Al Farjan sports clubs for a greener, fitter Qatar

What’s the best way to get a nation of increasingly obese residents to embrace a healthier life? Host a World Cup and build a bunch of awesome sports clubs. Having secured 2022, the Qatar Olympic Committee has now commissioned Grimshaw Architects to install green recreational facilities throughout the emirate.

A friend of mine in Qatar just sent me a photograph of their car thermometer – it’s currently 50 degrees Celsius outside. Not the kind of weather most of us want to run around in, which might help to explain why so many Qataris are bulging at the belt.

So when Grimshaw Architects won an international competition to design sports facilities, they knew they had to come up with a project that would be easily deployable with a minor environmental impact, and provide plenty of shade for both users and spectators.

Qatar’s new Al Farjan recreational facilities come in a kit of sorts that can be scaled up or down – depending on where they will be placed.

They come with all of the amenities one would want, including facilities for football, volleyball, basketball, and handball. There are also courts, pitches, and playgrounds for the kiddies, as well as a cafe in the center and other social areas.

The idea is to provide a fun environment in which Qataris can improve their lifestyles, and become infinitely more healthy. But a good sports facility doesn’t happen by accident, it comes from thoughtful design.

Having worked with Qatar in the past, most notably with their awesome temporary pavilion for Rio +20 in 2012, Grimshaw Architects is well aware of the need to use smart materials to ensure a comfortable environment, while cutting down on water and energy use at the same time.

Al Farjan sports clubs for a greener, fitter Qatar