Work

International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha – Al Bidda Park

Location

qatar, Middle East

Overview

The first ever international horticultural exhibition in the MENA region, the Expo 2023 Doha aims to spotlight diverse, innovative, and sustainable solutions to greening the desert and reducing desertification worldwide. To prepare for this exceptional event, Dar was commissioned to provide master planning, infrastructure and landscape design services for the Expo site at Al Bidda Park in Doha.

The project

Organised by the Bureau International Des Expositions (BIE) and the International Association for Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in collaboration with Doha Municipality, Expo 2023 Doha welcomes attendees from all over the world and features stunning horticultural exhibitions representing nearly 80 countries and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Expo 2023 Doha is the first horticultural exhibition in the MENA region and the first in a region with a desert climate. The theme, “Green Desert, Better Environment,” reflects the unique environmental challenges of desert climates and the issue of desertification around the world, promoting innovative, sustainable, and environmentally conscious solutions for a healthier planet.

In preparation for this landmark event, Dar provided the master plan, detailed infrastructure design, landscape design and tender services for the project, which covers an area of 70 ha within the wider Al Bidda Park in Doha. Dar also provided the full architectural and engineering design of the Expo House – an iconic structure that won the Guinness World Record for the largest green roof – as well as the host nation’s Qatari Pavilion, along with 44 international plots within the exhibition.

 

To facilitate and enhance the visitor experience, Dar designed softscape and hardscape finishes – including shade canopies, lighting, and landscape grading – in the parking areas. Across the Al Bidda Park, Dar’s experts focused on providing a design that prioritises sustainability by promoting the use of low maintenance and durable materials and street furniture, selecting species of plants that have low water consumption, utilising existing planting where possible, and designing a secondary irrigation system that uses automated techniques to reduce water consumption.

Elsewhere, Dar designed the roads and infrastructure systems for the landscaped areas and delivered the master plan of the entire Expo 2023 Doha site, covering structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering; ICT and security systems; irrigation; wet infrastructure systems; traffic management; and solid waste management.

To deliver this exceptional exhibition, Dar also served as the Construction Supervision Consultant for Expo 2023, supervising construction works within the project and coordinating with the event’s various stakeholders to ensure a memorable experience for participants and visitors alike.