Regeneration of sustainability in Contemporary Architecture: Approach Based on Native Function and Activities to Strengthen Identity

Qatar is exemplary for a country that has experienced fundamental economic and political changes in the last decades. One of the challenges that Qatar faces in achieving the national vision 2030 is the environmental development. This is by management of the environment such that there is harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection. Identity becomes an increasingly prominent topic in GCC region. It is a way of locating people within their social context and one with clear relevance to environmental attitudes and behaviors. This paper focuses on a valid input to strengthen the identity as a part of the urban context in Qatar and describe how it is relevant to the natural environment. There are many researches that have directly or indirectly addressed environmental identity, and that has shown the importance of identity in the building elements. This study analyzes data about three districts throughout Doha citythe capital of Qatar. The study aims at determining whether cultural practices were associated with stronger local identity. In this paper, a detailed review of the contemporary architecture in Qatar is carried out. This review demonstrates where ‘Traditional Criteria’ are available in three chosen contemporary areas in DohaNative Function/ Activities responsive contemporary trend. An analytical study based on a survey process produces a framework of unifying cultural practice with contemporary architecture in the State of Qatar. The results of the cases study demonstrate what was learned and what was gained in understanding the Qatari contemporary architecture and how the cultural practice can be integrated to the contemporary architecture to support the identity of the country. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of IEREK, International experts for Research Enrichment and Knowledge Exchange.