Carla Cioffi

Photographer

Qatar: Landscape of Construction

Clients: The Financial Times, Der Spiegel, NASA, Qatar Foundation, HAVAS

School: Maine Media Workshops, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Principia College

Expats enjoying the sun and sa...kyline is seen across the bay.

Expats enjoying the sun and sand at Nikki Beach on The Pearl in Doha. The Pearl is an artificial island comprising of luxury residential estates and businesses. It is the first land in Qatar made available for ownership by foreign nationals. The West Bay skyline is seen across the bay.

Camels waiting to be sold at t... Abu Hammour district of Doha.

Camels waiting to be sold at the Camel Market in the Abu Hammour district of Doha.

A camel waiting to be sold at ... curious and gorgeous animals.

A camel waiting to be sold at the Camel Market in the Abu Hammour district on the outskirts of Doha. They truly are such curious and gorgeous animals.

A Mercedes-Benz and a sewage t... on the northern edge of Doha.

A Mercedes-Benz and a sewage truck are seen in a dust storm on the northern edge of Doha.

The ubiquitous semi truck, thi...ite just north of Lusail City.

The ubiquitous semi truck, this one carrying water, is seen leaving a massive construction site just north of Lusail City.

A construction scene on The Pe...wnership by foreign nationals.

A construction scene on The Pearl with the Viva Bahriya Towers residential development in the background. The Pearl is an artificial island comprising of luxury residential estates and businesses. It is the first land in Qatar made available for ownership by foreign nationals.

Expats enjoying the sun and sa...wnership by foreign nationals.

Expats enjoying the sun and sand at TaliaMare Beach in the Qanat Quartier development on The Pearl in Doha. The Pearl is an artificial island comprising of residential estates and businesses. It is the first land in Qatar made available for ownership by foreign nationals.

A street scene in the old Mush... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A street scene in the old Musheireb neighborhood of Doha with the new Msheireb development rising above it. Much of this old part of Doha has been torn down as Qatar races to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Living in Doha, means living i...and developments are realized.

Living in Doha, means living in a veritable construction site. The landscape often changes as roads are laid and developments are realized.

A blue-collar expat is seen in... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A blue-collar expat is seen in the old Musheireb neighborhood of Doha. Much of this neighborhood has been torn down, and the residents forcibly removed, in order to build the New Msheireb development. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A boy and his neighbor are see... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A boy and his neighbor are seen in the old Musheireb neighborhood of Doha. Much of this neighborhood has been torn down, and the residents forcibly removed, in order to build the New Msheireb development. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A scene of one of the back str... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A scene of one of the back streets of the old Musheireb neighborhood in Doha. Much of this neighborhood has been torn down, and the residents forcibly removed, in order to build the New Msheireb development. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The door of a residential comp... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The door of a residential compound in the old Musheireb neighborhood of Doha. Much of this neighborhood has been torn down, and the residents forcibly removed, in order to build the New Msheireb development. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

A mosque is seen in the old Mu...o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup

A mosque is seen in the old Musheireb neighborhood of central Doha. Much of this neighborhood has been torn down, and the residents forcibly removed, in order to build the New Msheireb development. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup

A man is framed by branches of... the Al Waab district of Doha.

A man is framed by branches of a tree on the streets of the Al Waab district of Doha.

Part construction scene, part ... host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Part construction scene, part camel pen at Souq Waqif in Doha. Qatar is in a race to revitalize and modernize in time to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Camels are seen in their paddo... in the middle of the country.

Camels are seen in their paddock in a small village in the middle of the country.

A horse is seen through a fenc...t of the capitol city of Doha.

A horse is seen through a fence in the Al Waab district of the capitol city of Doha.

People are seen enjoying the c...e northern end of the country.

People are seen enjoying the crystalline waters of Fuwairit Beach in the northern end of the country.

Massive mountains of earth are...e capitol city Doha.

Massive mountains of earth are also an ubiquitous scene in and around the capitol city Doha.

The moon is seen rising above the desert in Zekreet at dusk.

Looking out across the water f...en through the haze at sunset.

Looking out across the water from a construction site on The Pearl, the skyline of Doha’s West Bay neighborhood is barely seen through the haze at sunset.

The roof of the Marsa Malaz Ke...wnership by foreign nationals.

The roof of the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel is seen in the distance from a construction site on The Pearl in Doha. The Pearl is an artificial island comprising of luxury residential estates and businesses. It is the first land in Qatar made available for ownership by foreign nationals.

Construction of a residential ...wnership by foreign nationals.

Construction of a residential tower at the Viva Bahriya development on The Pearl is seen in the evening. The Pearl is an artificial island comprising of luxury residential estates and businesses. It is the first land in Qatar made available for ownership by foreign nationals.

The ubiquitous semi truck, this one carrying water, is seen at sunrise at a massive construction site just north of Lusail City.

