Colorful shipping containers and a modular steel structure make up Stadium 974, which Fenwick Iribarren Architects completed in Qatar ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Formerly known as Ras Abu Aboud, the 40,000-seat sports complex near the port of Doha is the first stadium designed to be fully demountable in the history of the FIFA World Cup.

Stadium 974 was designed by Spanish studio Fenwick Iribarren Architects with structural engineers Schlaich Bergermann Partner and design office Hilson Moran.

Its modular structure combines recycled shipping containers and a steel structure, parts of which are recycled.

The goal is for the stadium to be dismantled and reassembled in a new location after the 2022 football tournament, or transformed into a series of smaller venues.

Its modular design has also reduced construction costs, construction time, and material waste, and organizers said water efficiency methods ensure that it will reduce water use by 40% per compared to a conventional stage development.

Stadium 974 owes its name to the number of sea containers used in its construction. The number 974 is also the international country code.

Shipping containers, many of which were used to transport construction materials to the site, are a nod to Qatar’s maritime history and the site’s industrial heritage.

While forming parts of the stadium exterior, some of these steel containers contain stairs, concession stands, and bathrooms.

According to the Supreme Committee of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (SC), Stadium 974 was designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects to achieve five-star certification from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) for its construction and design.

GSAS assesses green buildings and infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa. Certification is available for the design, construction and operation of a structure, with six stars being the highest possible rating.

The shape of the stadium and the spaces between the seats facilitate natural ventilation, which means that artificial cooling is not necessary. This is facilitated by the stadium’s proximity to the sea.

The SC also hopes the project will serve as an “innovative blueprint” for more sustainable stadium designs for future large-scale events.

“The impressive Stadium 974 is a proud symbol of sustainability and innovation,” said SC President and Engineer Yasir Al Jamal.

“We believe that this innovative venue is a game-changer for future hosts of mega-events,” added SC Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi.

The stadium will host its first match on November 30. Other recently completed stadiums for the tournament include Ibrahim M Jaidah’s Al Thumama Stadium and Education City Stadium which Fenwick Iribarren Architects also designed.

Stadium 974 is the only stadium near the sea and will also be the first stadium football fans will see when they arrive in Qatar for the tournament, due to its proximity to Hamad International Airport.

Elsewhere, recent architectural projects that used repurposed shipping containers include a homeless housing complex in LA and a black vacation home in New York City.

Other reversible buildings featured on Dezeen include the Triodos Bank, a half-timbered office nestled in the Dutch woods, and the egg-shaped Tij Observatory in the Netherlands.