Katara Studios

Overview

Doha, the capitol and principal city of Qatar, has welcomed the completion of Katara Studios, one of the Middle East’s largest and most technically advanced recording/audio production complexes. Created by WSDG, the 65, 000 ft²/6040 m² compound, represents a major facet the Katara Committee’s mandate to establish Doha as one of the most vibrant media centers on The Persian Gulf.

Program

The sprawling, 40+ room complex features three distinct recording studios, distinguished by the 3,000 ft²/278 m² Studio 1 Live (orchestral) Room, capable of hosting 80+ musicians. Live 1 is crowned by a towering 30’ / 9 m high ceiling and is equipped with a 582 ft²/54 m² VIP Lounge, designed to perform triple duty as a lounge, Iso Booth or to provide additional room volume for the orchestral recording space. It also encompasses a 546 ft²/51 m² Studio 2 (rock ‘n roll) Live Room and a 680 ft²/63 m² Studio 3 for indigenous and/or jazz recording sessions. A sophisticated 583 ft²/55 m² Mastering Suite, a 692 ft²/64 m² Dolby Atmos-equipped Post-Production suite, two spacious Composer Rooms, three Audio Prep Rooms, a 518 ft²/48 m² Video Grading Suite for feature film mixing, a 228 ft²/21 m² Video Edit Suite, and a 1158 ft²/107 m² Mezzanine all coalesce to provide clients with the ultimate recording experience.

Design

Aesthetics were a critical concern of the creative program. Katara Studios management was committed to incorporating authentic Arabic design elements throughout the complex. WSDG Co-Principal/Interior Designer, Beth Walters, and Partner/Art Director, Silvia Molho performed extensive research on Islamic and Muslim architecture. Studying the traditional, vibrantly colored Arabic palette, they developed methods to incorporate components of intricately patterned Islamic calligraphy and mosaics. By creatively weaving them throughout the ultra modern complex in a completely organic fashion, they produced a successful design model. A series of custom designed “Magic Ceiling Cubes” provide mood lighting and also serve as membranic, low frequency absorbers. Thanks to a novel ‘pocketing’ scheme the Studio 1 Live Room’s three oversized ISO Booths can function independently be re-configured in a variety of permutations.

Photo Credits: IMAR Trading & Consulting ©

Links

Click Here to View the Equipment List (PDF – 264 KB)
Read Mix Magazine – Class of 2015 Article
Read AudioFader Article in Italian
Read Fast and Wide Article
Read ProAudio MEA – March 2016 Issue Article