The architects generated the concept of a walkable neighborhood, which addresses the region’s obesity problem by prioritizing pedestrian, cyclist, and public transport users in the design of buildings and infrastructure, as well as providing car-free connections to the rest of the city. The concept established an urban layout of tightly connected, compact urban blocks while also developing a site-wide infrastructure strategy. They devised a manifesto to guide their progress. The Seven Steps expressed a modern ‘Qatari’ architectural approach that reflected the essence of the site.

These demanded that the development’s emerging structures reflect the form and expression of traditional Qatari architecture; a shared approach to materiality; and the arrangement of buildings in an ‘informal’ manner to represent the features of the historic Islamic metropolis. Shaded streets, active rooftops, courtyards, and terraces are incorporated into the form of buildings, colonnades, and overhangs to make walking around the neighborhood more comfortable; deep, layered facades reduce the impact of harsh sunlight, which, when combined with natural ventilation and building systems, yields both internal comfort and reduced energy consumption.