SPORTS ARCHITECTURE

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP STADIUM

WINNING PROPOSAL

Wilmotte & Associés recently won the competition

to design the 2018 FIFA World Cup Stadium in

Kaliningra, Russia. Their design features an urban

facade that wraps the stadium, consisting of a series

of orthogonal screens that respond to the

surrounding urban context. The project will be

constructed from a primary steel structure, but the

upper tier of the stadium will be temporary. The

stadium has been designed so that after the

tournament completes in 2018, the stands can be

dismantled and the upper canopy can be removed.

Construction of the 45,000 seat football stadium will

begin in 2014. More images and architects’

description after the break.

Kaliningrad, formerly Konigsberg (City of East

Prussia until 1945) is a Russian city of 432,000

inhabitants. It is a Russian exclave that borders

the Baltic Sea and is isolated from Russian

territory by the states of Poland and Lithuania.

This particular situation dictated a complex

program: in order to host the FIFA World Cup

matches there is a requirement for the stadium

to hold 45,000 people, but the capacity of the

stadium has to be reduced to approximately

25,000 seats when the football competition

ends in order for the stadium to continue to be

useful to the relatively small population of the

region.The stadium design incorporates a flat sliding

operable roof that will allow the stadium to

accommodate a diverse range of events such as

concerts, large conferences and various other

sporting events. In the 220 hectare area

surrounding the new stadium the hosting facilities

for the World Cup event will be built. These facilities

will include village hospitality and a media center.

After the international competition ends, the

accommodation will be subdivided and absorbed by

the surrounding town adding to the existing urban

fabric.

The stadium and its facilities will become the

centerpiece for the new urban master plan of

October Island. The island sits at the centre of

the two arms of the River Pregolya : the

Pregolya Old and the New Pregolya. The

master plan has used the river to develop a

network of canals that will help to create a

strong identity for this part of the city. An

artificial lake and a marina will also be created.

Landscaping will be introduced to the island

along two axis to form a cross, along the main

east-west axis green landscaped areas will be

created that continue outwards to meet with

the cathedral, these green veins will also

extend into the eastern part of the island

where it will form a large park. The

landscaping along the north-south axis will

respond to the ancient fortifications on the

site. Through the design of the landscaping and canals,

Wilmotte & Associés have been able to integrate

new transport infrastructure that will serve the

island. This will include a new bridge over the river

creating improved connections to the surrounding

territory. The design creates a rich dense urban grid

of residential and commercial units that are

intertwined with landscaping, canals and places for

social events.

Wilmotte & Associés will develop the design with

construction and development company NPO

Mostovik. The project will be financed by the region

of Kaliningrad and the Russian Federation, the

design studies for this project will be completed in

2014, and reach final completion in time to host

matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Architects: Wilmotte & Associés

Location: Kaliningrad, Russia

Collaborators: NPO Mostovik & Mersfor Rus OOO

Project Management: Kaliningrad Region, Russian Federation

Program: Construction of a 45,000 – seat stadium and 220

hectares of land on October Island Area : 50 000 m², 220

hectares

Beginning of Construction: 2014

Delivery: 2018

SPORTS HALL COMPETITION

ENTRY / STUDIO EL

In search of the architectural and spatial form for

the designed sports hall in Białystok, Studio EL,

through their investigation of applied form

typologies used in sports facilities, decided to use

the coating system. This type of design is

characterized by freshness, terseness and

coherence in form and in contents of a function. The

design consists of two-curvature, two-layered, steel

space frames which will cover the space of the

sports hall and will be based on the double

buttresses located in its ambit. More images and

architects’ description after the break.

Terrain of area A with acreage of approx. 5ha is the parcel for the designed sports hall. This

parcel is located in south-eastern quoin of the terrains of area B which are covered by total

elaboration of urban planning. Decisions made during the elaboration of spatial and functional

conception for the whole terrain of area B were consistent with conception of parcel

development of area A. In certain way a spatial projection of the hall and its location on the

parcel of area A were the inspiration to design the pedestrian promenade concatenating

quarters, and serving as a compositional axis of the whole urban system, to which embedded

mass of the hall is its perspective finial, looking at it from east’s and west’s point of view.

