Wednesday, 13 May 2009 13:27
Making waves
Qatar’s history as a seafaring nation reliant on pearl trading is reflected by water-inspired designs at the New Doha International Airport, writes Sarah Campbell.
In the Middle East, water is a valuable commodity, so it should come as little surprise to learn that many of the new landmark structures being created there have an aquatic theme – and Doha’s planned new $11 billion gateway to the world is no exception.
Indeed, with the name ‘Doha’ literally translating from Arabic as ‘bay’, the water themed design of New Doha International Airport (NDIA) is fitting and perfectly compliments the city’s location on the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula.
Water is reflected in the undulating wave shape of the passenger terminal roof, the elegant sail ship structure for the Emiri terminal and an intricate droplet-like form for the public mosque at the gateway, which will replace the current Doha International Airport in early 2010.
It is desperately needed as the existing airport exceeded its 12mppa design capacity back in 2007, when it accommodated 14 million passengers, and is simply no longer equipped to meet future demand.
When it opens its first phase in 2010, NDIA will be a welcome addition to Qatar’s infrastructure with its capacity to handle 24mppa. NDIA will have a land area in excess of 22 square kilometres – about a quarter of the size of the old city of Doha.
At its final development in 2015, the new airport will handle 50mppa, two million tonnes of cargo and 320,000 aircraft landings and takeoffs each year. In short, it will be three times the size of the existing airport, with six times the capacity.
Built to resemble a rolling wave, the NDIA terminal will handle 24 million passengers (30 times the current population of Doha) with up to 8,700 passengers able to pass through the terminal per hour.
Reflecting the terminal’s ocean-side setting, its roof will be a wave-like structure and below this, the terminal façade will be transparent.
The 350,000 square meter passenger terminal facility will become the largest building in Doha, covering an area equivalent to 50 full size football pitches.
Inside the terminal will be light and spacious.
The multi-level building will include arched columns, skylights and highlighted finishes.
Retail space will occupy a central area offering duty free, food and beverage, shops, amenities and airline lounges.
The terminal will also have a 100-room transit hotel and a public mosque, covering 2,129 square metres.
A total of 1,091 check-in desks will occupy an area big enough to squeeze in ten wide-body aircraft, with the terminal housing 28 outbound migration desks; 50 inbound immigration desks; 12 baggage claim carousels; 40 security screening stations; 40 contact gates and 15 remote gates.
Separate from the main passenger complex, the Emiri terminal will provide elegant, safe and secure facilities for Qatar’s royal family, high government officials and visiting dignitaries.
Made up of layers of longitudinally curved walls with triangular sections, the exterior walls are reminiscent of high nautical sails.
Facilities will include private quarters for the Emir; press and business centres and significant security features. The main entrance will overlook a lagoon with distinguished water features.
A grand, ceremonial podium where military style parades can be held will be built airside from the Emiri terminal.
The ceremonial facilities will include a reception hall and a large Majlis containing 100 seats.
Alongside the podium will be parking facilities for two aircraft with jet-side bridges.
Covering 9,000 square metres, the two-storey Emiri Terminal will have parking positions for up to seven aircraft; two via contact gates connected to the podium and one ceremonial open air gate.
Meanwhile, the 80 meter high tower, designed to be shaped as a crescent, will be visible from most areas of the airport and wider Doha city, providing unobstructed views of all aircraft movements and managing up to 100 movements per hour.
With Qatar experiencing summer temperatures in excess of 50°C a lot of energy is spent keeping buildings and water cool.
To conserve energy, the passenger terminal curtain walls are coated to reduce solar exposure.
The roof overhang provides shade and the roof is insulated.
CO2 sensors will be installed around the terminal buildings to monitor building occupancy volumes.
Linked to the HVAC system, these sensors will regulate intake air supply on an occupancy-demand basis, thereby reducing excess conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
The airport’s chilled water supply and its return distribution system will be heavily insulated and, where possible, will be buried underground in utility corridors and tunnels, to further reduce heat transfer.
As a further energy saving feature, lighting in the terminal will be zoned and monitored with daylight sensors.
Smaller interior back-of-house spaces will have occupancy sensors to monitor lighting.
Surrounding landscaping will be irrigated with effluent from the on-site wastewater treatment plant.
Demand for water will be further reduced by the use of desert-adapted plant species.
When it opens in 2010, NDIA will be a flagship development not only for Doha but for aviation in the Middle East.
Its innovative designs, focus on sustainability, and new-age technology could lead Qatar into a new era of economic development, as a leading aviation hub.
