Architecture of Qatar’s New Sports Facilities for FIFA World Cup 2022
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Architecture of Qatar’s New Sports Facilities for FIFA World Cup 2022 Introduction On the second of December 2010, Qatar was chosen by FIFA to host the World Cup in 2022. This choice has shed light on the architecture in Qatar and the sports facilities to be constructed to host this significant international event. Qatar has presented a number of proposals for the construction of new sports stadiums in addition to rehabilitation of existing stadiums, with an investment amounting to $ 50 billion to upgrade its infrastructure in addition to $ 4 billion for the construction of new stadiums. The vision provided through the Bid file reflects the cultural identity that Qatar wants to present to the world about herself, the Arab world, the Middle East and the Islamic World. Qatar's dazzling success in the organization of Asian Olympic Games in 2006, which included competitors in more than 30 games, had a great impact on the success of the Bid file. This is in addition to the successful history of Qatar in hosting sporting events such as the Asian Cup in 1988, the World Youth Championship in 1995 and its intention to host the Asian Cup in 2011. Qatar plans to host the World Cup in soccer in 12 sports environment friendly stadiums. The stadiums’ designs reflect the extent to which Qatar have reached in the development of urban environment within the few years of its transformation from a traditional settlement on the shore of the Arabian Gulf, relying on fishing and pearling, into a modern state hosting many prestigious international events. The stadiums reflect a mix of designs inspired by traditional elements of the environment and high technology based on the latest communication technologies and media as well as modern techniques in the methods of air conditioning and energy conservation. In addition to the use of forms, materials and colors inspired by the heritage and environment, such as the old forts, fishing ships, tents and seashells, the designs provide solutions based on modern technologies and alternative energy, such as solar energy utilization for air-conditioning and the operation of big screens for the electronic media. Qatar has provided, through the designs of new stadiums, sustainable solutions to address the problems of carbon emissions so that the new stadiums are carbon-neutral, despite what is required of energy to provide air conditioning necessary for playgrounds and spectators. One of the fears of the Committee of the World Cup was the high temperature during the months of June and July, when the temperatures reaches the forties during the daytime and thirties at night. Qatar's vision and experience to control the temperature in and around the stadiums used for the games reduces the temperature to 20 degrees from the external environment. An experimental stadium was constructed to prove the success of this vision. One of the innovative humanitarian initiatives provided by Qatar was the donation of the stands, that are not needed after the World Cup, to developing countries that need them. The sports facilities will be connected to downtown Doha, through a network of roads and a sophisticated line of new subway so that the length of the journey between any stadium and the other is not more than one hour so that spectators can attend more than one game per day and provide time for movement for players, referees and the media, which therefore reduces the impact of the session on the environment. The design of new sports facilities in Qatar
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The design of stadiums to host the World Cup reflect a cultural identity that Qatar wants to present to the world. It also reflects what Qatar have reached Qatar in recent years of urban development and technological advancement that make it compete with other countries to host global events of cultural, artistic, educational, sports, etc., while maintaining a local identity stemming from its past and the natural environment surrounding it. Qatar’s National Vision is to “transform Qatar by the year 2030 to a developed nation able to achieve sustainable development and ensure the continuation of a decent living for its people, generation after generation." The Vision addresses five key challenges facing the State of Qatar; update and maintain the traditions, provide the needs of the present generation and future generations while achieving the targeted growth and control of expansion determining the path of development, control the size and quality of the expatriate labor force to achieve economic and social development and achieve environmental protection and sustainable development. Qatar is seeking to achieve that Vision through human, social, economic and environmental development. The selection of Qatar to host the World Cup in 2022 gives a strong momentum to work towards achieving this vision. In spite of the small population of Qatar of 1.7 million inhabitants, according to the national census issued in October 2010, with about two-thirds expatriates, Qatar was able to persuade FIFA of its seriousness and determination to successfully host the World Cup for the first time in a Gulf, Islamic, Arab, and Middle Eastern state, offering a civilized vision of this part of the world. Qatar has a strong economy as one of the world’s largest natural gas producers by an increase in gross national product amounted to 17% in 2010 and is expected to continue in the coming years. In addition to the development of its facilities, especially the important area of the Aspire Zone, which host Asia Olympic Games in 2006, Qatar has been able the develop its infrastructure and the construction of many architectural monuments in a few years, including Qatar's Education City, that hosts branches of a number of U.S. universities in the disciplines of engineering, medicine, arts, management, and politics, the development and renewal of the traditional Souq Waqif market and the Museum of Islamic Art of the Architectural World I. M. Pei, that hosted many prestigious, including the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture 2010 . In addition and the Pearl Towers and Cultural Village, many towers, hotels and shopping malls are being constructed in Al-Dafna area, a new industrial areas has been constructed west of Doha. Qatar is currently constructing a new airport that is expected to open in 2012. Other major projects in Doha include the full development of the 35 hectares downtown area known as the "Musheireb", the establishment of the new City of Lucille, the construction of nine new museums including the New National Museum by architect Jean Novel.
