We have all been keeping an eye on the World Cup these days. Today is a day of feelings of defeat because yesterday Spain was eliminated from the competition. If there has been one thing this championship has had, it has been a lot of publicity and news not without controversy, from unfulfilled advertising agreements with many renowned brands, great indignation over the conditions of the workers of the stadium construction companies, the rejection by great artists of millionaire contracts to attend and promote the event, and the problems caused by the high temperatures due to an increasingly extreme climate.
In terms of logistics, Qatar has deployed a huge amount of resources. It has built in the middle of nowhere and in record time accommodation areas for fans, as well as entire stadiums for exclusive use during the World Cup, today we are going to make a special mention to one of those stadiums.
The 974 Stadium
The ephemeral 974 Stadium, built on the shores of the Gulf, not only offers stunning views of the West Bay, but also an intriguing design. Constructed from shipping containers, less material has been used than for traditional stadiums, in homage to the nearby harbour and the industrial history of the site on which it sits.
It is the first FIFA-compliant stadium that can be fully dismantled and repurposed for other uses after the tournament. Its design is flexible, allowing it to be rebuilt with the same seating capacity elsewhere or to make several smaller fields using the same materials.
Its tiered seating area is designed to be naturally ventilated, so no air conditioning is required. The entire steel structure of the stadium can be recycled and reused after the tournament, depending on the legacy option chosen. The water-efficient methods employed ensure that water consumption is reduced by 40% compared to a conventional stadium.
Dismantling operations began yesterday.
Other major structures in Doha include the National Museum, inspired by a desert rose and designed by Jean Nouvel, the Tornado, the tubular façade of the West Bay and the National Mosque, the only one in the world with two minarets. But while we’re on the subject of sporting events, we’re talking about The Torch.
The Torch is located in the Aspire area, the city’s main sports area. Here you will find the swimming pools, the rehabilitation centre and the oldest stadium in the city of Doha.
The Torch was erected in 2006 for the Asian Olympic Games hosted by Qatar. Hadi Simaan’s work was conceived as a gigantic torch that would house the Olympic fire during the Games. Its heart is a huge gas tube, while its top, 300 metres above the ground, opens up to make room for the Olympic flame.
Sixteen years later it has been converted into a major five-star hotel with glass walls offering panoramic views of the city. Needless to say, there is no longer a flame at the top.
What do you think about this type of “sustainable” constructions?
