UNVEILED DURING ART BASEL 2026 AL MAHA ISLAND MASTERPLAN
Herzog & de Meuron reveals it masterplan to transform Al Maha Island, a 230,000m2 artificial island established in Lusail, Catarrhin 2022. Presented on 2026 Art Basel in Basel by Jacques Herzog, Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz, the project redefines the site as a premier cultural and residential area where contemporary architecture, art, design, gastronomy and community converge. The sweeping masterplan includes the Swiss architecture studio’s bowl-shaped Lusail museum, a permanent home for future editions of Art Basel Qatar, a contemporary bazaar, lush gardens, restaurants, a boutique hotel and a range of beachfront villas, hilltop homes and townhouses.
Originally revealed in 2024, the Lusail Museum it will serve as a cultural anchor for both the island and the wider city of Lusail. This world-renowned institution will act as a platform for cultural diplomacy, providing a dynamic environment for dialogue about the historical and contemporary exchanges that shape global cultures. “When the museum was first introduced, it was in a different location, but due to the cleanliness of the building and the importance of the collection, it was moved to Al Maha Island. explained Sheikha Al-Mayassa during the intimate gathering in Basel.“This is one of the few places where foreigners can own houses and land, so we developed the whole island as an ecosystem of residential areas, a boutique hotel, as well as a small bazaar that combines modernism with tradition.”
aerial wide view of Al Maha Island | all renderings © Herzog and de Meuron
SHAPED BY QATAR HISTORY, LANDSCAPE AND TYPES
Located near the historic area where Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of modern Qatar, established his home in the late 1800s, Al Maha Island represents a contemporary vision deeply rooted in the region’s heritage. Throughout the master plan, which is expected to begin in 2028, Herzog & de Meuron it uses traditional typologies and distinct architectural languages adapted to the diverse residential, commercial and cultural zones of the island. Local traditions are reflected throughout the design, from courtyard houses and mansions connected by narrow, shaded streets and walled gardens, to monolithic, earthen structures that seem to rise organically from the ground itself.“This island is man-made, and creating land, or building a piece of a city, has a completely different meaning here.” noted Jacques Herzog.“We want this to be integrated into the concept of the project and the buildings to be made with local materials such as sand and rock, so that it looks like a whole piece, not just something we brought in.”
Nature plays a decisive role in the experiential design of the island. A series of ‘gem’ gardens are strategically woven into the landscape, offering moments of reflection and natural points of orientation. To promote and revitalize native ecosystems, the project will work with local nurseries and initiatives focused on native species, such as those supported by the Qatar Foundation.“Gardens should be as specific as any individual building,” Herzog pointed out.“We can’t turn it into a golf resort. We have specific gem gardens surrounded by landscapes that are more traditional than what grows around Doha. Every bit of nature should be incorporated precisely.” The Arabian oryx, a species native to the peninsula, will also be integrated into the landscape experience.“Al Maha means oryx in Arabic and the oryx is the symbol of our national airline.” added Sheikha Al-Mayassa.“Most importantly, if it wasn’t for Qatar, these animals would have become extinct, so we’re very proud of them.”
The ‘gem’ gardens are strategically woven into the landscape
PARAKATA HOUSING AND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR ART BASSELI
Connectivity to Doha and Lusail will be facilitated through sea transport, as well as dedicated vehicular and pedestrian bridges. Thanks to the subtly elevated hill-shaped terrain of the island, all infrastructure will be underground. This ensures a traffic-free, pedestrian-friendly surface level, while maintaining an uninterrupted line of sight to the water and surrounding reefs. The island’s residential zone will include more than 150 units, spanning beachfront homes, hilltop villas, townhouses and apartments, while a boutique hotel is also planned.
Once a year, the island will host Art Basel Qatar, the latest and most substantial addition to the country’s cultural calendar since its inaugural edition last February. Instead of limiting the event to a traditional conference room, the vision for the permanent exhibition space embraces the entire island. The designers have envisioned a scenario where the Al Maha Bridge serves as a gateway to the exhibition, turning the wider ecosystem, right down to the local restaurants, into an immersive island-wide experience. This expanded footprint turns Al Maha into a creative playground for rethinking the future of art exhibition, an idea that resonates deeply with its leadership.“We are very excited to be coming out of this co-creation,” says Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz.“We’re not just connecting something that’s there. we really build something with partners. Following the cycles of our industry, making deep and meaningful connections with new regions, artists and institutions is one of the most exciting things we can do.”
