National Stadium

First and foremost, the stadium reflects Qatari culture and identity through the creation the precious bowl formed by calligraphy and acting as an iwan open to the world. The iwan communicates to a global televisual audience the very essence of what it means to be Qatari….to be modern and progressive yet crafted from a tradition that is Islamic, Arabic and distinctly Qatari. Through the iwan we use tempered light and shadow to create layers of spaces that soften the monumental scale of the stadium through earthy and robust materiality that responds and reacts to climate through a contemporary Qatari vernacular In sport the scheme addresses the fundamental question of providing a world class sporting venue with evocative spaces that will be unique only to Qatar. Without a doubt, this is no other anonymous stadium; this will be the citadel of Qatari sport and Qatari health where the journey to the stadium and the experience within it are discoveries in their own right.

In legacy we consider the wider social purpose for the National Stadium. The incorporation of the Qatar Rooftop Botanical Gardens together with the permanence of the perimeter iwan and the sunken undercroft of vaulted cave like spaces for use in sport and wellbeing provides sustenance to legacy, placemaking and the idea of destination. Moreover, the very idea of legacy is coupled also with the principle for sustainable development that will exceed FIFA´s sustainability requirements but more importantly that will create a viable and thriving sustainable urban space that will be at the heart of Lusail´s continuing development. To support our efforts, the scheme will also visibly incorporate sustainable design elements including the rooftop gardens and energy making canopies that will be integrated into the overall vision.