary heritage. The talk addresses crucial questions such as: What is the relation between

building museums and pursuing a future development vision? Can museums’ architecture and urbanism

facilitate a different level of community engagement?

About the Speaker

Ali A. Alraouf, Ph.D.

CB, Research & Development Coordinator – QNMP.

Ali A. Alraouf is an architect, urban designer and planner interested in research and practice related to

architectural, urban and comprehensive sustainable design and planning. He has held permanent and

visiting teaching and research positions at a number of universities including University of California at

Berkeley-USA and Qatar University. Alraouf was working as a consultant for several environmental,

planning and architectural projects. He is a registered architect an urban planner in Egypt, Bahrain and

Qatar. Alraouf writes extensively in newspapers, periodicals and Urban & architectural magazines

locally and internationally. He published more than 80 journal refereed papers, critical reviews, essays,

in addition to books and book chapters. He is currently coordinating the research, development and

training at Qatar National Master Plan, Ministry of Urban Planning.