Qatar World Cup stadium to change colour throughout the day

The Qatar Foundation stadium, one of the emirate’s 2022 World Cup venues, is going to be a “diamond in the desert” that will appear to change colour as the sun crosses the sky, according to its architect.  

The stadium will create this effect by means of geometric patterns on the outside of the structure. Mark Fenwick, a senior partner in Fenwick Iribarren Architects, the stadium’s designer, said: “At no two times of the day will the stadium appear the same.”

Artist’s depiction of the Qatar Foundation stadium

The ground will be built in Education City, a Doha suburb. It will have a capacity of 40,000 and will host group and quarter finals matches. After the tournament, the upper tier of the arena will be dismantled and donated to a developing country, leaving a permanent capacity of 25,000.  

The facility will be part of the larger Qatar Foundation Health and Wellness Precinct, which will include gyms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, clinics and areas for other sports. Members of the public will be able to use the stadium after the World Cup is over.

Artist’s depiction of the Qatar Foundation stadium

Hassan Al Thawadi, the secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said: “This is another milestone in our preparations for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and is the fourth stadium design we have unveiled in the past 13 months.” 

The stadium is expected to be completed in 2018.