The designed sports hall is located squarely on its parcel, acknowledging that approach roads and

pedestrian roads from Ciołkowski street direction will be equivalent from the east and from the west. The

layout of the hall aggregate is made up of two elements: the higher and dominating mass of the hall, of

which longitudinal axis is located on the axis of the pedestrian promenade proceeding from east to west;

and the lower mass implying concurrent program, located on the north side of the hall’s mass, along the

boundary with adjoining parcel, developed with immovables of the telecommunications company and with

Institute of Meteorology.

The hall is located squarely on its parcel is surrounded by parking lots from the south,

east and west side. The last two are divided into two blocks by the pedestrian

promenade which is the main pedestrian access to the hall aggregate from the east and

from the west, and from the particular blocks of parking lots. The main pedestrian

movement towards the hall aggregate from east and west direction and from the

parking lots will lead through the promenade, and subsequently through the ramp, the

stairs and the elevators leading to the two pedestrian walkways located 4, 20 m above

them

The delivery road to the hall aggregate is

designed on the east side of the pedestrian

promenade / hall’s warehouses, transformer

station, entrances to the arena, partial

commercial and technical program / and on

the north from the service road side mainly

for the commercial program and partially for

the technical program.

Considering new computational methods and new generative and executive

technologies at today’s disposal, this classic coating system with a unique charm is

implemented with light, easy to assemble, and has a very aesthetic construction.

Coating of the structure is divided into two strands: side wings are layers of

accustomed coating of a full roof / corrugated sheet, mineral wool, water

insulation, panel coating from aluminium sheet ; and median strip consists of a

downlighter in the part above the arena and thermal sandwich panels on the sides,

covered collectively with a layer of Semi Transparent Photovoltanic Glass,

application of which will be a huge factor in reducing exploitation costs.

This resolution serves as an ecological treatment in designing sports

facilities. Downlighter itself will be constructed using Kalwall system, which

features brilliant parameters when it comes to thermal insulating power

and sun control, through manifold scattering of sunlight. Additionally in

top strip of the space frame we have enabled the possibility of darkening

by using automatic, horizontal roller blinds. This resolution will provide

bright, roomy, attractive and interestingly designed space of the sports hall

in Białystok.

Architects: Studio EL

Location: Białystok, Poland

2018 WORLD CUP: POPULOUS

AWARDED ROSTOV STADIUM

Populous was recently selected as the designers of

the new Rostov Stadium in Russia, which will be the

fourth Populous-designed stadium in the country to

be used for the 2018 World Cup, together with

Kazan, Saransk, Sochi. Part of an overall landscape,

this urban design is planned for the whole region. It

is inspired by the ancient earthworks along the

banks of the river, the Kurgans. These archaeological

mounds of earth were used for burial pagan rituals,

creating major forms in the landscape. More images

and architects’ description after the break.

In September 2012, the eleven host cities that will

organize the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in

Russia were announced. The sixty-four matches will

be staged at twelve venues. Among the host cities

are: Moscow, being the only city with two stadiums

selected, Saint Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Nizhny

Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Volgograd,

Rostov-on-Don and Yekaterinburg.

The stadium will have a capacity of 45,000 seats for

the World Cup and will be scaled down to 25,000

seats in legacy. The concept had embraced

sustainable credentials, as it will be the core of a

green city project, which protects the wetlands to

the south of the river.

Damon Lavelle, Principal at Populous, commented

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Intex, the city and

the governor of Rostov-on-Don to promote the

project. After our experience on the World Cup in

2010 and London 2012, we are certain that the

stadium will be a great catalyst for the city and this

part of the river.”

ZAHA HADID WINS JAPAN

NATIONAL STADIUM

COMPETITION

Fresh from the acclaimed openings of the Galaxy Soho in Beijing and the Eli &

Edythe Broad Museum in the US, Dame Zaha Hadid can now add a new

coveted project to her name.

Beating out 10 other finalists (including Populous, a firm known for their

sports architecture, as well as Japanese heavyweights, such as Toyo Ito and

SANAA), Zaha Hadid Architects were chosen by Tadao Ando and the Japan

Sports Council to design the new Japan National Stadium. As Ando described

the decision-process: “Our wish is to see a stadium designed by someone who

shares this earth, with wisdom and technology that looks to the future of out

planet.”