The shadow of our Jeep is cast...etting sun on the Dukhan road.

The shadow of our Jeep is cast by the setting sun on the Dukhan road.

Dumpster trucks are lined up o...g an other-worldly atmosphere.

Dumpster trucks are lined up on their day off as the sun sets behind them. Desert dust is often in the air creating an other-worldly atmosphere.

The skyline of West Bay is see...and developments are realized.

The skyline of West Bay is seen in the distance. Living in Doha, means living in a veritable construction site. The landscape often changes as roads are laid and developments are realized.

West Bay, Doha’s bus...line, is seen in the distance.

West Bay, Doha’s business district and iconic skyline, is seen in the distance.

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Thumbnail of Expats enjoying the sun and san_skyline is seen across the bay.

Thumbnail of Camels waiting to be sold at th_e Abu Hammour district of Doha.

Thumbnail of A camel waiting to be sold at t_h curious and gorgeous animals.

Thumbnail of A Mercedes-Benz and a sewage tr_m on the northern edge of Doha.

Thumbnail of The ubiquitous semi truck, this_site just north of Lusail City.

Thumbnail of A construction scene on The Pea_ownership by foreign nationals.

Thumbnail of Expats enjoying the sun and san_ownership by foreign nationals.

Thumbnail of A street scene in the old Mushe_o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of Living in Doha, means living in_ and developments are realized.

Thumbnail of A blue-collar expat is seen in _o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of A boy and his neighbor are seen_o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of A scene of one of the back stre_o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of The door of a residential compo_o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of A mosque is seen in the old Mus_to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Thumbnail of A man is framed by branches of _f the Al Waab district of Doha.

Thumbnail of Part construction scene, part c_o host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Thumbnail of Camels are seen in their paddoc_e in the middle of the country.

Thumbnail of A horse is seen through a fence_ct of the capitol city of Doha.

Thumbnail of People are seen enjoying the cr_he northern end of the country.

Thumbnail of Massive mountains of earth are _he capitol city Doha.

Thumbnail of The moon is seen rising above the desert in Zekreet at dusk.

Thumbnail of Looking out across the water fr_een through the haze at sunset.

Thumbnail of The roof of the Marsa Malaz Kem_ownership by foreign nationals.

Thumbnail of Construction of a residential t_ownership by foreign nationals.

Thumbnail of The shadow of our Jeep is cast _setting sun on the Dukhan road.

Thumbnail of Dumpster trucks are lined up on_ng an other-worldly atmosphere.

Thumbnail of The skyline of West Bay is seen_ and developments are realized.

Thumbnail of West Bay, Doha’s busi_yline, is seen in the distance.

Public Project

Qatar: Landscape of Construction

Date of Work Mar 2014 - Ongoing

Updated May 2019

Location Doha, Qatar

Topics Arabian Gulf, Arabian Peninsula, Art, Construction, Documentary, Doha, Editorial, Environment, Essays, GCC, Globalization, Landscape, MENA Region, Middle East, Modernization, News, Photography, Photojournalism, Qatar, Street, Travel, URBANIZATION

Summary

Qatar: Landscape of Construction is a photo essay on the rapid pace of construction in the tiny Arab Gulf state.

Carla Cioffi's Qatar series integrates street photography and architecture for a reportage on the transformations taking place in Qatar in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After winning its world cup bid, the whole country has been turned into a huge construction site, with its capital Doha, smack in the centre.

These photos immediately show the all-pervading presence of a so-called construction landscape, which has developed its own language, its own distinctive character. The construction site partitioning, beyond which change is taking its course, is now firmly established in this landscape. The imposing shapes of mountains of earth and sand virtually become landmarks that dot the outskirts of Doha and then disappear in a few months, paving the way for new roads. As a result, the urban space becomes a continuous flow of materials and people. Materials that transform into cities, people that create new cityscapes.

But Qatar is more than just bricks, skyscrapers and moving cranes. Beneath this frenzied surface you can still get a glimpse of the city's past in some places. After crossing the threshold of the transforming sites, Cioffi leads us into the parallel universe of downtown Doha, or what remains of it after the major redevelopment projects in progress.

It is here, along narrow lanes, improvised pathways and small mosques, that you can feel the effect of these great changes. In the still intact spaces of the old district of Msheireb, the architectural style retains its human scale, transformed over time by the needs of its many inhabitants. Here the landmarks are not made of steel and glass, their shapes do not defy the laws of engineering, rather they are the places of everyday life, like a small doorway to a courtyard, or the minaret of the neighbourhood mosque in the distance.

By crossing the country with a spirit of adventure, photographer Carla Cioffi was able to produce a photographic documentary in progress, just like the object of her photographs. In the course of time they will not testify to a mere before and after, but to the memorable urban transformation that led Qatar to the 2022 Football World Cup.

Barbara Esposito, Architect
published in FloorNature, an Italian architecture & design magazine

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