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ﺃﺑﺮﺍﺝ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﺪﻓﻨﺔ ﺗﻈﻬﺮ ﻣﻦ ﻭﺭﺍء ﺍﻟﻘﻮﺍﺭﺏ ﺍﻟﺨﺸﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ :ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ(
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ﺍﻷﺑﺮﺍﺝ ﺍﻟﺤﺪﻳﺜﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﺣﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ :ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ(
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ﻣﺘﺤﻒ ﺍﻟﻔﻦ ﺍﻻﺳﻼﻣﻰ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ :ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ(
ﻣﺒﻨﻰ ﻛﻠﻴﺔ ﺗﻜﺴﺎﺱ ﺍﻳﻪ ﺍﻧﺪ ﺍﻡ ﺑﺎﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ :ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ(
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( ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ:ﺳﻮﻕ ﻭﺍﻗﻒ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ
( ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ:ﺃﺑﺮﺍﺝ ﺍﻟﻠﺆﻟﺆﺓ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Expression of Identity in Architecture Expression of identity in architecture means communicating with the community where architecture provides an interpretation of values and cultural priorities through
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construction techniques and artistic expression that constitute a distinctive mode or a language of expression, like words and sentences in the literature. But the nature of expression varies with culture in different places at different times according to patterns of communication and expressions of its architects and engineers. The expressions are conducted on national, geographical, historical, religious, intellectual and even political levels. The expressions of certain patterns in the localities, cities and enterprises may be life long or short according to their ability to change with cultural patterns. Many key factors affect creation of a new style of architecture and contribute to the creation of contemporary and creative expressions of culture through architecture. The work of these factors on the production and development within each pattern eventually lead to new approaches to replace the previous one. The components of expression and communication, including shapes and forms that can be transferred through the architectural content. The elements that are used in architectural expression interpret the meanings of specific community through the functions and techniques of buildings. Qatar Stadiums Qatar plans to construct new stadiums to host the World Cup 2022 in addition to the renovation of several existing stadiums. The new stadiums include: Al-Shamal Stadium, Al-Khor Stadium, Al-Wakrah Stadium, Umm Slal Stadium, Education City Stadium, Doha Port Stadium, Sports City Stadium, and Lusail Stadium. The stadiums scheduled for renovation are: Al-Rayyan Stadium, Al-Gharafa Stadium, Qatar University Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium and Al Sad Stadium. Qatar's stadiums Qatar's plans for the FIFA World Cup 2022 include 12 eco-friendly, carbon-neutral stadiums. All of the stadiums will utilize the power of the sun rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadiums will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadiums will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadiums’ carbonneutrality. ARUP Associates designed a 5-a-side pitch with a capacity of 500-seats model stadium which was built to convince FIFA officials of the proposed techniques to control the region’s hot summer weather. According to AJ, "the air conditioned structure was designed to be zero carbon throughout, all the energy needed to power the arena’s ‘underseat’ climate control system is collected by a ‘sun farm’ of solar concentrator panels. With outdoor temperatures in Qatar reaching more 44 degrees Celsius the playing surface of the stadium can be kept at a comfortable 23 degrees. The structure features a revolving roof canopy which can be adjusted to cast shade over the pitch or closed completely to maximize climate control.”
