QScience Connect - Volume 2017, Issue 1, Special Issue on Shaping Qatar’s Sustainable Built Environment-Part I

The state of Qatar and its capital Doha are undeniably in a state of profound change. In this current phase of rapid development, neighborhoods, and especially their public realms, have often been neglected due to the prioritization of creating notable architectural objects that support national development plans. Without conscious and sensitive attention toward developing these spaces, it is difficult to encourage communal relations Read More

The consumption of electricity in residential buildings in Qatar is on the rise. According to Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Company), the factors leading to this increased demand include urbanization and growth of population.1 Government institutions in Qatar want solar power to be the country's key energy source and have built up large photovoltaic (PV) systems for this purpose. These large PV power plants contribute to a c Read More

Historically, the peoples of Arabia have had a strong affinity with and respect for nature, recognising that their life depended on a mutually supportive relationship. The intertwined connections between people and nature included a reverence for camels that provide a dependable mode of transport across the harsh desert landscape; a deep affection for the majestic falcons that soared high above vast sand dunes in search of prey and a Read More