Doha-based designer Shaikha Al Sulaiti has released a series of translucent tables that reference motifs found in traditional Qatari architecture and design.
Wahaaj tables come in a spectrum of kaleidoscopic colours that reference the stained glass windows found in traditional houses in Qatar.
By marrying Qatari heritage with ethical design practices, the designer is rethinking what it means to fuse together tradition with a distinctively contemporary aesthetic.
The design advocate, role model, and creative ambassador sits down with Harper’s Bazaar Qatar to discuss how she is challenging the status quo
Shaikha AlSulaiti (SAS) is a friend of WITI. She’s an interior designer and also works in various elements of the design world in Doha, including the Msherib “downtown” district which is now home to a range of interesting retail, design studios and very good coffee shops. We caught up at the Mandarin Oriental for a chat on my last trip through and I asked her to be our first Qatari MMD interview. Have a good week. -Colin (CJN)
After spending the last decade designing up-scale residences in Qatar and collaborating on hospitality projects with some of the industry’s biggest names, AD50 designer Shaikha Al Sulaiti, who also serves as a consultant for Doha Design District, has made a name for herself in furniture design, too.
I’ve tried to imagine what Qatari furniture could have been without the colonial design influences that seeped into our homes in the 1940s,” says Doha-based Shaikha Al-Sulaiti who, after spending the last decade envisioning up-scale residences in the Arab nation, has turned her attention to product design.
Presented at the esteemed Rossana Orlandi Gallery, the unique chair is crafted using recycled Hermès Birkin bags, Al-Sulaiti designed a patchwork leather chair to not only work functionally, but to highlight the importance of how materials are sourced, specifically in the world of fashion.
From future-heirloom-oriented Sé Collection’s disco-themed room, dubbed SÉ CHIC, to designer Shaikha Al-Sulaiti’s stool assembled from a deconstructed Birkin bag, the conceptual experience was second to none.
Part of what makes travel to this part of the world so incredible is learning from and about the denizens. Four Qatari women that are making waves in the country right now include athletes, an art ambassador, and an interior design business owner.
Design is the cornerstone of Msheireb Downtown Doha. A focus on community, technology, convenience and entertainment is integrated into every element. From the premium brands found along Doha’s longest pedestrian-only street, to the use of smart digital technologies in residences and offices, aesthetics are key to living in the city district.
“I worked very closely with designers and that was great exposure. I was also in touch with the contractors and hence all these helped me in seeing the entire process of designing from inside out which has helped me in shaping my design career,” says Shaikha Al Sulaiti.
I’m a huge fan of contemporary design mainly because it’s the design style that has shaped my experience.
With contemporary design, you can always mix some versatile or classic touches to reflect the atmosphere that needs to be created.
Alongside steering her practice, Al-Sulaiti also serves as Senior Interior Design Manager at Msheireb Properties, overseeing the realisation of Doha Design District; a purpose-built creative hub in the heart of Qatar’s capital that aims to accelerate the country’s creative economy.
The design concept was to find was to find the perfect balance between the identity of Mandarin Oriental and incorporate a unique sense of place with decorative elements inspired by Qatari heritage.