Al Thumama Stadium’s designs surface

The design for the Al Thumama Stadiumstadium is by the Qatari architect’s, Ibrahim M Jaidah and design consultantsHeerim joint venture. The spectacular design for Al Thumama soccer stadium, being constructed for the 2022 World Cup tournament in Qatar, has recently beenrevealed. The stadium’s exterior skin has taken inspiration from the traditional ‘gahfiya’ cap worn by Arab men for its woven-pattern.

The Al Thumama Stadium is located six kilometers south of downtown Doha and will be able to seat up to 40,000 people at one time and will be used from the group stages to the quarterfinals. After the World Cup is done with, the structure will be converted into a “legacy mode” containing 20,000 seats and will accommodate a sports clinic and boutique hotel in the upper stands. The stadium authorities also plan on using special cooling systems, installed and used year-round.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the organization managing the construction of infrastructure required for the World Cup, touts the Al Thumama Stadium as a ‘nod to the past while offering an exciting glimpse into Qatar’s tomorrow’. The use of the gahfiya for the inspiration forms an important part of every young boy’s pathway to adulthood, hence it is something that goes beyond the time frames of the country’s past, present and future as the committee adds, “It is an arena that symbolises Qatar’s youth, the country’s emergence as a major player on the global sporting scene and the shared Arab heritage that inspired its creation.”

The country currently has seven other World Cup stadiums under construction including Lusail Stadium (where opening and closing ceremonies will be held) designed by Foster + Partners and ZahaHadid Architects’ Al Wakrah Stadium.