International Design Firm Woods Bagot have taken out the LEAF award International Building of the Year and the overall 2009 LEAF award for the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP).

Part of Qatar’s Foundation Education City the QTSP was praised by the judges for its use of materials and appreciation of the cultural and climatic context.

“This project represents an embarkation both in terms of the creation of a Middle East Islamic building typology,” says Nik Karalis – Design director global & peer review.

“The project team have attempted to capture the unique characteristics of client, geometry and cosmology that is specific to the Middle East region.”

The 98, 500 m2 building houses the Emerging Technology Centre, including a ‘business incubator’ and offices, and two Innovation & Technology Transfer Centres where companies are setting up Research and Development departments.

The distinguishing feature of the building – the large undulating roof – is visible from the capital Doha and echoes the large perforated aluminium ‘veil’ of the building’s façade, which provides shade and is “the basis for the development of microclimatic environments”.

The QSTP is just one part of eleven ‘zones’ that make up the Education City, which covers an area of around 2.1 million m2 and aims to serve the development of research and education in Qatar.

“As part of its long-term vision, QSTP’s purpose is to become an internationally recognised hub for research and commercialisation,” says Mark Mitcheson-Low, Woods Bagot’s Regional Managing Director for the Middle East. ’¨’¨“To this end, the world-class design of the building is already providing a draw to global technology leaders and will become the focus for the business goals of all of Qatar.”

Find more info on the LEAF Awards here.

woodsbagot.com.au

Images: Trevor Mein Photography