In Doha, Ibrahim M Jaidah, architect chief of Arab Engineering Bureau, designed for developer Nasser bin Hamad Al Thani a building in the shape of the year 2022 to celebrate the county hosting the FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Qatar this November and December. "We wanted to create a building related to the year and the generation that made the tournament happen," Jaidah said. "I want the building to stand as a beautiful memory".
Located at Doha Sports City, opposite the Khalifa International Stadium – among the eight stadiums that will host matches during the World Cup – the 2022 building, as its developer said, is "the first building in the world to resemble a year”.
The building is formed from four blocks (in shape of two and zero), connected by a two-storey podium: on the ground floor there are a supermarket, cafes and restaurants, while on the level above are located a sports centre and health clubs. Offices for several sporting bodies occupy the towers.
Since many photos of stadiums are taken from above, along with the front facade depicting the number 2022, Jaidan was keen for the year to be seen also in aerial shots – effect obtained by combining paving and mesh-covered areas on the roofs of the four blocks.