QATAR
Lusail Iconic Stadium Te Qatari government’s plans for the other eleven new and to be renovated
arenas include various venues in seven host cities across the nation with gross capacities ranging from just over 44,000 to 68,000 fans. German architecture firm Albert Speer & Partner GmbH will design eight of the new stadiums to be built for 2022.
“Te designs of the stadiums are based on influential Qatari motives and
herewith symbolise the diversity of the country. Furthermore, the stadiums are cooled using solar energy in order to guarantee optimal match conditions, even throughout the warmer summer months,” the firm said. In line with its preparations for 2022, Qatar will receive several other additions
to its architectural identity over the coming years. International architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman have recently unveiled the design for a mixed use sports complex in Doha, serving as the home venue for Qatar’s premier football team, Lekhwiya Club. “Te complex was designed to meet the business and operational goals of a world class sports and entertainment complex and contributes to the architectural vitality of Qatar’s largest city and its growing reputation as the region’s sports capita,” Perkins Eastman said. “All of the stadiums will be integrated into Qatar’s new metro and rail
network with most of them being less than 30 minutes apart, and the longest distance between any two venues being one hour,” Asteco said, meaning that spectators will be able to watch more than one game in a day.
Infrastructure Development Qatar’s World Cup strategy includes continued infrastructure development, “which will not only enable visitors and residents to enjoy the tournament, but will provide the foundation for future growth and national development,” authorities said.
Roads According to government reports, Qatar has pledged to spend as much as $70 billion to build and expand a world-class infrastructure network. “Although much of Qatar’s road network was built during the past 10 years,
the government has committed $20 billion to expanding the network until 2016,” authorities said. Commitments include major new roads connecting the new Doha International Airport to all cities in Qatar, and also a new motorway to neighbouring Bahrain by 2015.
Airport Air transport capacity is also set to dramatically increase when the new Doha International Airport opens to replace the current international airport later this year. Two new runways will expand the capacity for handling both passenger arrivals (from 15 to 50 million passengers per year), and freight traffic (from 360,000 to 2 million tons), placing Qatar “in the position to accommodate the influx of air passengers as high as 60,000 to 80,000 in the ten hours before and after matches,” authorities said.
Rail network For the first time, Qatar is also developing a world-class rail network after
Qatar Railways Company (RAIL) and Deutsche Bahn signed a $26 billion agreement in 2009, the government reports. Te agreement set out a joint venture to construct an environmentally friendly and attractive metro network in Doha, with four lines connecting 98 stations across 300 kilometres. “Depending on the need, the lines will run through tunnels, at ground level and as an overhead railway, and will connect major locations such as the new Doha Airport, the Lusail City urban development area, Education City and West Bay,” authorities said. An additional long-distance network will provide mobility for passengers and
freight, with links to neighboring countries Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Te long- distance network will include a 180-kilometer long high-speed line to Bahrain and a 100 kilometre passenger transport line to Saudi Arabia. “Te real estate market is also expected to improve given the inevitable
creation of thousands of jobs in the coming years. Tis will have an impact on values as demand will increase as more and more expatriates locate to Qatar,” Asteco said l
44 I CITYSCAPE I MAY 2012
Image: Foster + Partners
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