“What is a Bedouin tent but an eminently practical, completely portable house demonstrating all the principal elements of permanent architecture,” remarked Maude de Schauensee in an 1968 article for Expedition magazine published by Penn Museum in Philadelphia.

The description easily lends itself to the Al Bayt stadium, built by Webuild for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Qatar in 2022. It is a structure that combines in an extraordinary way tradition and innovation. Located at Al Kohr, 46 kilometres north of Doha, the stadium takes inspiration from the “bayt al sha’ar”, the traditional tent used by the nomadic peoples of Qatar. It was designed to be partially dismantled, with the parts used elsewhere after the World Cup. The stadium is also built in such as way that its capacity can be reduced from 60,000 spectators to 32,000. One section of it can later be converted into an hotel, and another into a shopping centre. A third section can have its metal structure dismantled and donated to developing countries that lack sporting facilities. In order to protect players and spectators from the desert heat, special polymers cover the outer shell.

The latest in technology will keep internal temperatures at an adequate level. Under the seats, there is a ventilation system to keep the air cool.

On November 20, the Al Bayt will host the first match of the World Cup, and then another nine during the tournament, receiving a combined total of more than half a million spectators, comfortably seated and cooled.