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( ﻳﺎﺳﺮ ﻣﺤﺠﻮﺏ:ﻧﻤﻮﺫﺝ ﺍﻹﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﻜﻴﻒ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ The upper tier of nine of the stadiums will be removed after the tournament. Doha Port Stadium will be completely modular and will be deconstructed following the World Cup. During the event, the capacity of most stadiums will be between 40,000 and 50,000 fans, with one much larger stadium for hosting the opening and final matches. When the tournament ends, the lower tiers of the stadiums will remain in Qatar to accommodate between 20,000 and 25,000 fans. The smaller stadiums will be suitable for football and other sports. The upper tiers will be sent to developing nations, which often lack sufficient football infrastructure. Qatar sees sending the stadiums to developing nations as an integral part of the bid, as doing so will allow for the further development of football on the global stage. Along with the stadiums, the cooling technologies will be available to other countries in hot climates, so that they too can host major sporting events. The proposed stadiums expected to host the World Cup matches include completely new stadiums in addition to the renovation and refurbishment of currently existing stadiums. The announced proposals for the construction and renovation of these stadiums reflect the cultural identity that Qatar is eager to express to the world that integrates the local cultural identity, derived from traditions and natural environment, with a globalization generated by the telecommunication and technological revolutions. The following is an analysis of some projects of stadiums to be constructed or renovated to host the World Cup finals in Qatar in 2022, according to the Bid site, and their contribution in building a cultural identity that Qatar is seeking to present to the world through the building of large facilities. Al-Shamal Stadium
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Al-Shamal stadium, located north of Doha city on the Arabian Gulf, will have a capacity of 45,120, with a permanent lower tier of 25,500 seats and a modular upper tier of 19,620 seats. The stadium’s shape is derived from the traditional dhow fishing boat that was important part of the traditional Gulf economy. In addition to the dhow form of the stadium, colors and materials reflect the colors and materials used in traditional boats. Spectators are expected to arrive to the stadium from the expressways, water taxis, the Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Bridge and a new metro-rail expected to be constructed during the coming years.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺸﻤﺎﻝ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Al-Khor Stadium Located in a sports and recreation zone, Al-Khor new 45,330-capacity stadium with a roof resembling a seashell with a flexible roof providing shade for the field. The permanent lower tier seats hosts 25,500 spectators while the modular upper tier seats 19,830 spectators. The stadium offers spectators a spectacular view of the Arabian Gulf from their seats.
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(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺨﻮﺭ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Al-Wakrah Stadium Al-Wakrah is located 15 kilometers south of Doha. It is one of Qatar's oldest cities, with a long history of commercial fishing and pearl diving. Al-Wakrah stadium, with a capacity of 45,120, takes its inspiration from the sea floor that has played an important role in the city's history. After the FIFA World Cup the stadium's capacity will be reduced to 25,500 seats.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻮﻛﺮﺓ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ
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Umm Slal Stadium Located in the vicinity of one of Qatar's most historically important forts, Umm Slal Stadium will have 45,120 seats. The design is a modern interpretation of traditional Arab forts, like the one in nearby Umm Slal with its solid zigzagging facade. After the FIFA World Cup seating capacity will be reduced to 25,500. The stadium will be used by Umm Slal football club.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺃﻡ ﺳﻼﻝ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Education City Stadium The Education City Stadium takes the form of a jagged diamond, glittering by day and glowing by night. The 45,350-seat stadium will be located in the midst of several university campuses at Education City, easily accessible for fans both in Qatar and in neighboring Bahrain, which will be only 51 minutes away from the stadium by highspeed rail. Following the FIFA World Cup the stadium will retain 25,000 seats for use by university athletic teams.
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(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Doha Port Stadium The new Doha Port will host a new stadium that will be a completely modular stadium with 44,950 seats. The stadium, which will sit on an artificial peninsula in the Gulf, is designed to evoke its marine setting resembling the shape of a Sea urchin . Water from the Gulf will run over its outer facade, aiding in the cooling process and adding to its visual appearance . Fans will have the option of arriving on a water taxi or ferry. After the FIFA World Cup the whole stadium will be disassembled and the seats sent to developing countries to further their football development.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﻣﻴﻨﺎء ﺍﻟﺪﻭﺣﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Sports City Stadium
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Drawing its inspiration from traditional Arab tents, The Sports City Stadium will have 47,560 seats. A retractable roof, partly retractable pitch and retractable stands will make the stadium Qatar's premiere multi-use facility in the decades following the 2022 FIFA World Cup The stadiums innovative features will make it an ideal venue for football matches, but also concerts, theatre performances and non-football related athletic events.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺍﻟﺮﻳﺎﺿﻴﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Lusail Iconic Stadium The new Lusail city is located 7 kilometers north of Doha city. It is a new city composed of 19 neighborhoods surrounding the city center. The new Lusail Iconic Stadium, with a capacity of 86,250, will host the opening and final matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lusail’s stadium takes its inspiration from the sail of a traditional dhow boat and is surrounded by water from all sides. After the FIFA World Cup™, the stadium will be used to host other spectacular sporting and cultural events.
