However, what makes the stadium a true “modern coliseum” is not only its capacity or technical maturity, but the way it enters the urban fabric. The stadium should not be an isolated object on the periphery of the action, but a natural part of the urban organism, connected to the infrastructure, public space and everyday life of the inhabitants.
So what does the sensitive integration of the stadium into the contemporary city mean? How should its connection to transport, services and the surrounding development work today and how do we approach this challenge in our studio?
Today's connection to infrastructure
Already in ancient Rome, the Colosseum was built into the fabric of the city to allow thousands of spectators to come and go. The wide roads, forecourts and entrance system were designed for high capacity and ensured the safe and efficient movement of crowds. The Colosseum was thus not an isolated building but an integral part of the urban organism.
The current city, however, is much more complex. In addition to pedestrian transport, we now work with car, bus, tram and rail transport, often supplemented by a network of underground or cycle routes. Each of these modes of mobility places specific demands on the organisation of access routes, forecourts and the entrance sequences themselves. The key role here is not only capacity, but also the ability to regulate and possibly select visitor flows, for example by sector, type of event or security requirements.
The ideal solution therefore lies in linking the stadium to the existing urban transport network so that the different modes of mobility flow naturally into clearly structured precincts. Public transport stops should be located within walking distance and connected to high-capacity dispersal areas that allow for safe accumulation and gradual distribution of visitors to specific entrances. These transition zones also shape the viewer’s first contact with the building and significantly influence the overall experience of the visit.
A separate layer is the solution for individual car transport. In the environment of large metropolises, where traffic in the centres is gradually being reduced, it is necessary to look for a model that does not burden the surrounding environment and at the same time maintains accessibility. We therefore see parking facilities not just as technical facilities, but as part of a wider transport concept with the possibility of sharing, phasing or multi-purpose use outside event days.
Our approach
In our studio, we always approach the design of public buildings through a thorough reading of the context of the site. The key for us is a clear traffic connection, logical organization of pedestrian movement and the creation of a quality public space that can withstand not only the maximum load during major events, but also in the everyday functioning of the city.
In projects of this scale, we work with a clear hierarchy of entrances, a clear division of visitor flows, and front spaces that are seen not just as a technical necessity, but as an integral part of the urban fabric. We therefore see the stadium not as an isolated object, but as an active urban element that can strengthen the identity of the city and its fan community and cultivate its surroundings beyond the sports or cultural events themselves.
Stadium and multi-purpose hall as part of the city structure
We apply a similar principle of integrating sports infrastructure into the city in our own proposals. Whether it be new stadium Bazaly in Ostrava or the multipurpose hall in Olomouc, in both cases we worked with the idea of a sports building not as an isolated object, but as a natural part of the wider urban organism.
In the case of Bazaly stadium in Ostrava we designed the stadium as an open urban node that connects Komenský sady with the city centre and builds on existing pedestrian routes, greenery and transport infrastructure. The stadium is not a barrier, but part of the public space that flows freely through the area and functions even on non-match days. A clear organisation of the entrance areas, a clear distribution of entrances around the perimeter and a well thought-out separation of the different user groups play an important role. The transport solution builds on the existing infrastructure and complements it to handle large sporting events without unnecessarily burdening the surrounding urban environment.
The same emphasis on connecting the sports building with the everyday life of the city was applied to the multipurpose hall in Olomouc. The proposal sees the area near the Morava River and the historic centre as a development opportunity for the creation of a new urban district in which sport, culture, recreation and normal urban traffic naturally complement each other. The multipurpose hall is not just a technical facility for large events, but part of a wider urban composition with parks, squares, sports facilities, a hotel and administration. The key for us is that such a place should function in different time regimes, for major events and in everyday operation, and strengthen the relationship of the city to the river, the public space and the new development.
Both proposals thus show that sports infrastructure today is not seen only in terms of capacity, technology or operational efficiency. Equally important is its ability to become part of the city: to build on its fabric, to support the natural movement of people, to activate public space and to create new links between sport, community and everyday life. It is in this connection that we see the current role of the stadium or arena as a real urban element.
The topic is also addressed in the text: Sports architecture: shaping identity and urban legacy
