Natural touch points throughout Orchard let travellers feel calm and grounded.
IF YOU’VE VISITED Hamad International Airport (DOH) in the last several months, chances are you noticed a new atmosphere blooming in the travel hub, which is a base for Qatar Airways.
The Orchard is the airport’s new and thoughtfully curated sustainable space encompassing the central concourse, retail, and F&B at the airport’s North Plaza. It’s designed to evoke feelings of peace and tranquility by maintaining a connection to nature even in the modern facility.
Hamad International Airport has undergone a total of nine major upgrades recently, transforming it into one of the world’s best airports.
The main terminal has been extended by 125,000 sqm, making the three-level single expansive terminal into 725,000 sqm allowing the airport’s 58 million annual passengers to seamlessly move from one area to another.
Infused with Nature
Throughout the Orchard, the three elements of water, light and plants inspire wellness and positive emotions. Travelers will discover a Tropical Garden & Water Feature featuring 6,000 sqm of indoor tropical gardens and 575 sqm of moving water, creating a central anchor for all travelers, whether they use it as a place to meet or a way to ground themselves in nature as they move through the bustling airport.
The feature’s extensive flora includes 300 trees of 30 species and 25,000 plants and shrubs of 90 species. All have been sourced from sustainable forests from around the world, including Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
The space has been designed to allow the trees and plants to acclimatize to the internal conditions and grow within the airport. The tallest tree is 16 meters, while the shortest is four meters, replicating the feeling of a healthy forest ecosystem.
Let There Be Light
Looking up inside the Orchard, you’ll notice its remarkable Grid Shell Roof. The column-free, 85 m roof is outfitted with performance glass to control and filter the light required to maintain an indoor rainforest with mature trees.
What this means to the guest is that the terminal is flooded with natural light, providing a warm glow and calming ambiance to promote well-being.
The entirety of the Orchard is also wrapped in a 1.2 km state-of-the-art ribbon display screen with a high-resolution display with over 169 million pixels of animation power. Each hour, the massive screen comes to life with tailor-made display experiences that enhance the garden ambiance, including garden, flora and fauna, Qatar’s sands of time, and mirage.
Worlds to Discover
For those with leisure time at the airport, the Orchard’s 16,000 sqm of multi-dimensional retail and F&B options will help you pass the time stylishly and deliciously.
The space houses world-renowned luxury retail brands, concept stores and restaurants, chosen to immerse passengers into a world of unparalleled luxury and comfort.
Over 40 new retail stores bring the shopping and dining options to over 65 outlets set against the refreshingly lush green environment.
Hamad International Airport’s new featured retail stores include a flagship Louis Vuitton store with a façade made of recycled plastic, a two-story Fendi store, Dior Spa, and more than 20 cafes and restaurants offering local and global cuisine and al fresco dining experiences.
To learn more about the upgrades and expansions across Hamad International Airport, visit their website, dohahamadairport.com
Article Sponsored by Hamad International Airport.
All images courtesy of Hamad International Airport.
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