Park in Doha
One of the best and most beautiful green spaces along the Doha waterfront, Museum of Islamic Art Park is home to Richard Serra’s vertical steel sculpture, known as 7, this celebrated artist’s first public piece of art in the Middle East. It’s also home to cafes with some of the finest city views in Doha, including the MIA Park Cafe, as well as pop-up food trucks. Runners enjoy the 1km crescent pathway around the park, and there’s also a kids play area.
A wonderful green, open space in the city Adjacent to the museum is MIA Park where you can stroll, participate in activities or just gaze at the Doha skyline from the best vantage point in the city. MIA Park is the perfect place to take a stroll or for your children to run around in complete safety.
Renting a picnic basket inside the park costs QR50; you can fill it up with goodies from the local cafe. Check the website for upcoming events, from weekend markets and outdoor cinemas to kayaking tours and fitness sessions
THE RICHARD SERRA SCULPTURE
Standing at the end of the MIA Park pier is a large sculpture. Known as the ‘7’ sculpture, this almost 80-foot high steel artwork was designed by American artist Richard Serra.
It was unveiled in 2011 and is the tallest artwork ever created by Serra. It is made from 7 steel plates – each 78 feet high and 8 feet wide – arranged in a heptagonal or seven-sided shape.
It celebrates the spiritual and scientific significance of the number 7 in Islamic culture. Serra reflected, “I’ve been making towers for 30 years, and I’ve made several towers. But I’ve never made a tower like this tower”.
The work was inspired by a minaret in Afghanistan. The geometric layout of the sculpture and stability of the plates were tested under wind and seismic loads. The supports accommodate the expansion and contraction of the plates due to the large temperature gradients in the Middle East.
The sculpture reflects the reaction of metals to the corrosive saltwater spray from the sea, creating an intense colour and surface texture.
