360 Architecture to design two new stadia in Iraq
US-based 360 Architecture has been selected to design two football stadia and a multi-use sports site with two separate stadia in Iraq. The firm will work with Iraq-based Anwar Soura General Contracting on the projects.
The Anwar Soura/360 Architecture team is now working on three separate sports projects in Iraq. It was recently selected by the country's Ministry of Youth and Sport to deliver two new 30,000-seat football stadiums with practice facilities ï¾ one in Al-Menaa, a suburb of the southern city of Basrah, and the other in the city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad. The estimated construction cost of the Al-Menaa stadium is approximately US$86 million, while the Najaf stadium's estimated cost is US$83.75 million.
The team is also working on Basrah Sport City, a multi-use development anchored by a 65,000-seat stadium and a 10,000-seat stadium that are under construction and on schedule to host the 2013 Gulf Cup.
360 Architecture designer Ryan Gedney explained that the concept for the Al-Menaa stadium reflects the culture and heritage of Basrah, which has a rich nautical tradition as Iraq's port city, stating "the progressive design suggests the city's historic association with the water."
Gedney also noted that it was important for the Al-Menaa stadium to have its own distinct identity, apart from the character of sports city complex to the south of Basrah. While its exterior form stands out, a series of intimate and pedestrian-friendly park and public spaces tie the facility to the surrounding district.
In contrast, the Najaf stadium (reflects its location in one of Iraq's most significant cities. Its features include its square exterior and Islamic influenced latticework, which bear a complimentary resemblance to the sacred the Imam Ali Mosque in the heart of the city. Another important feature, given temperatures in the region, is its use of passive cooling towers - an economical and sustainable way to make the stadium's concourse more comfortable.
The new Al-Menaa stadium is scheduled to be completed in October 2013. The Najaf stadium's completion date is unspecified at present.
Image: The proposed Al-Menaa stadium
3rd March 2011 - BASRA SPORT CITY: SOUTHERN IRAQ’S SPORTING ‘PEACE DIVIDEND’
