An architect's impression of the proposed Silver Pearl Hotel. PICTURE: M Castedo Architects, New York.
A $1.6bn 1,000-plus-room luxury hotel and conference/expo centre has been proposed 1.5km offshore near Doha for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“The Silver Pearl Hotel will literally rise out of the sea to recall the country’s seafaring and pearl diving history,” according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
New York-based architectural firm M Castedo Architects have designed the complex along with a team of world renowned engineering firms.
Pending approval, the project would be developed by Katara Hospitality, the premier Qatar hotel developer and operator.
The building will consist of two semi-circular 30-storey towers separated by a vaulted, climate-controlled atrium over lush gardens with an open view to the ocean beyond.
An adjacent structure will feature a conference and exposition centre as well as a recreational landscaped roof deck above a multi-storey parking facility.
Luxuriously appointed rooms and suites will be designed to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage and visual traditions. There will be a broad range of restaurants and high-end retail commercial spaces.
Visitors will arrive at the Silver Pearl via a four-lane elevated causeway, by private yacht or by helicopter. The entire complex has been engineered to be elevated above the seabed which will allow for unimpeded currents and minimum environmental impact.
A major environmental consultant with extensive marine experience in the area will be responsible for making sure that lessons learned on existing projects such as The Palm and The World in nearby Dubai are incorporated in the development of this particular site.
The projected cost of $1.6bn includes the supporting Infrastructure and excludes the interior construction and fit out of the restaurants and commercial spaces.
At night, the building’s stainless steel glass exterior will be lit with LEDs, its reflection creating an illusion of a shimmering pearl glowing brightly in the Arabian Sea, the statement added.
