Qatar lifts curtain on Zaha Hadid-designed FIFA World Cup stadium
Final images of the 40,000-capacity Al Wakrah stadium – designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid – have come to light.
The expansive sports facility, which will host matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup first broke ground in 2014.
It is the second tournament-ready stadium to be inaugurated after the Khalifa International Stadium opened to the public in 2017.
Hadid reportedly shaped Al Wakrah to mirror the lateen sails of traditional Arabian dhow boats.
According to Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the structure's design was finalised by engineering American planning and engineering company AECOM and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).
Various development and infrastructure firms have also contributed to the project, including Midmac and PORR Qatar.
In a description from ZHA's website, the architects said their project "echoes the forms of Al Wakrah's dhow boat hulls that are upturned on the beach by local fishermen when they return to land to create shelter".
"The fluid lines of a dhow's wooden structure are expressed in the stadium's façade and roof," they added.
Speaking on the project, the site's project manager, Thani Khalifa Al Zarraa, said: "Its innovative and futuristic design means it is set to be one of the iconic venues during the first FIFA World Cup in the Arab world.
"We hope thousands of football fans across the country will join us for this landmark occasion as we celebrate the progress we have made to-date and look forward to 2022 with renewed excitement."
After the FIFA games, the stadium's 20,000 seats will be donated to burgeoning football projects overseas.
Al Wakrawh is set to host the Amir Cup on 16 May.
Qatar FIFA Zaha Hadid World CupUAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
How Portugal’s biggest brewer enlisted the help of one of the country’s best known architects to turn two historic nature parks into thermal spa and nature destinations