Oryx Rotana Hotel Doha, Qatar Development

Oryx Rotana Hotel, Qatar : Doha Building

Hotel Development Doha – design by GHD Global Pty

18 Aug 2011

Oryx Rotana Hotel Doha

Design: GHD Global Pty Ltd

Location: Doha, Qatar

The state-of-the-art Oryx Rotana is superbly situated in a vibrant and prime location. The hotel is closer than any other to Doha’s International airport and the banking district, 5 minutes away from the famous Souq Waqif, Islamic Museum and 15 minutes away from the industrial area, the city centre, Diplomatic area and exhibition centre. This prime location allows easy access to a wealth of conference, entertainment and shopping facilities, offered in Qatar’s capital city.

images from architect

Due to the location near to Doha’s International Airport, the Oryx Rotana is designed as a contemporary business hotel that attracts frequent and short-term guests and executives to the country.

The Oryx Rotana Hotel comprises of 400 rooms, suites and a variety of restaurants and guest facilities. The completely landscaped, crescent-shaped Corniche and the Arabian Gulf provide the overall backdrop for this building. One basement provides adequate guest parking and houses all of the service and staff areas for the hotel. The ground and first floor of the building open itself to a spectacular glazed atrium hosting all of the hotels public activities such as the reception, lobby, restaurants, atrium sky lounge, meeting rooms, business centre and the health club and swimming pool. The two separate wings which comprise the guest rooms are also connected by the atrium and provide guests with a view of the public spaces below while accessing their rooms.

The two wings house of total of 400 rooms and are made up of single, double, executive and presidential suites with private balconies at the edges of each floor. The pyramidal glass clad atrium connects the two wings of the building by its public vertical circulation. This exposed panoramic elevator shaft behaves as a feature in the lobby giving guests perfect views of the atrium as they circulate to and from their rooms. Materials, finishes and fittings that detail the rooms work in harmony with the holistic contemporary design language of the building.

A clear understanding of the brief set the appropriate design language for the project, fulfilling the program and creating a hybrid of structurally well detailed and luxurious spaces that indicate and bench mark standards in today’s hospitality sector.

Passive and simple solutions such as the orientation of the building, the availability of adequate natural light and the consistency of the design language maintained across the building’s exteriors, interiors, landscaped gardens, furniture’s and fixtures and the overall lighting contribute to the holistic design approach delivered by GHD.

The vehicular circulation creates an efficient drop off to the Porte cochere and service areas by adding well articulated landscaped zones at different areas across the site. Entrances and exits to the basement are designed with easy access to and from the site.

The complete podium clad in rich terracotta creates a base for the building and houses all the public and guest amenities such as the reception, lobby, restaurants, atrium lounge, meeting rooms, business centre, health centre and swimming pool. Pre-function areas on the first floor open to the atrium where guests can enjoy the view and spatial quality created by the abundance of natural light. The all-day dining restaurant in particular offers views to both the pool deck and the lobby lounge within the atrium. A well detailed feature stair forms part of the hotels design statement and it elevates guests to the first floor.

The pyramidal glass clad atrium connects the two wings of the building by its public vertical circulation. This exposed panoramic elevator shaft behaves as a feature in the lobby giving guests a perfect view of the atrium as they circulate up to their rooms.

To deviate from a monotonous façade and displaying the fenestration of the rooms, the elevations projects a random and blurry façade made up of five shades of grey. This aluminium clad approach creates an almost eternally changing image of the building.

The structure, an integral part of this building, was designed tested and completed by proper detailing and expertise across the company. GHD worked very closely with the contractor on site to ensure the correct detailing and installation of the atrium in particular – the main feature of this building.

GHD’s integrated design covered the scope of works for every discipline on this project. From concept design to tender documentation to being the overall consultant for site supervision, GHD delivered the entire project to the client and had the hotel open its doors to the public in a total of 3 years. The stunning and minimal interiors were also carried out by GHD’s Interior design team. Sub consultants for signage, security and specialists for lighting were some of the other members of the team managed under GHD’s umbrella.

Oryx Rotana Hotel Doha – Building Information

Client / Developer: Qatar Airways, Qatar
Architect: GHD Global Pty
Environmental Engineer: GHD Global Pty Ltd, Qatar
Structural Engineer: GHD Global Pty Ltd, Qatar

Oryx Rotana Hotel images / information from FD

Location: Doha, Qatar