DOHA, QATAR—A new 1,000-room, luxury hotel and conference/expo center, the Silver Pearl Hotel, has been proposed for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup located nearly a mile offshore here.
The name of the hotel refers to a structure that will recall the country’s seafaring and pearl-diving history. New York-based architectural firm M. Castedo Architects will design the complex along with a team of international engineering firms. Pending approval, Katara Hospitality, a Qatar hotel developer and operator, would develop the project.
The building will consist of two semicircular, 30-story towers separated by a vaulted, climate-controlled atrium over gardens with an open view to the ocean beyond. An adjacent structure will house a conference and exposition center, as well as a recreational landscaped roof deck, to be located above a multistory parking facility.
Rooms and suites will be designed to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage and visual traditions, according to the design firm. There will be a broad range of restaurants and high-end retail commercial spaces.
Visitors will arrive at the Silver Pearl by means of 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 has been estimated to be $1.6 billion, including the supporting infrastructure and excluding the interior construction and fit out of the restaurants and commercial spaces.