Zaha Hadid Architects has announced plans to build a 38-storey, fluid-form hotel as part of a new coastal city in Qatar.

The 70,000-square-metre hotel and residential building is one of two projects designed by Zaha Hadid for Lusail City, ahead of her unexpected death earlier this year.

Her firm ZHA is now developing plans to build the tower in the Marina District of the growing city, in partnership with engineering firms Arup and Atelier Ten. Completion is scheduled for 2020.

The building's design is based on the form of the desert hyacinth, a flowering plant native to the Arabian Gulf region. This resulted in a nine-pointed shape with a bulging podium at its base and upper floors that feature "interwoven fluid geometries".

"We often look at nature's systems when we work to create environments; at her unrivalled logic and coherence," explained Hadid, in an earlier statement about the project.

The structure will also boast a filigree skin that resembles a mashrabiya screen – an element that is typical in Arabic architecture.

"Fluidity is embedded within the region's architectural heritage and traditions," added ZHA. "Continuous calligraphic and geometric patterns flow from domes to ceilings, ceilings to walls, walls to floors, establishing seamless relationships and blurring distinctions between architectural elements."

The building will contain 120 apartments and 200 hotel rooms.

Both of Hadid's Lusail City projects were commissioned by Qatari developer Al Alfia Holding. The company plans to realise them both, as part of the ongoing expansion of the city, which is located 23 kilometres north of Doha.

The city is expected to eventually house a community of 450,000 people, and will be connected with central Doha via a 38-kilometre light rail system.

Now led by Patrik Schumacher, ZHA has unveiled a number of new projects since the death of its founder in March. These include a new central business district for Prague and a technology park near Moscow.

In April, the firm reported that it had 36 projects under development in 21 countries. It has since completed the "oyster-like" ferry terminal in Salerno, Italy, and expects to finish the new headquarters of Antwerp Port Authority in September.

Rendering is by Slashcube.

Project credits:

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
ZHA project director: Charles Walker
ZHA project associate: Tariq Khayyat
ZHA project architect: Kutbuddin Nadiadi
ZHA project team: Gerry Cruz, Drew Merkle, Dennis Brezina, Alia Faisal Zayani, Alessandra Lazzoni, Matthew Le Grice, Mu Ren, Alexandra Fisher, Kwanphil Cho, Joris Pauwels, Jose Pareja Gomez, Katherina Hieger, Konstantinos Psomas, Leo Alves, Mei-Ling Lin, Nicholette Chan, Yifan ZhangStructure and Facade Engineers: Arup
MEP and Sustainability: Atelier Ten
Landscape: Francis Landscape
Hotel: GC Hotel Consultancy
Food Services: Tricon