The new 80,000-seat stadium will replace the existing Kasumigaoka National

Stadium in Tokyo. It will host the 2019 Rugby World Cup and potentially be the

main sporting venue for the 2020 Olympic Games (if Japan’s bid is selected). It

will also be offered to FIFA as a venue for World Cup football matches.

IN PROGRESS: SINGAPORE

SPORTS HUB / ARUP

Construction has commenced on the world’s largest

dome roof at Singapore’s National Stadium. Once

completed in 2014, the Arup-designed structure will

provide shelter to the 55,000 seat stadium and

surrounding ticketed community spaces in the heart

of the 35ha sports precinct. Singapore’s National

Stadium will be the only stadium in the world,

custom-built to host football, rugby, cricket and

athletic events in one venue.

The simple geometric form of the ultra-thin,

retractable dome spans 310m and is designed to

use only a fraction of the energy required for an

equivalent fully enclosed stadium.

The open-ended, west end of the stadium will provide breathtaking views across the city and

provide the perfect setting for Singapore’s own National Day Parade, which is slated to be hosted

annually in the stadium.

In order to maximize energy efficiency in the tropical climate of Singapore, Arup prioritize the

following passive design solutions: shading to seating, insulation to roof cladding and giant louvers

that reduced solar heat gain. Furthermore, they equipped the naturally ventilated stadium bowl

with localized cooling to ensure spectator comfort. The additional energy required to switch on the

bowl cooling for a stadium event will be offset by energy harnessed throughout the year from a

large photo voltaic array, allowing the operation of the bowl cooling to have a zero carbon impact

on the environment.

Adds Clive Lewis, Arup’s lead Sports Venue Designer for the Singapore Sports Hub,

“The tropical climate in Singapore poses a challenge in the design of the National

Stadium. People will only enjoy the stadium experience if the environmental

conditions are right. We wanted to keep the rain and heat out, but we also wanted

it to be an open and dynamic space. After extensive research into comfort

expectations and energy in use, we realized that a naturally ventilated stadium

with localized cooling gave us the best solution for the local climate in Singapore.

By incorporating a moving roof, the stadium will be further protected from the

harsh climatic conditions, allowing events to be hosted during the hottest parts of

the day.”

The S$1.33b Sports Hub will also be home to:

A 3,000-capacity indoor world tournament standard Aquatic Centre, expandable to 6,000

capacity for specific events;

A 3,000-capacity Multi Purpose Indoor Arena (MPIA) which will be scalable and flexible in

layout;

41,000 sq m of commercial retail space;

A Water Sports Centre catering to elite athletes as well as the public;

The existing 12,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium;

Sports Information & Resource Centre (SIRC), with sports library and museum.

The 20,000m2 moving roof is supported by the fixed

roof dome structure with a clear span of 310m. It

will be clad in a multi-layer ETFE pillow and

incorporate a matrix of LED lights, making it one of

the largest addressable LED screens in the world.

To optimize information exchange through the

entire building process, Arup used advanced

parametric modeling software, as well as in-house

software developed specifically for the project. The

result is a super efficient shell dome structure, with

a total steel weight of 8,057 metric tons. At a

structural weight per square meter of just over

100kg/m2, this would be considered efficient even

for a roof that was half this span.

“The construction of the National Stadium is the launch pad for many other key elements in the

project. It will be Asia’s only event site with the technology, capacity and services to cater to

residents, overseas visitors, sports professionals and global artists 365 days a year,” says Mark

Collins, Vice President and Managing Director of Global Spectrum Asia Pte Ltd. The company is

one of the eight project partners of the SportsHub Pte Ltd Consortium, which has four equity

partners – Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd, Infrared Capital Partners, UGL Services, and Global

Spectrum Asia.

To date, Singapore Sports Hub is the largest sports infrastructure Public-Private-Partnership

(PPP) project in the world. In line with Singapore Sports Council’s Vision 2030 master plan,

Sports Hub will offer one and all the opportunity and access to live better through sports. It

will be a platform for national athletes to hone their sporting talents and inspire participation

in sports among the community.

With local firm DP Architects as masterplanners, the Sports Hub is designed within a natural

landscape that is linked to an island-wide park connector system and will be accessible to

everyone and anyone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.