Doha, August 12 (QNA) - Doha Design District announced the four winning projects of its flagship Public Art Open Call initiative, selected from a shortlist of 20 proposals that had advanced through an extensive review process.

The winning designs were determined through a two-stage evaluation combining assessment by an independent jury with an open public vote, ensuring that both expert judgement and community sentiment shaped the final outcome.

The final selection follows careful deliberation, narrowing an initial pool of more than 220 proposals submitted by artists and designers from 53 nationalities down to a shortlist of 20 finalists representing 14 nationalities, and ultimately to the four winning designs.

The four winning teams will now move into development, working to realise their installations across Msheireb Downtown Doha and transforming the district, piece by piece, into an open-air stage for contemporary artistic expression.

The winners were determined by a distinguished jury bringing together some of the region’s most respected voices in design, culture and urban development, with representation from Msheireb Properties, Qatar Museums and Qatar Creates (QC+), alongside a public vote that invited the community to help shape the future of the city’s art and landscaping.

The four winning projects are: Gravity Drops Along a Surface Maraj — Architecture and Design Practice (Bahrain, based in Bahrain). A sculptural public landscape that invites movement, interaction and play. Desert in Motion for Dana Anas — Architect (India, based in Qatar). An organic public art installation inspired by the flowing forms of sand dunes. Whispering Leaves for Guillaume Rousere & Maryam Faraj Al-Suwaidi — Artists (France & Qatar, based in Qatar). An interactive listening sculpture that invites people to slow down, gather and reconnect with their surroundings. Fanayeen Boo Design Studio (Lebanon & Qatar, based in Qatar). A large-scale installation that reinterprets the traditional Majlis as a tent built entirely from approximately 30,000 suspended Arabic coffee cups.

Dana Kazic, Director of Doha Design District, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response and by the creativity of the projects submitted. The Public Art Open Call is a clear reflection of Doha Design District’s role in shaping the public realm, and of its power to invite the public to take part in designing their own cities and neighbourhoods. This is part of our broader mission to elevate design and to give creators the opportunity to emerge and express their passion”.

Following the selection, the jury committee stated: “All of the shortlisted projects were creative and authentic, which made for a genuinely difficult selection process. The four winning designs were chosen against clearly defined criteria, and we congratulate the winners and look forward to seeing their projects realised. Our message to every artist who took part is simple: keep your passion alive and continue your creative journey, because it is through voices like yours that the design of our public spaces is shaped. We thank all applicants for their effort, time and dedication.” (QNA)