Stadium seats made from palm tree waste proposed for Qatar World Cup innovation challenge
A team of engineers in Saudi Arabia has proposed how stadium seats in the near future could be made more sustainably using the fibres of palm trees.
A five-member group from Al Faisal University submitted the plan as part of a regional innovation competition established by the Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which is overseeing the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the country.
The team’s method involves using the waste of date palm trees mixed with recycled polymers such as PVC to produce the seats.
The project has been designed with sustainability in mind, as palm tree waste and polymers are reused, and the seat itself can be recycled to manufacture other products when required.
The engineers have fabricated test samples of the material to determine the feasibility of using it in the production process.
“Palm trees have always been part of the Arabian culture and the Arab world is home to 70 per cent of the world’s 120 million palm trees,” said team leader Nourah Alrubaiq. “The palm tree waste in Saudi Arabia is 75,000 tons annually, and that presented a huge opportunity for us to develop a sustainable solution to make the best of the discarded biomass instead of disposing it.”
She added that early studies found that just 1-3 per cent of the annual tree waste could be used to produce 40,000 to 60,000 seats. She argued that as as one ton of the waste ranges between US$100–150 in price, the cost of seat production would be considerably less than it is using more traditional materials.
The team – which also includes Suhailah Alkhawaske, Nada Haboudal, Arwa Alanqary and Noreen Mandora – are the university’s first female engineering graduates.
The have reached the semi-final stage of the competition, called Challenge 22, which is seeking innovative concepts capable of being transformed into a viable products for the World Cup. They are now fine-tuning their proposal before pitching it to judges for the competition final in Doha on May 22.
“In the short term we want to secure the support for patent registration, and in the long run implement the idea and finally conclude the feasibility of its use in projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and other regional projects,” said Alrubaiq.
Qatar Doha World Cup football FIFA innovation engineering design recycling sustainability Challenge 22 Saudi ArabiaQatar reveals US$500m per week spending for 2022 World Cup infrastructure
Qatar World Cup stadium reaches construction milestone
Work set to start on Qatar's diamond-shaped World Cup stadium
Coconuts can inspire us to make stronger buildings, say scientists
Construction moves forward on Ramboll and Pattern's Qatar 2022 World Cup venue


MAD Arkitekter nature town celebrates the beautiful landscape of Martineåsen

Pierattelli Architetture proposes new football stadium for ACF Fiorentina

Snøhetta's Xingtai Grand Theater provides a cultural cornerstone in Hebei Province

Hilton's Higgins Hotel New Orleans tells the story of World War II

Funding approved for LMN Architects-designed shark pavilion at Seattle Aquarium

Woods Bagot to create international food and wine destination in Adelaide

JKMM Architects to design new annexe for National Museum of Finland

MVRDV to return Seoul waterfront to nature as public park

Hall Arts Hotel, designed by HKS Architects and Bentel & Bentel, opens in Dallas

OPEN Architecture's Chapel of Sound valley amphitheatre tops out

Hou de Sousa create "kaleidoscopic beacon" for New York plaza

Petr Pelčák's Hard Rock Prague to feature light wall, spa and rooftop bar

Snøhetta's new public garden at 550 Madison to be "green oasis"

BarberMcMurry offer green-roofed, terracotta-screened and treehouse options for Knoxville Science Museum

Tham & Videgård's +One Tower looks almost matchstick-built

Concept artwork revealed for "one of the most ambitious theme park projects ever in Europe"

Bertil Harström and Johan Krauppi create floating hotel and spa

Civic Architects' LocHal Public Library named World Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival

Exhibitions begin at Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre

BIG and Mecanoo win at INSIDE World Festival of Interiors

State Library Victoria reopens after Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Architectus revamp

Mixed-use, community and culture recognised at World Architecture Festival day two

Studio Fuksas celebrate square's ancient history with high-tech future

Diamond Schmitt and TWBTA reveal new Geffen Hall revamp plans

South Korean theme park with five hotels and 18-hole golf course gets go-ahead

Cambridge United reveals KSS designs for multi-use stadium

Heatherwick among winners on day one of World Architecture Festival 2019

Pharrell's Toronto tower, Untitled, will be parametric, natural and universal

Intu creating eight-neighbourhood retail and leisure resort in Spain
