The Showcase is a prototype stadium used to demonstrate the technology that will cool the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
We had our doubts when we first heard that Qatar wanted to host the 2022 Soccer World Cup in the desert, in the middle of the summer. And we became even more suspicious when whispers of bribery rippled through the wires. But Arup’s mini stadium called The Showcase, which was partly responsible for clinching the bid in the first place, demonstrates that Qatar is poised to make a success of its wild plans. No one thought South Africa would pull off 2010; maybe this is a game that we play? In any case, step in for a glimpse at Arup’s zero carbon prototype stadium, which showcases technology that will keep athletes and spectators cool in 2022.
Arup Associates has taken a trifold approach to making the 2022 World Cup a feasible and sustainable event. First, they have combined passive design that references traditional desert architecture with modern technology in order to mitigate energy consumption and ensure a comfortable environment both the revelers and the teams.
Then they employed two different kinds of solar technology to generate energy. A field of photovoltaic panels and Fresnel parabolic mirrors will generate enough power to keep the stadium energized and cool and to feed back into the National Grid when everyone has gone home (or to their respective hotels.) With biofuels will also be added into the mix, The Showcase is a zero carbon facility.
Keeping large stadiums cool in 40 celsius degree plus weather requires a great amount of energy, so Arup capture generated heat and feed it through absorption chillers and eutectic tanks in order to provide cooling and lighting.
Finally, a maneuverable roof canopy can be left open to provide natural ventilation or it can be closed to shade the stadium and allow a special underseat cooling system to do its work. According to World Architecture News, this technology is so effective that the interior temperatures will be far lower than guidelines set out by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) medical committee.
More on World Cup 2022 in Qatar:
Qatar Accused of Bribing Their Way to Solar-Powered 2022 World Cup
SLIDESHOW: Entries for Qatar’s 2022 Stadiums
World Cup 2022: Is Qatar too Hot to Bid?
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
