Andrea Maffei Architect's competition entry for a new stadium for Ruch Chorzów, one of Poland‘s largest football clubs, offers a capacity for 12,000 and provision for up to 16,000 seats. The design encourages the stadium and its surroundings to act as a new civic point of reference for Chorzów as part of a wider complex of shops and restaurants. The architects' understanding of the movement of people on match days is complimented by the facilities that the new stadium will offer to visitors seven days a week, the design for which will provide Ruch Chorzów with a state-of-the-art football pitch and associated amenities.
The entire complex includes the stadium, a regular sized football field for training, and a "Sports Village" with meeting spaces, shops for fans, and dining amenities. The designers intend for the stadium area to be accessible throughout the week, becoming an important civic area for the city. Large roofs supported by slender pilotis (steel columns filled with concrete) provide shelter over the plaza and entrance spaces, and are hoped will become popular areas to host events. According to the architects, "the real advantage of this roof is to make the stadium a building that blends between the external environment and internal environment."
The brief for the project centered around creating a modern sports centre which was secure. As a result, the design is divided into different sectors in order to enhance security as well as to provide a more efficient organization of movement. The west wing houses VIP spaces, hospitality areas, press rooms and a fully equipped broadcasting studio. The tiers for the press are accessed by a private elevator and can host up to 100 journalists and 8 commentators. Fans will enter on the north, east and south sides of the stadium where dining areas and shops are available, as well as the opportunity to access a panoramic terrace. Guests' supporters will have access from the north-west side of the building.
Beneath the stadium are administrative spaces, offices for the board, conference facilities and a museum to tell the story of Ruch Chorzów. In addition to this, dressing rooms, gyms, saunas, massage rooms and doping test rooms are all accommodated beneath ground level. Referees and players will have the option to reach the pitch via separate staircases and entrances.
The field, which measures 105m by 68m, is set to UEFA's standards and will also include provision for heating the playing field during cold weather. Consideration has gone into designing the stands which, according to the designers, are "positioned and designed specifically for football." The first row is one meter higher than the field and only 7.5 meters from the bottom line of the pitch. "In this way perfect visibility is guaranteed."
For more, check out GMT Mysłowice's winning proposal for the Ruch Chorzów Football Stadium.
