Qatar unveils new Al Rayyan Stadium design inspired by sand dunes

In a glitzy ceremony last night, Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organizing committee has revealed a new desert design for its fifth football stadium.

The new 40,000-seat capacity complex will be built on the site of the now-deconstructed Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.

The former structure was intended to serve as the basis of the new stadium, but ended up being torn down to meet FIFA’s technical requirements for a proposed World Cup host venue.

While the facility was originally designed to look like it was wrapped in a massive digital display board, the new plans for the stadium, located some 20km west of Doha’s city center, look markedly different.

Designed by UK-based Ramboll and Pattern, the rectangular-shaped building is slated to have soft corners and undulating waves, drawing on Islamic geometric influences that are also evident in the facade of Qatar’s iconic Burj Al Arab building in West Bay.

In a statement, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL) said the Al Rayyan stadium boasts seven patterns: “Shield, desert rose, chain, nut heart, banana spiral, palm tree and bridal ring patterns. One of the six includes the bridal ring, a pattern referencing the heart of the stadium which unifies family and society. The pattern is also inspired by the Islamic and cultural concept of women at the core of the family and their important role in society.

The shield pattern, which predominantly weaves in the other six patterns, represents loyalty, unity and perseverance. The patterns unify to form one grand pattern for Al Rayyan, defining the past and future. The third and fourth patterns in the new design play on nature; the desert rose, a unique symbol of the natural ornaments in the desert, and the palm tree.”

Original article Chantelle D’Mello

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Qatar unveils new Al Rayyan Stadium design inspired by sand dunes