Grimshaw has won a contract to design a network of recreational sporting
facilities across Qatar.
To be funded by the Qatar Olympic Committee, the Al Farjan Recreational
Sports Facilities aim to encourage community participation in sporting activities
by serving as an informal space for young people, families, and sports
enthusiasts to develop healthy lifestyles in a social environment. The
multipurpose sports facilities will be equipped with a variety of courts,
pitches, outdoor children’s playgrounds, public amenities, and social areas.
Grimshaw’s concept design incorporates high quality amenities for sports
including football, volleyball, basketball, and handball. An elevated café at
the centre of the complex will function as a vibrant social hub surrounded by
the various courts and pitches. Fabric canopies that visually resemble the
desert flowers native to Qatar will provide shade against the harsh conditions and
mark key routes to recreation and seating areas.
From an environmental perspective, Grimshow has added shading canopies,
passive programming, and a grey water recycling system into the design.
Grimshaw Partner Keith Brewis comments that their design will create
highly accessible informal public spaces that enrich social activities while
also developing athletic talent within the local community.
Designed as a kit of parts and deployable in arrangements of various
sizes, Grimshaw’s design allows the bespoke components to be easily adapted for
the construction of future recreational facilities throughout Qatar.
