Football Stadium Concept
Structural systems
Using two precedent projects, this project intends to develop a design concept for a long span structure that creates an enclosure for a structure-free interior space to house a football venue
Instructor: Maxi Spina
Individually completed
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Spring 2018
Formulated with an initial idea of a robust periphery and a soft but striking roof membrane, the concept for the design of the stadium is primarily interlocking curvilinear surfaces that are placed in harmony with each other. Following the ‘chip-like’ form, the light roof structure complements the rough and robust supporting structure, that still shares a visual harmony with the roof owing to its inclined curvilinear form.
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Supported on 17 trussed steel columns, a ringed space truss forms the primary structure of the stadium. To span the roof, a fabric membrane is anchored from both the ringed truss and two massive arches that are anchored to the ground. This membrane, though held in place by tensioned cables from the arch, will need secondary structural members throughout its cross section. These structural members can be 3d trusses spanning from the nodes of the ringed truss system (not depicted in the diagrams). The membrane roof covers the seating on the longitudnal ends of the stadium. In order to roof the transverse ends also, a secondary fabric membrane spans these areas, and is anchored by the primary fabric membrane
The peripheral structure is designed such that it exposes the raw structure and thus gives a degree of rigidity and stability to the base, and is contrasted by the soft and flowing fabric that roofs the span of the stadium. The robust nature of the peripheral base structure is enhanced by membranes that span alternate sections of the peripheral structure, thus revealing the interior concrete structure at some instances but shielding it at others
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The membrane that stretches between the trussed columns at the base can be used as a projection screen (like the Allianz stadium) and the roof fabric that is suspended in the downward direction from the ringed truss can house a scoreboard. Due to the asymmetrical form of the stadium, there is a direc - tionality within the longitudnal section of the interior and thus directs spectators’ eyes towards either longitudnal end of the span.The curvilinear roof casts interesting shadows on the central space and provides shading to the seats at all times
