Now and then: Fire Station, From Civil Defence to Creative Space

By Mohamed Al Thani

In central Doha, a building once defined by urgency has taken on a new role shaped by reflection and artistic production. Fire Station traces a shift in purpose, from Civil Defence headquarters to a hub for contemporary art and creative development—reflecting how spaces can evolve while retaining their identity. As an early example of adaptive reuse, Fire Station preserves a familiar civic landmark while creating new possibilities for artists and audiences today.

From public service to cultural vision

Built in 1982, Fire Station served as the headquarters of Qatar’s Civil Defence, answering to the Ministry of Interior, for over three decades—a place defined by readiness, response, and public service. The location was a functioning fire station up until 2012 and remains one of the most familiar sites in the country to locals and long-term residents alike.

In 2013, Qatar Museums (QM) began reimagining the building’s future as part of a wider vision led by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums.This transformation positioned Fire Station as a long‑term platform for artistic development, supporting practice, mentorship, and public engagement within QM’s wider cultural ecosystem

Rather than replacing the structure, the transformation focused on preserving its recognisable exterior while redefining its purpose within Doha’s cultural landscape. So, what did change and how was the space reutilised?

Then and Now: Fire Station

1982 – Built as Qatar’s Civil Defence headquarters
2012 – Operational fire station use concludes
2015 – Reopens as Fire Station, a contemporary art and residency hub

txt — Qatar's former Civil Defence Department. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©1982-2012.

Qatar's former Civil Defence Department with fire trucks in view. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©1982-2012.

txt — Qatar's former Civil Defence Department. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©1982-2012.

Reimagining the space

A redesign, led by Qatari architect Ibrahim Al Jaidah, retained the building’s character while adapting its interior to support artistic practice. When Fire Station reopened in 2015, it introduced a new spatial model centered on creating and exchange.

The building now includes artist studios, multiple exhibition spaces, and areas for community engagement—shifting its function from emergency response to creative production while maintaining visible traces of its past; a design strategy in line with Qatar’s commitment for cultural preservation.

Beyond studios and galleries, Fire Station operates as a multipurpose contemporary art centre, with facilities that support production, display, and learning—including exhibition halls, an auditorium, workshops, and a fab-lab—alongside communal spaces for seminars and exchange.

Fire Station is also home to a beloved restaurant, Café #999, Michelin award-winning chef Alain Ducasse’s third restaurant in Qatar. It also hosts art supply store Cass Art, stocking everything from acrylic paints to legendary pencil colour label Faber Castell.

txt — Fire Station's courtyard and exhibition spaces. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

txt — Fire Station's famous 'beehive', courtyard and exhibition spaces. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

txt — Fire Station's famous 'beehive', courtyard and exhibition spaces. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

Supporting artistic development

At the heart of Fire Station is its commitment to nurturing artistic talent. The Artists in Residence programme established a foundation for supporting emerging artists through space, mentorship, and curatorial access, later evolving into the Artists Intensive Study Programme (AISP). Led by Artistic Director Wael Shawky, AISP is a fully funded, nine‑month programme that brings together emerging Qatari and international artists in an interdisciplinary environment that combines studio practice, critical dialogue, and technical development. Each cycle culminates in a final exhibition, presenting the outcomes of a year of research and experimentation.

txt — Artist-in-residence Reem Al Shamari. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

txt — Artist-in-residence Natalia Mejia. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

txt — Artist-in-residence Surabhi Gaikwad. Photo: Courtesy of Fire Station ©2025.

Past themes have included Portals in Flux, which explored memory and imagined worlds within the same space, A House Overlooking the World, with overarching questions about identity and belonging, and The Present: The Future of the Past, highlighting the power of artistic processes.

“ Fire Station is a contemporary art space committed to supporting artists and curators through its residency programmes and engaging the local communities in Qatar through events and opportunities, including exhibitions and public programmes. ”
–Wael Shawky, artistic director, Fire Station

A space for community and exchange

Today, Fire Station extends beyond its studios to function as a wider cultural destination. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops, and film screenings, it invites audiences to engage directly with artistic ideas and processes.

Its impact goes beyond individual programmes: Fire Station has become a point of connection between artists, curators, and the public—bringing contemporary practice into open conversation and strengthening a visible creative community in Doha.

Fire Station’s transformation reflects a broader shift in how spaces can serve the community—from a site of public service to one of cultural exchange—carrying its past into its present while supporting the artists shaping its future.