Munich team of architects storms the Middle East

SIAT has been commissioned by QIPCO (Qatar Investments & Projects Development Holding Company W.L.L.) to design a prominent 200m high office tower - the "QIPCO Office Tower" - which, thanks to its characteristic appearance, has been nick-named "The Tornado": like a whirlwind in the desert the dynamic building stands out against the skyline of Doha. The tower with its approx. 80.000 m² will mainly be used for office space spread over 50 effective floors and will also provide room for restaurants, a recreation and fitness area, a café and small shops.

The QIPCO Office Tower is to be built in the district of West Bay on a peninsular that is almost entirely man-made. Within the next five to ten years a whole development of high-rise buildings is planned as a symbol of Qatar's rapid economic growth.

The tower will be an architectural highlight in Doha - not just the height and style of construction will be an eye-catcher, but the outer steel supporting framework will be accentuated by a special lighting design by the light artist Thomas Emde in cooperation with SIAT: individual lighting fittings on the junction points of the steel girders can be selectively controlled to accentuate the structure of the supporting framework and to highlight the hyperboloid, elegant form of the building.

Opening up new markets

The QIPCO Office Tower project in Doha represents a new stage in SIAT's Middle East expansion and is the outcome of a long-term client acquisition policy.

Frank Zabel, as Managing Director of SIAT the man responsible for client acquisition in the Middle East, explains: "The Gulf States have enormous growth potential - the construction industry is booming. In view of the weak economic situation in the German building industry, this area offers us the opportunity to develop new markets. Successful positioning on the Middle East market and the subsequent positive development of projects are both dependent upon on-the-spot presence and cooperation with local partners."

Over a period of several years, SIAT has built up contacts and established important strategic partnerships with, among others, one of the largest local planning offices. Also, at the beginning of this year, the architect, Thomas Gockeln, an authorised representative at SIAT, commenced establishment of a SIAT office in Doha.

The QIPCO Office Tower

The QIPCO Office Tower is the first SIAT project to be realized in the Middle East; Frank Zabel is confident that SIAT's activity in the area can be seen as a long-term, stable development. The management of SIAT see successful collaboration with local partners and on-the-spot presence of high-ranking SIAT team members as a sustainable approach. SIAT is currently planning a new additional project in Doha: a residential building rising 180m high. Various feasibility studies, such as the "Muscat Cultural Park" in Oman and the "iii Music and Art School Project" in Qatar, are still in the pipeline.