Architect unveils vision for new MoFA headquarters

Doha, Qatar: Qatar s future Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) headquarters is designed to be more than a government building; it will be a symbol of...

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s future Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) headquarters is designed to be more than a government building; it will be a symbol of diplomacy, a cultural landmark, and a respectful dialogue with the nation’s architectural past.

At the helm of this ambitious project is internationally acclaimed Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, whose practice is known for its “deep engagement with time, social context, and material expression.”

Escobedo’s studio was selected after an international competition that initially drew 40 leading architectural teams, overseen by Malcolm Reading Consultants on behalf of MoFA and Qatar Museums. Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani oversaw the competition in her capacity as Chairperson of Qatar Blueprint,  a national initiative shaping development in collaboration with public and private partners.

The architecture proposal integrates both new construction and the adaptive reuse of the iconic 1985 General Post Office (GPO), a building beloved for its modernist “pigeonhole” façade and long-standing presence on Doha’s urban landscape.

In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Escobedo explained the core idea behind her proposal, which began with the concept of cultural duality.