Unfolding Narratives

THE BRIEF
The original brief from the Qatar 2022 client team was for a simple
pavilion that demonstrated some cooling performance technologies.
However, after working with the client in workshops, Arup
Associates developed with them the idea of a radical environmental
approach and the idea of zero carbon technologies being a
differentiator for their Qatar cup bid – a key part of the eventual Qatar
bid brought to reality the themes of a responsible world cup in a very
hot climate and the issues of being able to dissemble it and ship the
technologies to other cultures.
Working to an absolute deadline of the
FIFA officials visit on September 14,
2010 to have a completed stadium,
fully operational under zero carbon
conditions, the showcase was
designed in just 8 weeks, and had a
construction timeline of 4.5 months
after the contract had been selected.
Appointment in December 2009,
work started at the site in May 2010
and was completed merely 4 months
later in September 2010.
Whilst the imperative to impress
FIFA was strong, budget constraints
were still in place and costs were very
carefully controlled throughout design
and construction. During the FIFA
visit, with an outside temperature
having reached 44 degrees only 2 hours
earlier, the temperature on the pitch was recorded as 23 degrees.
THE DESIGN
The stadium has been designed as a hybrid of fast and lightweight
construction technologies with local, vernacular means of
construction.
The showcase form is directly informed by aligning the functional
requirements of FIFA for player and spectator comfort and excellence
of experience together with a radical environmental architectural
language. Externally, this form is developed in response to sun, wind
and macro climatic conditions; the showcase has a legible façade and
logical form. The resulting language aims to articulate the integrated
structural, technological and environmental concepts; whilst providing
an enhanced setting for people to interact with the sporting spectacle
and the building environment.
THE REVOLVING ROOF CANOPY
The compelling rhythmic geometry of The Showcase’s canopy roof
plays an important part in the sustainability strategy of the stadium.
The canopy roof rotates, in 14.5 minutes, to provide cooling shade
within the building and insulated against the hot sun in summer. It is
the first roof of its type and is already considered a pioneering move
towards a more environmentally responsible approach to stadia
architecture. The multi-skinned roof structure is cladded with
permeable screens of triangulated PVC fabric with a low emissivity
coating supported on a secondary steel frame, with an inner cladding
of triangulated ‘pillows’ of translucent ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluro
Ethylene) membrane, providing both
thermal performance and light
transmittance, keeping radiant and
conductive heat out and allowing
natural light into the arena.
CHILLING THE STADIUM
Just outside the Showcase is a
photovoltaic installation – a sun farm,
connected to the structure’s electrical
system and the national grid. The
venues’ solar panels will operate yearround,
continuously exporting electrical
energy to the national grid. On a match
day, the higher electrical demand will
bring electricity back into the facility
from the national grid.
The Qatar 2022 Showcase offers the
most sophisticated techniques for
capturing and storing the power of the
sun. And, as all the energy for the
showcase is generated from the sun, over the year, the building has no
carbon emissions.
The ideas used in this Showcase are intended to show how energy can
be considered as an integrated aspect of architecture, engineering and
infrastructure with renewable energy contributing for the first time at
scale in Qatar. Following Qatar’s success in the bid, a range of stadia,
fan zones and other facilities will be required for The World Cup
Games which will take benefit from these design ideas and
technologies.
The Showcase has now been handed to the Qatar Science and
Technology Park who champion research and technology business in
Doha. It will be used for developing the technologies pioneered in this
project for many sports and use in similar hot arid regions.
The project is recognised as being at the forefront of future stadia
design and sets a template for creating a positive sporting environment
for spectators, players and the local community.
Architecture Update March 2016 35