Perkins + Will Unveils Design for Eco-Friendly Dubai Stadium Meant to Naturally Cool Fans

The average temperature in Dubai during the month of July is about 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Now imagine that extreme heat while sitting in a stadium alongside tens of thousands of people. It’s unappealing, if not downright dangerous to one’s health, and exactly what Perkins + Will is attempting to fix with its recently unveiled plans for a new sports stadium in the city. The architecture firm’s eco-friendly venue, to be situated in the eastern part of the Dubai (away from the Persian Gulf), is designed in a way that would cool down the fans inside without the use of air-conditioning. The structure would have a porous façade consisting of perforated metal that allows air to pass through while also preventing hot sand from entering the grounds. Its roof would be made with a translucent Teflon-coated glass, which would not only provide the fans the feel of an open-air stadium but also reflect an estimated 75 percent of sunlight away from the field. Below the stadium, a large pool would serve as a natural thermal sink, cooling the air in the immediate vicinity. Finally, trees would be planted throughout the site to block hot winds sweeping in from all directions. With a capacity for some 60,000 fans, the bowl-like stadium would measure 1.3 million square feet, making it the largest stadium in the UAE.

Teflon-coated glass would give the stadium the appearance of an open-air facility.

At this point, there’s no guarantee the stadium will be built. But if it gets the green light, it could serve as a venue for FIFA-sanctioned soccer, a sport that is very popular in the region, along with other major events.