Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) hosted a reception for participants, mentors and organisers for the Sheraton Student Design Competition on Saturday, where participating teams presented their final design proposals to renovate the hotel’s state rooms. Ten design teams comprising students from eight Qatar high schools – Al Bayan Educational Complex for Girls, Al-Leman Secondary Independent School for Girls, Al Khor International School, Al Wakrah Independent Secondary School for Boys, Doha College, Gulf English School, Qatar Academy, Qatar Leadership Academy, architecture students from Qatar University and Carnegie Mellon University, and interior design students from VCUQatar – submitted their designs to the jury on Saturday at 4.30 pm. At the reception the same evening, the teams summarised their projects and fielded questions from guests. The winners of the competition will be announced by HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at a reception in the coming weeks. VCUQatar Dean Allyson Vanstone addressed the gathering, saying that VCUQatar was thrilled to be co-hosting the competition: “Since its establishment in 1998, VCUQatar has served as a vital link to the community and co-hosting this evening’s event is one of the manifestations of our commitment.” She thanked Sheikha Mayassa, whose vision and commitment towards art and design fostered this design competition, and VCUQatar’s event partners Qatar Museums Authority, Qatar National Hotels Company and the Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel, for the support extended to make the competition a success. “I am very pleased to witness the fruitful outcome of the event, which was initiated in the summer of last year. We are honoured to have contributed in giving opportunities to our Qatari youth to highlight their design potential, which will be showcased within QNH and Qatar’s prided landmark hotel,” said Qatar National Hotels Company chef executive Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla. Each of the 10 teams included one VCUQatar interior design student, one architecture student (of the six from Qatar University and four from Carnegie Mellon University), two high school students from the eight Qatar schools, and one university design professor (of the seven from VCUQatar, one from QU, and two from CMU). Two teams competed against each other on each of the five suites. The charrette began at 8.30am on Friday and ended with a formal design jury that started reviewing the work at 4.30pm on Saturday. Participants stayed at the Sheraton on Friday night so they could work into the evening and begin refreshed on Saturday morning. Although the specified time of the charrette was brief, teams were encouraged to develop their designs to as high a level of detail as possible by specifying, at least conceptually, furniture, fixtures, and equipment including plumbing and lighting fixtures; finishes and architectural detailing for floors, walls, ceilings; materials for wall and window coverings, bed linens, upholstery and accessories such as task lamps, art work and carpets. VCUQatar students and alumni have been called upon on several occasions to design for the Qatari community. Some examples of successful work produced by them are Qatar Vision 2020 identity development for the General Secretariat for Development Planning, the identity design for the Qatar Olympic bid, the branding for the Karwa transportation system, the uniforms of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Qatar Arabian World Cup trophies for the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, the interior design for the Shell Research Centre, and suites at the Ramada Plaza Doha. Gulf Times

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar