Pattern's Qatar 2022 World Cup stadium designs unveiled

Images of Pattern Design’s plans for the redevelopment of Qatar’s Al Rayyan stadium for the 2022 football World Cup have been unveiled.

The London-based practice is working with Pascall & Watson, which is carrying out work on an associated precinct, landscape architect Gillespies and design consultant Ramboll. Aecom is project manager on the scheme, which involves extending the existing stadium’s capacity to 40,000.

Work on the Qatar deal is due to be completed in first quarter of 2019 with the stadium reduced to a 21,000 capacity once the tournament has finished. The upper tier of seats will be removed and sent to developing nations in need of sports infrastructure.

Pattern founder Dipesh Patel said: “A key feature of the stadium is its elegant, ornate façade: a contemporary take on traditional Naquish patterns specific to Qatari culture. This builds on our interest in how patterns are culturally rich symbols with a universal appeal.”

Pattern was founded by ex-Arup Associates staff in 2009, including Patel who worked on the Kensington Oval project in Barbados.

It is the fifth stadium design that the Qatari organisers – the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – have unveiled. Previous schemes include the 40,000-seater new-build Al Wakrah stadium by Zaha Hadid and Aecom.

Last month a Foster & Partners team was confirmed as the architect for the stadium which will hold the final of the 2022 event.

The Foster’s team includes Populous and Arup with the stadium, which will also host the opening ceremony, holding 80,000.

The dates of the competition are set to be switched to November and December to avoid the soaring summer temperatures in Qatar with the final at Lusail Stadium now expected to be played on December 18 at the latest.