Design of a new 40,000-seater football stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been unveiled, showcasing a unique blend of Arab cultural heritage and modern architecture. The design for a new football stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup as been presented for the first time to the world, by H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) in Doha.
Al Thumama Stadium, which is the sixth stadium to be built in view of the big event, is inspired by the gahfiya, the traditional Arab woven cap worn across the region by young children before they start wearing the full headgear.
Renowned Qatari architect Ibrahim M Jaidah, GCEO at Arab Engineering Bureau, is the chief architect behind the design of the circular 40,000-seater stadium which will host spectators of the matches up to the quarter-final stage during the 2022 FIFA World championship.
The new sport venue will be wrapped by a white cladding with diamond-shaped punctures which recall the traditional texture of the gahfiya. While the materiality of the building skin has not been disclosed yet, it is envisaged that, due to the harsh climate, the cladding will be made of white concrete panels, in order to provide the required thermal mass against the heat wave and to reflect the intense solar irradiation.
Al Thumama Stadium will be built within an area considered the southern gateway of the capital, located few kilometres away from the center of Doha and close to the Hamad International Airport. Once completed, in 2020, it is expected that the new venue will be served by extensive public transport links.
Solar-driven cooling technology
A very special cooling system using solar energy will be embedded into the construction of the new stadium. Cooled air will flow from a plenum through specially designed perforated seats and then will flow down to the pitch creating comfortable conditions for the spectators and the players even when outdoor temperature crosses 44 degrees. A large solar panel installation will provide the required energy to feed the cutting-edge cooling technology which comprises an array of absorption chillers and storage tank. The system was demonstrated via a 500-seater prototype stadium designed by Arup and AEB and built nearby.
Green Building Certification
Al Thumama Stadium will be constructed according to the international green building guidance and best practices. The development will be design and constructed to achieve Global Sustainability Assessment System Trust (GSAS) four-star certification.
GSAS is a widely recognised third-party green building rating system specifically designed for the MENA region and aimed at fostering a more sustainable future in Qatar and the region.
For the construction of the new sporting landmark, Qatari construction giant AlJaber Engineer LLC (JEC) and leading Turkish construction firm, Tekfen Construction have been awarded the main construction contract.
Al Thumama Stadium is one of the new stadia planned for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Seven other venues, including a new 80,000-seater stadium design by Foster+Partners and the Zaha Hadid Architects’ Al Wakrah Stadium, are currently under construction.
A further new sport infrastructure, the Khalifa International Stadium, was recently completed in Doha.
Qatar is promising a spectacular event will be one for the region and the world to celebrate. The World Cup Championship will kick off in November 2022.
