**3. Literature review and background**

*Design of Cities and Buildings - Sustainability and Resilience in the Built Environment*

the world's cultural landscapes [9].

building materials…etc.

renovations and site planning.

**2. Methodological approach**

architecture? and,

Diversity can be considered as urban identity that provides strongly a shared sense of belonging. The diversity is likely to come together with multiculturalist or interculturalist policies towards the verities of culture background [2].

The relation between the two trends "local and global architecture" has long existed, with two directions. The first direction seeks to protect and reinforce the traditional building elements in the urban, which aim at the continuity of the history and culture diversity to address identity. The second direction encourages the use of new building elements with the support of technology and developing new materials to meet the functional needs [10]. This chapter endorses Oliver theory [11] through the integration of traditional architecture that support the context of the local environment in Doha city. The theory discusses broad concepts, which is addressing vernacular architecture in diverse cities, such as symbolism, decoration,

The integration of traditional elements into the contemporary architecture is a popular topic that addressed in many researches. This chapter is continuation of a previous published study by [12]. The study is focused on the theoretical part of the topic by studying the three variables of traditional architecture (Building components, landscape components and function/activities). The findings of this study can be used by the authorities, urban planning decision making and private sectors as a purpose of making the city urban more reflected to the tradition and to embrace modern urban elements in many forms including new construction,

The study presents the approach of strengthening the diverse city identity based on native function and activities for Doha city. It answers the following questions:

• What are the considered factors for addressing traditional in contemporary

• How can the traditional architecture be addressed in different trends of

• What is the definition of contemporary architecture?

contemporary architecture in diverse cities?

The argument between traditional and global ideas has been quite sharp in some countries and recently the resulting resentment gave rise to fundamentalist movements [5]. In globalization era, diverse cities are encountering great challenges. The term globalization was known during the second half of the 20th century and was not a popular until the second half of the 1980s [6]. The globalization has attracted a significant attention, yet the term is used in many different contexts, many different people and for many different purposes. Globalization as the intensification of worldwide social relations that link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa [7]. In that sequence, globalization is considered a discourse of knowledge that elevates awareness of the links between various scales of lifestyle that reflects the diverse of population and cultural background. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines globalization as the process by which the experience of everyday life is becoming standardized around the world [8]. It is a contested discourse showing many variants, some of which are clearly more influential than others and a major force in altering

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Alsultani [13] addressed the difficulty in recognizing the contemporary architecture as a clear trend in ether international or regional level. Contemporary architecture was a solid and clear trend during the beginning of the 20th century by emphasizing the function of different urban elements. Antarikananda et al. [14] argued that the internationalism has been reflected in contemporary architecture by scratching the local tradition that has no identity. During this, the traditional elements has ignored despite of its value that basically response to the local environment.

The rapid development of the economic and social drivers throughout the Middle East are more radical now than ever. The region is passing by a transition from the traditional economics and society to the new era in the field of urban planning. This can be noticed during the rapid urban growth that connected with slum area and urban sprawl [15, 16]. Historically, the camps, residences, palaces, and citadels of the ruling class used to set apart from the commoners. This would mean that the larger and more ornate structures used to be as landmark structures and isolated on the edges of major cities away from the urban center. The buildings associated with the working classes, the local crafts workshop and other city services were weaved together in the urban fabric.

The city includes buildings; landscape and the other important related activities that can draw the local identity. Madanipour [17] stated that public elements such as streets, landmarks and open spaces in the city have been considered as a part of the buildings. This is emphasized in Middle East cities, where buildings are connected with the urban fabric and where city neighborhoods are organized their functions and services in traditional trend.

The architecture in Qatar was concerned in protecting building from the hot environment and this trend was negotiated in old architecture [12]. The buildings at this time are to build for last without harming the nature. An example is shown in **Figure 1**, Um Salal Mohammed fort, which is located in Qatar and was built using limestone as a local material.

Since Qatar becomes an open country to the world; it had been affected by the developing different architecture trends. The huge development in Qatar few years ago increased the flow of people with different cultures and life styles. This variety of cultures in addition to the open market and globalization affect the architecture in the country.

Qatar begun to change as a global center for education, media, finance, and culture through several initiatives and large investments such as the Doha Economic Zone, Al Jazeera Channel and Education City. Urban development boom is erected

**Figure 1.** *Um Salal Mohammed fort in Qatar.*

**Figure 2.** *Contemporary architecture in Doha city.*

sport facilities, skyscrapers, iconic museums and gated communities. Now, Qatar is a country where the contemporary architecture can be defined as a mix of European, Asian, Islamic, Arabian and local trends. Accordingly, it is difficult to recognize a clear architectural trend for Qatar in general and for Doha city in particular, **Figure 2**.
