Q Life Magazine Q Magazine December 2018 | Page 12

| Issue 5 | An apartment in Msheireb Downtown Doha integrating advanced systems from the beginning. Elegant town houses and apartments with cutting-edge technology will make residents’ lives very easy.’ Al Kuwari says: ‘The Heritage Quarter is a historic area where traditional courtyard houses and the Msheireb Prayer Ground dating from the first decade of the last century have been restored, alongside a LEED Gold certified mosque. ‘The Heritage Houses, commonly known as the Bin Jelmood House, the Company House, the Mohammed bin Jassim House and the Radwani House have transformed the Heritage Quarter and created an important cultural destination within the development.’ He adds: ‘The four courtyard houses have been converted into 12 culturally significant museums and exhibition buildings. Rooted in local history, these courtyards and spaces showcase important aspects of Qatar’s history and memories of old Doha. ‘Msheireb Museums aim to enliven local history in order to better understand Qatari identity and fully realise Qatar’s aspiration for greatness. They celebrate the history of four century-old heritage houses in Doha’s oldest district which have been transformed into museums.’ Even the name ‘Msheireb’ has significance, referring to an old well in the area where people used to come and drink water. Al Kuwari says: ‘That’s why the area was called by that name, and it maintained the name until today. We are still using the name Msheireb to preserve our history and heritage, and to revive the old days when this area was the center of trade and business in Qatar. It is now a trademark that everyone knows. It is part of our heritage and history which we want to maintain for future generations.’