Championship league
The APA Kuryłowicz and Associates (APA K&A) architectural studio has presented its design for the National Stadium in Warsaw.
"We are proud of the fact that our studio had its own part in Poland's hosting one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world," says Professor Stefan Kuryłowicz, president of the board at APA K&A. The studio won the bid for the stadium's design at the end of May.
Ultimate goal
The construction of a sports complex on the site of the current Tenth Anniversary Stadium in the Praga district is among the city's first steps in preparation for the Euro 2012 soccer championships. The design plans include the construction of the stadium, parking facilities, a complex of Olympic swimming pools, a conference and exhibition hall, hotel facilities along with a residential-commercial segment on the 37-ha plot. Architects at APA K&A have expressed confidence that the design meets all of the modern requirements for space and functionality according to UEFA standards, in addition to providing accessibility for the disabled.
The stadium, which will cost between an estimated zł.1.2-1.5 billion to build, will feature three tiers of stands for 60,000 fans and eight levels of service areas - totalling some 150,000 sqm of functional space, including restaurants, locker rooms, as well as holding and meeting areas. The roof of the stadium will provide full coverage and be equipped with lighting and sound systems, as well as video cameras as part of the site's extensive security installation, which includes fire detection, crowd control and separate entryways for fans of opposing teams, to minimize the risk of violence.
The stadium will be situated on an elevation in a green area, which will make it a highly visible site from a distance. "The characteristic form of the stadium will subtly blend into the surrounding green areas that join Skaryszewski Park with the banks of the Vistula and is closely tied in with the landscape of the capital and the local neighbhorhood," says Tomasz Kwieciński, one of the project's designers.
Additional uses
Conference areas will provide additional facilities for hosting other types of sports and entertainment events, including concerts for a potential audience of 12,000 spectators. The exhibition halls will offer a total of 22,000 sqm and the hotel facilities will offer 300 high-standard rooms on 28 floors. The site could also include playing fields, tennis courts, bicycle trails and a skate park. The stadium's management will also be working with authorities to improve transportation access to the future stadium by tram, bus, subway and rail.
Demolition of the stadium will begin once the current tenants of the stadium - some 5,000 traders of the Jarmark Europa market - have been moved to their new 40-ha site in Białołęka at the end of September. Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and be completed in time for the opening game of the Euro 2012 tournament. In addition to three qualifying matches, a semi-final match will be played at Warsaw's National Stadium.
