Czech venue sweep-off-the-feet design

Image: L35 Architects

The City of Ostrava (Czech Republic) has selected the winning design proposal for the construction of the New Bazaly Stadium. The design was chosen for its outstanding response not only to the competition brief but also to the principles of contemporary football stadium architecture.

‘ostrava.cz’ stated that it stands out from the other entries through its distinctive form, façade concept, choice of materials, and overall balanced composition. The jury commended the professionalism, commitment and high quality of work demonstrated by the all four finalist teams throughout the project’s development.

The 17,372-capacity Bazaly Stadium is a football stadium in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It lays in Slezská Ostrava, the Silesian part of the City, next to the Ostravice River.

Informed Jan Dohnal, Mayor of the Statutory City of Ostrava, “We selected the winning proposal unanimously. It reflects the key priorities identified by the City. Its elegant architectural form offers simplicity and compactness, respects the powerful identity of the site and fits harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. The design aspires to become a new landmark for Ostrava serving both football and the wider public.”

Image: L35 Architects

The winning team, L35 Arquitectos, is an urban design, architecture and design studio. Its portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects – from railway stations and shopping centers to urban regeneration schemes and sports venues.

The next stages will include developing the detailed design, obtaining the necessary permits and preparing for construction which is expected to begin in 2029 under ideal conditions.

‘ostrava.cz’ further stated that the new football stadium will be capable of hosting international matches including games played by the Czech national team. Its location at Bazaly – where the club was based for 56 years from 1959 – marks a symbolic homecoming. Current cost estimates stand at CZK 2.5 billion to be refined in subsequent project stages. Seating capacity is planned for approximately 19,500–20,000 spectators.

Added Mayor Jan Dohnal, “High-quality architecture is essential for Ostrava. That’s why the new stadium design was selected through an architectural competition. Designers from across the world expressed interest – thirty entries in total. The winning project stands out for its strong identity, confident expression and elegant response to the City context. Its partial integration into the terrain gives it both volume and presence: It remains calm and grounded on the residential side yet towards the City it emerges assertively as a new landmark that both responds to and redefines its surroundings.”

Image: L35 Architects

Together with her fellow jurors Valerie Mulvin described the winning design as follows: “From the outside, the proposal conveys a powerful sense of place, rooted in the industrial heritage of the Ostrava region. Facing the City Centre, the façade features a generous honeycomb pattern inspired by the natural hexagonal structure of basalt columns. This motif enables the stadium to respond to the City scale at upper levels while maintaining a human scale at ground level. The main entrance, clearly marking the home of FC Baník Ostrava, faces the City and is complemented by a series of accessible terraces of varying widths creating opportunities for food stalls and pop-up events while smoothly connecting the public realm with the stadium surroundings.”

The roof, shaped as a hyperbolic paraboloid, merges seamlessly with the façade to form a unified architectural composition, visible even from afar. Its profile creates a closed arena that enhances the crowd experience by containing sound and atmosphere within. Two dedicated fan zones are located on the South-Eastern and South-Western sides offering flexibility for the supporters arriving from different directions.

Functionally, the stadium features two main tiers of seating addressing the site’s complex topography. Circulation is clearly organized: Each user group has separate entrances and routes ensuring smooth movement and safe evacuation. All spectators enjoy excellent sightlines with a minimum C-value of 90 mm while adequate buffer zones are maintained around the pitch. The interior spaces are generous, efficiently arranged and continue the industrial narrative through their material palette and visual language.

Image: L35 Architects

All hospitality areas overlook the pitch and can be used both on matchdays and for other events. The design takes advantage of the terrain by locating service facilities on a single level. The training zones are well planned and appropriately sited. The jury appreciated the design’s comprehensive approach to exceptional conditions such as evacuation, its sensitivity to the site’s geological complexity and its long-term sustainability and ease of maintenance.

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