Beyti Beytak: Exhibition Explores Home, Hospitality and Belonging

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 26, 2026

Qatar Museums has opened Beyti Beytak, an expanded exhibition on home, hospitality, and belonging, at the historic Fahad Bin Ali Palace in Doha, marking the building's first public access. Running until May 2027, the show features over 40 architects from the MENASA region and beyond, linking contemporary architectural practice with Doha’s urban heritage and cultural identity.

Qatar Museums (QM) has launched Beyti Beytak, an exhibition examining themes of home, hospitality, and belonging through the lenses of architecture, art, and design. The show opened yesterday at the historic Fahad Bin Ali Palace in Doha and will remain on view until May 29, 2027. This marks the first occasion the 1953 landmark, situated adjacent to the Amiri Diwan, has been accessible to the public.

Originally showcased at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2025, Beyti Beytak has been expanded for its Doha presentation. The updated exhibition features a new commission by Iraqi architect Ola Znad and incorporates archival research chronicling the city’s urban development. Organized by the forthcoming Art Mill Museum, the exhibition brings together more than 40 architects, designers, and practitioners from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region and beyond.

Divided into seven sections, the exhibition features architectural models, drawings, archival materials, films, and site-specific installations that explore communal spaces ranging from desert oases and sacred sites to private homes and contemporary museums. Set within the palace’s unique blend of Art Deco and vernacular Qatari architecture, Beyti Beytak situates contemporary architectural practice in dialogue with Doha’s built heritage.

The exhibition highlights works by pioneering modernists such as Raj Rewal (India), Nayyar Ali Dada (Pakistan), Abeer Seikaly (Jordan), and Minnette de Silva (Sri Lanka), alongside contemporary figures including Marina Tabassum and Nabil Haque (Bangladesh), AAU Anastas (Palestine/France), Sameep Padora [sP + A] and Balkrishna Doshi of the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation (India), DAAZ Studio (Iran), Ahmed Hossam Saafan (Egypt), Sumaya Dabbagh (Saudi Arabia), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (USA), and Meriem Chabani with New South & sOne (France). Additionally, the exhibition reflects on the legacy of Egyptian architect and urbanist Hassan Fathy, noted for his advocacy of vernacular architectural forms, techniques, and materials.

Catherine Grenier, director of Concept at the Art Mill Museum, described Beyti Beytak as emblematic of the museum’s mission to place MENASA creativity within a global conversation. She emphasized the integration of architecture, design, and gardens as central to the museum’s vision and noted that opening Fahad Bin Ali Palace allows audiences to experience these ideas within one of Doha’s architectural treasures. Grenier indicated that the exhibition would continue to evolve through its public programming and associated publication.

Aurélien Lemonier, senior curator of Architecture, Design, and Gardens at the Art Mill Museum and curator of the exhibition, highlighted the significance of presenting Beyti Beytak in Doha after its Venice debut. He framed the exhibition as an invitation to view architecture as an expression of generosity and responsibility, referencing Ola Znad’s new commission and the archival exploration of Doha’s urbanization. Lemonier expressed hope that visitors would gain new perspectives on their own homes, neighborhoods, and city through the exhibition.

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