Asia-Pacific Airports 2009 Issue 2
In the Middle East, water is a valuable commodity, so it should come as little surprise to learn that many of the new landmark structures being created there have an aquatic theme – and Doha’s planned new $11 billion gateway to the world is no exception.
Indeed, with the name ‘Doha’ literally translating from Arabic as ‘bay’, the water themed design of New Doha International Airport (NDIA) is fitting and perfectly compliments the city’s location on the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula.
Water is reflected in the undulating wave shape of the passenger terminal roof, the elegant sail ship structure for the Emiri terminal and an intricate droplet-like form for the public mosque at the gateway, which will replace the current Doha International Airport in early 2010.
It is desperately needed as the existing airport exceeded its 12mppa design capacity back in 2007, when it accommodated 14 million passengers, and is simply no longer equipped to meet future demand.
When it opens its first phase in 2010, NDIA will be a welcome addition to Qatar’s infrastructure with its capacity to handle 24mppa. NDIA will have a land area in excess of 22 square kilometres – about a quarter of the size of the old city of Doha.
At its final development in 2015, the new airport will handle 50mppa, two million tonnes of cargo and 320,000 aircraft landings and takeoffs each year. In short, it will be three times the size of the existing airport, with six times the capacity.
Built to resemble a rolling wave, the NDIA terminal will handle 24 million passengers (30 times the current population of Doha) with up to 8,700 passengers able to pass through the terminal per hour.
Reflecting the terminal’s ocean-side setting, its roof will be a wave-like structure and below this, the terminal façade will be transparent.
The 350,000 square meter passenger terminal facility will become the largest building in Doha, covering an area equivalent to 50 full size football pitches.
Inside the terminal will be light and spacious.
The multi-level building will include arched columns, skylights and highlighted finishes.
Retail space will occupy a central area offering duty free, food and beverage, shops, amenities and airline lounges.
The terminal will also have a 100-room transit hotel and a public mosque, covering 2,129 square metres.
A total of 1,091 check-in desks will occupy an area big enough to squeeze in ten wide-body aircraft, with the terminal housing 28 outbound migration desks; 50 inbound immigration desks; 12 baggage claim carousels; 40 security screening stations; 40 contact gates and 15 remote gates.
Separate from the main passenger complex, the Emiri terminal will provide elegant, safe and secure facilities for Qatar’s royal family, high government officials and visiting dignitaries.
Made up of layers of longitudinally curved walls with triangular sections, the exterior walls are reminiscent of high nautical sails.
Facilities will include private quarters for the Emir; press and business centres and significant security features. The main entrance will overlook a lagoon with distinguished water features.
A grand, ceremonial podium where military style parades can be held will be built airside from the Emiri terminal.
The ceremonial facilities will include a reception hall and a large Majlis containing 100 seats.
Alongside the podium will be parking facilities for two aircraft with jet-side bridges.
Covering 9,000 square metres, the two-storey Emiri Terminal will have parking positions for up to seven aircraft; two via contact gates connected to the podium and one ceremonial open air gate.
Meanwhile, the 80 meter high tower, designed to be shaped as a crescent, will be visible from most areas of the airport and wider Doha city, providing unobstructed views of all aircraft movements and managing up to 100 movements per hour.
With Qatar experiencing summer temperatures in excess of 50°C a lot of energy is spent keeping buildings and water cool.
To conserve energy, the passenger terminal curtain walls are coated to reduce solar exposure.
The roof overhang provides shade and the roof is insulated.
CO2 sensors will be installed around the terminal buildings to monitor building occupancy volumes.
Linked to the HVAC system, these sensors will regulate intake air supply on an occupancy-demand basis, thereby reducing excess conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
The airport’s chilled water supply and its return distribution system will be heavily insulated and, where possible, will be buried underground in utility corridors and tunnels, to further reduce heat transfer.
As a further energy saving feature, lighting in the terminal will be zoned and monitored with daylight sensors.
Smaller interior back-of-house spaces will have occupancy sensors to monitor lighting.
Surrounding landscaping will be irrigated with effluent from the on-site wastewater treatment plant.
Demand for water will be further reduced by the use of desert-adapted plant species.
When it opens in 2010, NDIA will be a flagship development not only for Doha but for aviation in the Middle East.
Its innovative designs, focus on sustainability, and new-age technology could lead Qatar into a new era of economic development, as a leading aviation hub.
Asia-Pacific Airports 2009 Issue 2
Published in
2011 Issue 1