CAMELDROME

Camel racing is a traditional sport deeply rooted in the Arab world, where it arouses genuine passion among the general public. However, unlike the traditional image of horse racing at the Grand National in England, the camels in these competitions are each guided by a robotic jockey.

A decade ago, children served as camel jockeys in races due to their small size and low weight, which made the camels faster. However, this practice raised concerns about child exploitation, leading to the replacement of these young riders with remotely controlled “robot” jockeys in 2005, operated from a 4×4 vehicle. At times, these 4×4 vehicles are joined by media cars, security vehicles, VIP cars, and ambulances, resulting in a significant number of vehicles running parallel to the race track, causing pollution, noise, and high fuel consumption.

The studio’s proposed solution is a 150-meter-long linear motion system suspended from a large beam, similar to a monorail, where the operators of these robots are situated. There is also a movable carriage on the upper section of the monorail that allows 450 guests to closely follow the race, moving at a coordinated speed with the camels, approximately 60 km/h. This setup enables robot operators and guests to closely follow the competition from the carriages, essentially watching the races from the front row.

The building’s floor plan resembles a seated camel, and the “camellodrome’s” textile roof, when viewed from above, resembles a sitting camel. At night, the translucent elements shine in the desert, and a tower serves as an icon and landmark visible from the city of Doha.