Authors: Francesco Grugni, Marco Voltolina
Can a stadium be a catalyst of urban regeneration and increase the quality of life of the local community through its design? This was the main question we tried to address earlier this year, when our team worked together with Albanian architect Gjon Radovani* to design a proposal for the new sports complex of Vlorë, a major port city in the South of Albania.
The project was created in response to an open call by the Albanian Government and the Ministry of Education and Sports, and focused on three main facilities: a 10,000-seat football stadium, an indoor court and an olympic pool. We chose to base the design on the metaphor of the shipyard, which best symbolizes and personifies the city of Vlorë. As stated by Arch. Radovani, the shipyard is «a noisy, lively place, where the engineer’s logic meets the cacophony of artisanal improvisation (...) where nationality, ethnicity and faith are not even perceived (...) and where the rhythms of work change as suddenly as the storms of the sea (...) a place that does not know the meaning of the word "boredom"». Like the best shipyards, Vlorë’s new sports complex offers much more beyond its primary purpose. It provides to the citizens a variety of choices for spending their free time: squares and gardens, bars and restaurants, hotels and conference halls, museums and exhibition centres, party venues and e-sports facilities. It is the new heart of the city.
The design of the stadium is rich of details that remind of naval metaphors, from the steel structure of the roofing to the porthole-like windows and the large pool in front of the facade. The most recognizable element, however, are the three giant pillars that support the roof of the main stand. They have been designed not only to resemble the masts of a sailing ship, but also to evoke the image of a flagpole. This carries a deep significance for the history of Vlorë, as it was precisely here, few steps away from the stadium, that in 1912 the Albanian flag was hoisted for the first time, formally declaring the independence of the country.
Below you can find some images of the project.
Figure 1. Masterplan of the project - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 2. Historical picture of the port of Vlorë in 1916. Source: Port of Vlorë.
Figure 3. Design strategy: the image of a ship docked in the harbour gives life to the evocative volumes of the new sports complex - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 4. North-South section of the main stand of the football stadium - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 5. East-West section of the sports complex, cutting through the football stadium and the indoor court - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 6. Load-bearing structure of the main stand of the footbal stadium - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 7. View of the main square and the East facade of the football stadium - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 8. View of the football field - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 9. View of the project from above - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 10. View of the project from above - CC BY-NC 2.5
Figure 11. View of the project at sunset - CC BY-NC 2.5
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*Gjon Radovani, born in 1961 in Shkodër, Albania, is an architect who works on sustainable development and digital technologies. He graduated from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, and since then he has executed hundreds of projects as a freelance architect on three continents. He also worked for four years as Deputy Minister for Urban Development of the Republic of Albania, and he founded four globally active and successful associations that support developing countries through technology and charitable work.
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