{"id":146084,"date":"2024-11-22T13:51:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T13:51:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=146084"},"modified":"2024-11-22T13:51:20","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T13:51:20","slug":"sport-the-city-inspiring-a-new-approach-to-stadium-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/sport-the-city-inspiring-a-new-approach-to-stadium-design\/146084\/","title":{"rendered":"Sport & the City: Inspiring a new approach to stadium design"},"content":{"rendered":"

The design approach of stadiums needs to shift from inward looking facilities to places that have an inclusive and engaging relationship to their surrounding urban context and become hubs of community activity<\/h2>\n

Are sports stadiums in danger of becoming disconnected from their home cities?<\/p>\n

Sports stadiums are a vital piece of a city\u2019s social infrastructure and economy, with inspiring architectural designs that sit proudly on many skylines. As a result, many stadiums have become representative of modern-day cathedrals to the millions who pour into them on a weekly basis across the globe.<\/p>\n

Stadiums provide the foundation from which a city can build a sporting legacy, creating thousands of jobs and contributing millions to the local and national economy.<\/p>\n

However, as progressive cities focus on approaches geared towards the liveability, inclusivity and flexibility of the city itself, we are in danger of sports stadiums becoming increasingly disconnected to the community of the city.<\/p>\n

Future Places Studio<\/a>, which specialises in research, content and placemaking, has released the Sport & the City<\/a> report, presenting the case that sports stadiums should no longer be designed and operated as a single use asset sitting empty or underutilised for large parts of the week, but rather they should be versatile and integrated placemaking anchors which activate and enliven their local neighbourhoods 365 days of the year.<\/p>\n

The future stadium<\/h3>\n

The report sets out a vision for the \u201cfuture stadium\u201d \u2013 a mix of both tactical and strategic interventions designed to improve the immediate and longer-term performance of a stadium.<\/p>\n

It details some of the key moves that owners and designers of sports stadiums can make to improve how a stadium sits within its local neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

Some of these moves, such as the addition of colourful street art, a climbing wall on the facade or water fountains for children to play in are tactical placemaking interventions intended to enliven spaces and increase dwell time beyond matchday.<\/p>\n

Other key moves will be more strategic such as creating a porous exterior to allow for versatile uses inside a stadium or the addition of renewable energy sources and green walls<\/a> to improve the sustainability performance of a stadium.<\/a><\/p>\n

Inspiring a new approach to stadium design<\/h3>\n

Future Places Studio founding director, Jack Sallabank, said: \u201cThe design approach of stadiums should shift from inward looking to places that have an inclusive and engaging relationship to their surrounding urban context as they become hubs of community activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this ambition in mind, this report presents a high-level strategic vision to guide and inspire architects, developers, municipalities and stadium owners in how they can approach stadium design differently.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn researching this report, we have observed sports stadiums at the point of change, identifying a range of examples where modern thinking and approaches are being applied to stadium design.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the promise that these examples present, our research suggests that there is still room for more innovation and creative thinking, especially in how stadiums can become integrated and adaptable placemaking anchors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe report shows that with opportunities to create new revenue streams and enhance the relationship between a stadium and its neighbourhood, sports stadium design and development is at an exciting point of change. This report has identified several innovative approaches to stadium design which demonstrate the art of the possible and should act to inspire the future stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sport & the City report was commissioned and sponsored by Okana<\/a>, along with Art Invest Real Estate<\/a> and British Land<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Interviewees who took part in the research include:<\/p>\n