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stadium will incorporate restaurants, cafés, activity zones and
information kiosks.
“There will be a number of
tracks for running; some skateboarding parks, basketball
courts… we’re creating a multiuse facility for Doha,” Glasson
says.
These facilities will enhance the
focus of the space, and allow for
events to be hosted there long beyond FIFA 2022. Doha has become
a popular destination within the
Arab world and serves as host for
the Arabian Games, as well as numerous international sports and
equestrian events each year.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA
“As we say in New Zealand,
Doha punches above its weight,”
Glasson continues. “The growing
local population and the proximity to Europe, Africa and Asia –
plus the fact that the sea is close
by – makes Doha ideally suited for
hosting these sort of events.
A coastal environment brings
landscape design challenges,
though. Notably, the high saline
content of the native soil needed
to be ameliorated. Along with a
freshwater irrigation system, a
layer of topsoil and mulch was
laid above the sandy base soil. “Of
course, we’re also using heat-resistant, drought-tolerant native
and exotic plants,” says Glasson.
“Most of the natural vegetation
is typical to the desert – rather
scrubby and not especially remarkable. However, there are
certain species of native trees
that will do well in this setting, so
we’re bringing those in.”
The tree planting will assist pedestrian legibility and wayfinding
throught the parkland. The two
main trees are Ficus nitida (Indian
Laurel Fig) and the native Prosopis cineraria (Jandi). Other native
specimens will include Acacia tortilis (Samar), and Tamarix aphylla
(Athel Tree).
Exotic species include Euca-