amq:
Qatar’s Stunning World Cup 2022 Stadiums
The structures, to be built, are set to exploit the extreme environmental conditions in Qatar by channelling the sunlight to generate a large portion of the stadiums power using solar technology. Using innovative climate control technology, temperatures within the stadiums are set to stay below 28°C, despite the nation’s fierce heat, making the 2022 FIFA World Cup the first ever air conditioned outdoor sporting event. To ensure a lasting impression, Qatar 2022 have proposed that post-World Cup, many modular components of the stadiums no longer needed will be dismantled and shipped to other countries in order to promote football development.
Al Wakrah (pictured above)Not only a singular stadium but rather an extensive sports complex, including a multi-purpose hall, themed swimming-pool, spa zone and shopping mall alongside the obvious sports facilities. The entrance to the 45,000-seater stadium itself will face onto a stunning plaza, creating the sense of one large extended park.
The Al Rayyan Stadium:
Currently situated 20km northwest of the capital, Doha. Plans are to adapt the existing building, surrounding it in a massive membrane-like television structure, onto which will be projected match updates, highlights, tournament information and other tournament material. Its current capacity it set to be doubled in size by incorporating additional modular components to increase capacity to 44,740.
Al Gharafa:
Close to the city of Doha. Also set to double in capacity to 44,740 using a modular upper tier stand, the facade of the existing stadium is to be transformed into a vivid explosion of colour. Ribbon-like elements are to be woven around the circumference of the structure, displaying all the colours of the competing teams, to symbolise the ‘friendship, mutual tolerance and respect of the FIFA World Cup and Qatar’.
Al Shamal
a 45,120 capacity stadium in the north of Qatar has been inspired by the traditional local fishing boats of the Gulf, ‘dhows’. The dramatic façade swoops up at opposite ends, creating an impressively powerful and indeed rather intimidating statement. Around 10% of visitors to the stadium are predicted to arrive at Al Shamal via the world’s longest free-standing bridge - the Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge.
Al Khor
Last, but by no means least, Al Khor, whose seashell-inspired asymmetrical structure is set in landscaped gardens and is set to hold 45,330 football fans. Some spectators will also benefit from the flexible roof above the stadium, shading them from the intense heat of the Qatari sun.
Qatar 2022 Chief Executive, Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi, said back in May: “All our state-of-the-art stadia will be linked to a brand new metro system and totally integrated with a comprehensive shuttle bus network, allowing fans to travel to games by public transport. Fans will be able to watch more than one game in a day while staying in the same accommodation throughout the tournament. We have also designed our new stadia with legacy front of mind and, with their modular design, can be reduced in size after the World Cup to fit local football and community requirements and, in some cases, transported abroad for permanent use. What we have unveiled today is just a foretaste of the much wider plans we will be unveiling in the coming weeks.”
And indeed some of the ‘wider plans’ came to light recently, with the announcement of the astounding “Island Stadium”…
The air-conditioned stadium, which would have a capacity of 86,000, would take four years to build, would expected to be completed by 2019 and would also be completely surrounded by water. The Lusail Stadium completes the line-up of the 12 stadiums Qatar would use in 2022 and would incorporate the air-conditioning technology the country has pioneered to make their stadiums more comfortable.
