HBKU student center by legorreta + legorreta in doha

HBKU student center by legorreta + legorreta in doha
all images © pygmalion karatzas with permission of the qatar foundation

traditionally considered the ‘living room’ of a campus, student centers serve as the hub for both formal and informal interactions among students, faculty, and staff. facilitating this society, in the ‘hamad bin khalifa university student center‘ by legorreta + legoretta, services include health care, counseling, housing and recreational facilities interlinked by communal spaces. 

exterior view from a street on the western side

the designers, influenced by traditional souks and patios providing shelter from the exterior, discovered many resemblances between arab and mexican architecture. the concrete building, with thick sandstone-lined walls, houses efficient insulation within the environment. in contrast, the sports hall is a steel structure. east- and west-orientated windows shaded with lattice and closed south elevations help avoid solar gain. heat pipes, sensors, and irrigation features are amongst integrated climatic controls.

view of the southwest wing’s secondary entrance

the ‘helix’ courtyard is a sculpture garden at the heart of the facility. created by artist jan hendrix, it features water jets and 200 individual aluminum plates that form an organic pattern and contemplative setting. the local culture of majlis – the time-honored gathering place outside of home for meaningful conversations – has also been incorporated by placing seating areas at the natural intersections of the complex.

(left) the north wing
(right) interior corridor around the courtyard

detail ofthe  façade pattern 

(left) interior of the restaurant on the eastern side of the complex
(right) one of the secondary majlis seating areas between the entrance foyer and the courtyard

one of the majlis seating areas

upper floor mezanine 

helix courtyard 

detail of courtyard’s pattern

project info:

location: education city campus, doha, qatar
area: 345,000 sqft.
client: qatar foundation
architect: legorreta + legorreta
associate architect: francisco cortina and parque humano
executive architect: langdon wilson international
landscape: CR wayne romanek
year: 2011

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