Sports stadium architecture: Welcome to the new temples of pleasure

Sheena McKenzie, for CNN

Updated 1747 GMT (0147 HKT) January 20, 2015

Today's stadiums are architectural feats of design that can elevate the senses, capture the spirit of a community, and become an icon of the city long after a sports event ends. Celebrity Iraqi-born British architect, Zaha Hadid's design for the 2020 Olympic stadium in Tokyo won an international competition, but has received criticism. Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki described it as, "A turtle waiting for Japan to sink so that it can swim away." The 83-year-old warned: "Tokyo will surely be burdened with a gigantic white elephant." Not all new stadiums receive such objections.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo – Today's stadiums are architectural feats of design that can elevate the senses, capture the spirit of a community, and become an icon of the city long after a sports event ends. Celebrity Iraqi-born British architect, Zaha Hadid's design for the 2020 Olympic stadium in Tokyo won an international competition, but has received criticism. Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki described it as, "A turtle waiting for Japan to sink so that it can swim away." The 83-year-old warned: "Tokyo will surely be burdened with a gigantic white elephant." Not all new stadiums receive such objections.
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"While the New National Stadium in Tokyo will be used for the 2020 Olympic Games, the stadium is being built to host the widest variety of events in the future. Its first major international event will actually be as a venue for Japan's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup -- the first country in Asia to host the event," said Jim Heverin, director at Zaha Hadid Architects which designed the arena. "The key to a successful stadium is to design for these long term requirements, rather than the one-off event such as the Olympics."
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo – "While the New National Stadium in Tokyo will be used for the 2020 Olympic Games, the stadium is being built to host the widest variety of events in the future. Its first major international event will actually be as a venue for Japan's hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup -- the first country in Asia to host the event," said Jim Heverin, director at Zaha Hadid Architects which designed the arena. "The key to a successful stadium is to design for these long term requirements, rather than the one-off event such as the Olympics."
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Here, the distinctive "spotty" Borisov Arena in Belarus is home to the country's football team. The space-age arena opened earlier this year and cost $37 million.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Borisov Arena, Belarus – Here, the distinctive "spotty" Borisov Arena in Belarus is home to the country's football team. The space-age arena opened earlier this year and cost $37 million.
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"The shape of the arena works perfectly both in terms of acoustics, as well as creating an introverted atmosphere," said designer Spela Videcnik, from <a href="http://www.ofis-a.si/" target="_blank">Ofis Architects.</a> "This introversion helps players to focus on a match, and the acoustics create a great supporting atmosphere."
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Borisov Arena, Belarus – "The shape of the arena works perfectly both in terms of acoustics, as well as creating an introverted atmosphere," said designer Spela Videcnik, from Ofis Architects. "This introversion helps players to focus on a match, and the acoustics create a great supporting atmosphere."
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Built for this year's World Cup in Manaus, Brazil, the Amazon Arena's reptilian facade was inspired by wildlife in the surrounding rainforest.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Amazon Arena, Brazil – Built for this year's World Cup in Manaus, Brazil, the Amazon Arena's reptilian facade was inspired by wildlife in the surrounding rainforest.
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"If you look into the structures of nature like a leaf, or the skin of a snake, there's always a logical system behind it," explained stadium designer Hubert Nienhoff, of <a href="http://www.gmp-architekten.com/projects.html" target="_blank">GMP Architects.</a>
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Amazon Arena, Brazil – "If you look into the structures of nature like a leaf, or the skin of a snake, there's always a logical system behind it," explained stadium designer Hubert Nienhoff, of GMP Architects.
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"We're not in direct dialogue with the supporters," said Nienhoff. "But we have to understand their social and cultural background, the region and its history. That way we capture the whole spirit of the place."
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Amazon Arena, Brazil – "We're not in direct dialogue with the supporters," said Nienhoff. "But we have to understand their social and cultural background, the region and its history. That way we capture the whole spirit of the place."
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Nienhoff also designed the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, for the 2010 South African World Cup.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa – Nienhoff also designed the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, for the 2010 South African World Cup.
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"The mayor asked us for something that would 'put Durban on the map,'" said Neinhoff.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa – "The mayor asked us for something that would 'put Durban on the map,'" said Neinhoff.
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His architecture firm is also behind the $500m redevelopment of Real Madrid's home -- the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Spain – His architecture firm is also behind the $500m redevelopment of Real Madrid's home -- the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
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"We were inspired by medieval cathedrals, with all their sculptures and paintings around the building telling their stories," architect Volkwin Marg told CNN.
Photos: The future of sports stadium architecture
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Spain – "We were inspired by medieval cathedrals, with all their sculptures and paintings around the building telling their stories," architect Volkwin Marg told CNN.
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