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(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﻟﻮﺳﻴﻞ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Al-Rayyan Stadium The existing Al-Rayyan Stadium with a seating capacity of 21,282 will be expanded to 44,740 seats using modular elements to form an upper tier. The stadium is designed with a special "media membrane" facade that acts as a screen for projecting news, updates and current matches. The stadium will be downsized to its current capacity after the tournament.
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(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺮﻳﺎﻥ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Al-Gharafa Stadium The existing 21,175 capacity of Al-Gharafa stadium will be expanded to 44,740 seats using modular elements forming an upper tier. The facade will be made up of ribbons representing the nations that qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will symbolize football and the mutual friendship, tolerance and respect that the tournament represents. The stadium will be downscaled to its existing capacity after the tournament ends.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﻐﺮﺍﻓﺔ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Qatar University Stadium Replacing an existing track and field stadium on Qatar University's campus, Qatar University Stadium will have 43,520 seats. The stadiums gold facade blends traditional Arabic geometric patterns with free-form open surfaces, conjuring both past and future. The stadium will be used by student athletes following the FIFA World Cup with a seating capacity of 23,500.
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(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ﻗﻄﺮ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ Khalifa International Stadium Redesigned for Qatar's successful hosting of the 2006 Asian Games, Khalifa International Stadium's current capacity of 50,000 will be expanded to 68,030 for the 2022 FIFA World Cup The stadium, which includes sweeping arcs and partially covered stands, is the centerpiece of Aspire Zone, a sports complex that includes the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, ASPETAR Sports Medicine Hospital and many other sporting venues.
(2022 ﺍﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻤﻲ ﻟﻤﻠﻒ ﻗﻄﺮ:ﺇﺳﺘﺎﺩ ﺧﻠﻴﻔﺔ ﺍﻟﺪﻭﻟﻲ )ﺍﻟﻤﺼﺪﺭ 17
Existing Sports Facilities In addition to the stadiums, Qatar already has several sports facilities that were built over the previous years. Khalifa Olympic City was built in 1976 to the highest specifications to host Youth World Cup 1995. This facility comprises a main football stadium with seating for 40000 spectators, an Olympic-size athletic track, an indoor sports hall with a capacity of 1800 spectators, a number of multipurpose courts for basketball volleyball, handball and tennis and a sports medical center established in 1995. The Aspire, Academy for Sports Excellence, is Qatar's visionary Sports Academy, which launched its academic curriculum in September 2004. With state-of-the-art facilities and world class sports programs, it turns hopefuls into winners at the highest levels of international competition. The Academy also integrates this training with an intensive, comprehensive intellectual education, giving them all the support they need to succeed. Established in 1992 to the international standards, Khalifa International Complex for Tennis and Squash Complex hosts international tennis and squash events on annual basis. Foremost of these is the international Qatar Open championship. Doha Golf Club, founded by Qatar National Hotels Company in 1997, hosts all the activities of Qatar Golf Federation. It has an international standard course on which the prestigious Qatar Masters tournament is held annually since 1998. Hamad International Complex for Water Sports, situated next to Khalifa Olympic Stadium, is designed to the Olympic and international standard technologies and specifications. It has the required most advanced equipment and installations that qualify it to host all local and world-class tournaments. Conclusion Qatar will need to work hard day and night to achieve this ambitious goal, which is consistent with its National Vision. The event will be a driving force for neighboring countries to help Qatar in achieving its objectives and benefit from the existence of this global event in the neighborhood. New employment and investment opportunities will be created in all sectors and at all levels. The main sectors that will benefit from this investment are construction, utilities, transportation, aviation, tourism, hotels, sports, housing and sustainable energy. Qatar’s hosing of the World Cup in 2022 is not a small event. It is expected that 3.2 billion viewers from around the world will be watching the events. Qatar’s centralized location in the world provides the opportunity for 82% of the world countries to watch the live broadcasting of matches in the appropriate times. Qatar offers through its Bid to host the World Cup in 2022 a modern and sophisticated future for the Gulf States, Arab countries, Islamic world and the Middle East, who is eager to participate positively in the global events and sets new challenges for the development of technology to create effective sustainable solutions to achieve the aspirations of a renewable humanity. Source: The official site of Qatar Bid 2022 http://www.qatar2022bid.com/stadiums
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