The smallest size of apartment or flat is known as a studio and these are units that have one "living" space which would include a sitting area and sleeping area. The kitchen could be open plan or separate depending on the unit and it would have its own private bathroom and toilet facilities. Studios are ideal for single people or couples who don't want or need much space but prefer to have their own private facilities. Studios are considered an entry-level type of accommodation and they are the cheapest type of apartment. The alternative to a studio would be to rent a room in house/villa and have the use of shared facilities like the bathroom and kitchen and this is a cheaper option for those on a tight budget.
Apartments are self-contained residential units occupying part of a larger building. They are usually set out on a single storey of a building and it is for this reason that in some regions (UK, India etc.) they are referred to as "flats". The term apartment is one that is used extensively in Europe, North America and places that use American English. The term "flat" is used in the UK, India and places that use British English. Apartments or flats have their own front door, kitchen, toilet and bathroom. In some countries a 1-bedroom apartment may be advertised as a 1bhk or 1bhk flat. The term "bhk" or "BHK" refers to bedroom, hall and kitchen. This means that the unit would have 1 bedroom, a hall (lounge/sitting room) and kitchen.
Apartments can be found in residential blocks or towers and sometimes as a part of a villa where the floors have been separated each with its own entrance etc.
Musahireb is a central district in the municipality of Doha. It is one of the oldest districts of Doha and is made up of two and half zones of Qatar (zones 13, 4 and half of 3). The former standalone district of Al Asmakh has been encompassed within Mushaireb. In 2010 The government launched the Mushaireb Downtown Doha project with the aim of completely refurbishing the district, an area covering 31 hectares. Plans for the $5.5bn overhaul of the district included the demolition of much of the older buildings, however some historic architecture dating back to the early 20th Century can still be found.
The area has good road and transport links with 11 bus routes than run every day of the week and the Mushaireb Metro station, Qatar's largest Metro station and major interchange station that serves 3 Metro lines, the Red, Green and Gold Lines. There are plenty of homes for rent in Mushaireb but as the area is a historic area there are no residential compounds or villas. Instead, there is a large selection of apartments in the area to suit all budgets and for larger families of for those looking for more luxurious properties, there are larger duplexes and penthouses available for rent.