A giant revolving crystal ball provides a glimpse of Qatar’s 2022 world cup ambitions, which aren’t looking so sustainable after all. Apriori Communications commissioned Vedran Pedišić (SANGRAD) and Erick Velasco Farerra (AVP-arhitekti) to design a technologically-advanced spherical structure that will play host to a new FIFA soccer museum.
The glowing orb’s design takes inspiration from Qatar’s pearl-fishing roots, according to Erick Velasco Farerra, and will incorporate cutting-edge technology to achieve zero-carbon emissions.
A museum and shopping center that gently revolves around a central vertical axis during the day, this reflective crystal ball is designed to become a landmark destination that will peer over Oasis City – a partially-buried new urban development that will boast narrow roads and green city squares reminiscent of past Arabic cities.
So far, the Crystal Ball – Light of the Future sounds impressive, but like fairytale crystal balls, the glittering structure has predictive powers that unveil the spirit of Qatar’s world cup ambitions.
On the world stage for the first time, the small gulf nation is desperate to show off its technological prowess, which they will buy with fossil-fuel profits. But true sustainability can’t be bought.
Even if the orb is able to self-power its daily revolutions, it remains to be seen whether Qatar will use locally-sourced and manufactured materials or treat their laborers fairly – all of which are essential to genuinely sustainable development.
Football fans and design enthusiasts would be remiss to ignore the fate of foreign workers, as reports are already streaming in of human rights abuses inflicted upon those who toil under the hot sun to transform fancy concepts like these into working buildings.
To get a better sense of what foreign workers face in the Gulf, read our report about thousands of laborers who live in the shadows of Dubai’s shining skyline.
:: Inhabitat
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.
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