GORD lays the EcoVilla foundation stone EcoVilla a Qatari modern sustainable villa

On February 23rd 2015, the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD), the authority for sustainability in the MENA region, launched its pioneering 6 star sustainable project the “EcoVilla.
The EcoVilla inauguration ceremony was attended by the minister of environment, Mr. Ahmad Bin Amer al-Humaidi, at the headquarters of Qatari Diar. Also on hand were Dr. Yousef Mohammad Alhorr, the founding chairman of GORD, Eng. Essa Mohammed Ali Kaldari, the chief executive director of Lusail Real Estate Development Company, which allocated the project plot., and Mr. Mohammed bin Mohammed bin Laden, from QD-SBG, which is executing the EcoVilla project, And Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), along with a number of representatives of government bodies that are providing support.


The idea for the project is based on GORD's belief in the importance of enhancing the adoption of sustainable practices by providing a practical model for a home. The villa’s architecture matches Gulf traditions, while at the same time serving as a basis for implementing the best possible international systems and materials in green building, in line with the region's special characteristics.
The EcoVilla has an area of 600 square meters and covers the general needs of a Gulf family. It comprises a Men's Majlis, a Women's Majlis, living room, guest room and kitchen, in addition to bedrooms and annexes. It's the region's most innovative sustainable villa whose construction is based on timeless Gulf architectural expressions. GORD's objective is to make the EcoVilla a role model home that all segments of society have access to and study – the general public, students, government officials, businessmen and developers – in order to understand how green building requirements may be applied in practical fashion and in line with the region's particular climatic and environmental conditions.
“We are happy to see the environmentally-friendly project EcoVilla because it reinforces the Ministry of Environment's efforts to implement sustainable best practices in built environment," said the Minister of Environment on this occasion, in an expression of gratitude for the initiative. “At the same time, it contributes to the implementation of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which considers the environment one of its most important pillars. We hope that by carrying out this project in Qatar, GORD will provide solutions tailored to the Arab Gulf region's particular environmental and climate conditions."
For his part, Eng. Essa Mohammed Ali Kaldari welcomed the initiative, commenting that “the idea of EcoVilla is in line with the Lusail Development Company vision of adopting sustainable building practices."


“It was the first organization in Qatar to promptly implement GSAS criteria on all facilities at Lusail, making it one of the most sustainable cities in Qatar and the Gulf. Our participation in this project is part of our policy of social responsibility, which allows us to spread awareness throughout society about the importance of sustainability and its benefits for both individuals and the general public."
And from his side, Mr. Mohammed bin Mohammed bin Laden emphasized the important role the private sector plays in supporting such initiatives, “We at QD-SBG are happy to participate in this vital project because it will serve a large segment of society. As project executors it gives us the opportunity to apply the best sustainability practices in building and construction, drawing from the cumulative experiences and expertise of QD-SBG in this field which will benefit all parties. As a local company we understand the unique demands and opportunities of the construction business in Qatar, placing innovation at the heart of everything we do in order to participate in the development of Qatar National Vision 2030, and beyond.”
In developing the design of EcoVilla, GORD came up with preliminary ideas and specified the building's principal systems, then carried out an international competition for local and international firms to develop the detailed designs for the structure's construction and services. In terms of environmentally-friendly systems and materials, EcoVilla features various types of solar power for generating electricity, energy-saving cooling systems and highly-heat resistant materials along with creative solutions for lighting, maintenance and other facets.
“We at GORD are determined to support sustainable initiatives in the government and private sectors," said Dr. Yousef Al Horr. “We hope that this project serves as an opportunity for the construction sector to actively take part, through providing environmentally-friendly solutions and materials. We also hope that people – whether developers or individuals who want to build private homes – learn about and benefit from the project's range of solutions and ideas, especially since we submit them for study and research by GORD's experts, who perform quality control and verify Eco Villa’s suitability for the region's special conditions."