The Greek architecture practice K-Studio and the engineering firm Arup have unveiled plans for the renovation and expansion of the Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium in Athens (Greece).
The goal is to transform the venue into a “porous civic landscape”.
‘dezeen’ stated that commonly known as the ‘El Paso’ the 6,300-seat Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium, which is currently home to the Greek professional football club Athens Kallithea F.C., will see its capacity expanded to 9,000 seats, the existing facilities upgraded and an extension added to its front.
Athens (Greece)-based K-Studio are a creative studio of architects and interior designers based in Central Athens. They create crafted architectural experiences that are informed by tradition, enriched by materiality and inspired by contemporary life.
London (UK)-based engineering firm Arup guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. As a global consultancy with extensive technical and advisory expertise they bring a Total Design approach to their work with their clients. This is how they shape a better world.
The Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium is a public multiuse stadium in Kallithea, Athens, Greece. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Athens Kallithea F.C. The stadium was built in 1970 and currently has a seating capacity of 6,300.
The Athens Kallithea F.C. is a Greek professional football club based in Kallithea, a city and a suburb in Athens (Greece). The club currently competes in the Super League 2, the second tier of the Greek football league system.
Multiuse Venue
Looking to “activate the site beyond matchdays”, the proposal by K-Studio and Arup will also introduce a new public park, restaurants and event spaces intended to reinforce the Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium’s role as a multiuse venue.
‘Contemporary Venue’
Informed Dimitris Karampatakis, K-Studio Founder, “The transformation seeks to re-envision the stadium as a contemporary venue for sports and culture thus enhancing its role as a place of gathering and wellbeing.”
‘Civic Hub’
Added Giorgos Karampelas, Creative Director, K-Studio, “The proposal reframes the site as an active civic hub, strengthening its connectivity and transforming it into a destination that attracts both the local residents and the visitors from across Athens.”
Existing Structure
‘dezeen’ further stated that the design by K-Studio and Arup is set to largely preserve the stadium’s existing structure which is centered by a football pitch encircled by a running track.
Sitting on a backdrop of the site’s rocky landscape the surrounding seating stands will be expanded and partially shaded by the canopies.
A new façade addition, informed by the local scaffolding structures, will be added to the stadium’s front.
Renders of the space reveal the gridded steel extension containing the public spaces at the ground level and the external walkways sheltered by the curved roof panels above.
Architectural Interventions
The studio said, “The design operates through the precise architectural and landscape interventions that reinforce – rather than replace – the stadium’s inherent qualities.”
‘Porous Civic Landscape’
With the goal of transforming the venue into a “porous civic landscape” the existing fenced perimeter will be opened up to create a new public park where the trees and the vegetation is hoped to improve the site’s microclimate.
The other new public areas will include the retail space while the stadium’s existing wellness zone, the exhibition area and the multipurpose event space will be updated.
Elsewhere, a 1,280-seat football stadium built from eucalyptus poles and sandstone offcuts was recently completed in Lesotho (a landlocked, mountainous kingdom in Southern Africa) and Populous revealed plans to revamp the ‘Home of Indian Cricket’ in Kolkata (India).
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