Since Slovenia joined the European Union in 2004, its capital city Ljubjana has lead the way in economic and social development. Unlike other nations who have just begun to find wealth and the new construction that comes with it, the Slovenes remain conscious of the urban and social impact of what they are breaking ground for. Designed by Sadar Vuga Architects, the new Sports Park Stozice integrates a football stadium, a multi-purpose sports hall and a big shopping center, all beautifully tucked away into an expansive green landscape.
Slovenia’s new football stadium is laid out in a part of the park that is sunken into the ground – only the structure’s roof ascends above the plane, which visually suggests a monumental crater. The facades of the stadium and sports hall will be clad with a finish that will change color depending on weather conditions and viewing distance. The two structures will also take advantage of the location’s amazing views, framing the Alps to the north, and Castle Hill and the city center to the south.
The sports hall will have a capacity for over 12,000 spectators, with four levels of concourses set beneath a scalloped dome. The position of the stands will create a compact interior space that allows the spectators to be as close to the action as possible.
The project’s two-story shopping center and its parking lot have been designed to fill in an abandoned 12-meter deep gravel pit. The roof of the shopping center will be constructed to follow the natural landscape across the northern section of the outer ring road, and the green urban space will extend all the way to the city center.
Situated at the northeastern end of the city, the new development will sit amid a cluster of the city’s most distinct modern buildings. The mix of private and public destinations in this space, complimented by a seemingly boundless natural landscape, creates an urban place ready to satiate those looking for a rowdy social, cultural experience as well as those seeking to sit peacefully on a grassy hillside looking up into the clouds.
The project has already broken ground and the first phase of the park is expected to open Summer 2010.
Via DesignBoom
