Qatar Foundation Headquarter Expansion
Sailing through the desert
Project description
The Qatar Foundation Headquarter Expansion project aimed to extend the existing building designed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas in order to accommodate the ambitious QF growth plans. Submitted as part of an international competition, Laceco’s design was selected as the winning entry.
The brief
Qatar Foundation aimed to achieve three objectives:
- Creating an iconic building that promotes the QF brand and reflects its elevated design standards
- Expanding its headquarters to accommodate a projected increase in workforce
- Curating a space of work that reflects QF culture and values
Our response
- Designing a project that has a differentiated identity but still complements the Rem Koolhaas design without competing with it
- Creating an architecture that projects unity between existing and new, with the intention of blurring the line between the original headquarter and its extension
- Integrating sustainability features inspired from Qatar’s Islamic heritage that achieved to reduce the HVAC load and recycle water for façade cleaning
- Programming flexible spaces that can be simultaneously used by QF employees for working individually, collaborating as a team, or holding social and professional gatherings
