Cuju, the earliest form of football, was invented in Xi’an during the Han Dynasty (202 BC– 220 AD). Xi’an, the city where football originated, is one of the ten cities to host the Asian Cup in 2023 and needs a new stadium specifically designed for football matches. The site of the stadium is at the core of a large new urban development—at the junction of the east-west axis connecting two of China’s most ancient cities, and the north-south axis along the Xi’Xian new area. Building a stadium at this central location challenges the current trend, in which most stadiums are located at cities’ peripheries, easily accessible for masses on match and event days, but become dull and isolated objects the rest of the year. In the design competition for the new stadium, we proposed an architecture that addresses both conditions: it will firstly be a modern football temple meeting the highest international standards for 62,000 visitors, and secondly the stadium will bring vitality to the large new central area in Xi’Xian on days without football matches or large scale events.
Our design of the stadium forms part of a masterplan. The stadium is connected through a central raised concourse to two additional training fields, three indoor sports and cultural venues, and a mixed-use tower with offices and a hotel. To the east of the raised concourse, new serviced apartments integrating the new masterplan with the adjacent residential neighborhood are proposed. Additional office towers to the west shields the site from noise of the high-speed railway. Both the apartments and office towers overlook the sports facilities on the concourse. Two large ramps intersecting with the Xi’Xian axis connect the elevated concourse to its surroundings. The earthy material palette of the concourse and the venues evoke terracotta figures excavated in Xi’an, while creating a warm and natural ambience.
The raised concourse is an important urban space during event days for large crowds to move between venues unobstructed by traffic flows. Car parking, public transportation systems and other logistics are organized below the concourse deck. During non-event days the concourse is fully accessible to the public. Visitors are able to get a glimpse of the inside of the stadium without being blocked by additional fences.
The stadium double functions as a sports infrastructure and an urban center. Firstly, the three-tier stadium can host large scale events, specifically international football matches, given its compliance to the FIFA and Asian Cup regulations. The tier design places spectators as close to the field as possible for an intimate match experience. An efficient system of circulation cores connects the various concourse levels within the stadium. In addition, five urban staircases located at the outer perimeter of the stadium guide visitors from the central raised concourse to the upper levels. Distinctive in design, these staircases make entering the stadium an event itself.
The stadium has been designed as a significant urban center, with parts accessible to the public during non-event days. The five urban staircases contain program such as F&B and conference facilities, and offer balloon rides for both tourists and the local residents. These stairs are connected to each other at two upper concourses of the stadium to form a three-dimensional urban promenade. Facing the city, the concourses offers views of the entire masterplan while accommodating additional program.
To enable the stadium’s completion within a short timeframe of two years, all elements of the stadium are standardized where possible, and prefabricated structural systems are deployed. The stadium’s design includes a unique, operable roof system above the pitch—formed by a collection of fourteen helium-filled balloons suspended from a cable system—to protect the stadium from overheating, while allowing natural ventilation. During events, the balloons can also be used as a scenography element.
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