By Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey, CNN
(CNN) — When summers hit Qatar, most people retreat indoors during the heat of the day, sheltering at home or work with the aircon cranked high or visiting super-cooled shopping malls — and driving between them in cars chilled to refrigerator temperatures.
Being out in the open is something to be endured rather than enjoyed.
Until now. On Gewan Island – the latest addition to a man-made archipelago off the coast of the capital city Doha — visitors can comfortably stroll outside in the middle of a summer’s day thanks to a surprising innovation: an air-conditioned “forest.”
Stretching along the island’s central axis is a 450-meter-long — roughly one-third of a mile — promenade known as the Crystal Walk. Despite being open to the elements, its temperature is artificially regulated.
The walkway is covered by a canopy of tree-like structures that offer shelter from direct sunlight while helping trap cooled air blowing from vents below.
Outdoor air conditioning is no novelty in Qatar. In Doha’s Al Gharrafa and Umm Al Seneem parks, people can exercise along cooled and shaded jogging routes. Outdoor shopping areas like Al Hazm Mall and West Walk also benefit from cold blasts piped up from the street.
Gewan — also spelled Jiwan — takes this to another level. The Crystal Walk provides shade from artificial branches covered in 10 tonnes of crystals that give it its name. These also use solar panels to convert the dazzling sun into electricity to help power the aircon. There are also mini water fountains for splashing through.
‘Genuinely amazed’
With the temperature at a pleasant 21-23 degrees Celsius — about 70-73 Fahrenheit — all year round, the area has quickly become Qatar’s newest tourist attraction.
“Gewan Island has now become a regular stop on my city tours,” says Siham Haleem, who has shown international visitors around Qatar for more than 15 years. “I visit it four or five times a week, and every single time my guests are genuinely amazed.”
They’re not just there for the temperatures. The crystal trees create an unusual urban landscape that regularly features in social media posts.
There are also crystal panels embedded in the floor — around 180 rectangular boxes, illuminated and protected by strong glass. Inside are intricate displays of landscapes, animals, cities and industry — organized into themes of desert, snow, forest, sea and machinery. Visitors encounter shoals of fish, crocodiles, penguin colonies and local motifs such as camel caravans and musical instruments.
Omar Abou Mourad, a Lebanese expat working in Doha, regularly brings his family. While the children enjoy the crystal displays, Abou Mourad appreciates the location and the modern engineering.
“It is an escape to a luxury world full of crystal-inspired design details, trendy restaurants and cafés, and stylish shops,” he says.
The area is also a record breaker, earning Guinness World Record titles as the largest outdoor air-conditioned mall, and as the largest outdoor interactive light canopy.
Before it became a tourist attraction, Gewan Island had a more functional role. The 400,000-square-meter site was originally a staging ground for the construction of The Pearl, a luxury residential area built on a complex of man-made islands.
From being essentially a builders’ yard, Gewan — named for a rare form of pearl — has undergone a remarkable transformation.
When seen from above, the island is divided roughly into thirds. The eastern end comprises private villas and residences. The central area offers walking routes, shops, cafes, restaurants and artworks. The western third will house a new hotel complex with a golf course and other leisure facilities.
And while much of Doha is built with cars in mind, Gewan, connected to