A competition has been launched to find an architect to design the new Maksimir Stadium and Svetice Sports Centre in the Croatian city of Zagreb.
The City of Zagreb said it has teamed up with the Croatian Government on the €224 million project to replace aging infrastructure with a world-class, integrated sports precinct.
Mayor of the City of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević said, “We invite visionary designs for a 35,000-seat stadium and a ‘City of Sport’ that honours the site’s historic character while meeting 21st-century athletic needs.”
The competition is being carried out in a single stage as an open, urban-architectural ideas and project competition.
The ideas competition encompasses the Svetice Sports Centre and Borongaj Transit Hub (zones A+D) to explore spatial approaches without the commissioning of services.
The project competition focuses on the Maksimir Football Stadium Complex (zone C) specifically for the purpose of commissioning design services.
The objective of the competition is to select the best architectural and urban design for the Maksimir Stadium Complex, Svetice Sports Centre, and Borongaj Transit Hub that fulfils the contracting authority’s requirements and evaluation criteria.
Located in eastern Zagreb, the historic Svetice-Maksimir district has thrived as a sporting hub since the late 19th century.
At its core stands the iconic Maksimir Stadium, a true landmark of Croatian sports architecture.
The Maksimir Stadium is a multiuse stadium in Zagreb, Croatia. Named after the surrounding neighborhood of Maksimir, it is one of the largest stadiums in Croatia with a current seating capacity of 25,912 and a maximum possible capacity of 35,423.
It is the home stadium of the Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb and has been used since 1990 by the Croatia national football team for the majority of its international competitions.
Tomašević said, “As a site celebrated for its architectural innovation, any new development must thoughtfully harmonize with the lush landscape and ecological heritage of the adjacent protected Maksimir Park.
“Zagreb is a city of sport, home to numerous clubs with long-standing traditions and internationally recognized achievements.
“However, the city’s sports infrastructure has yet to fully reflect this level of excellence. This disparity is particularly evident in the city’s football stadiums which remain inadequate despite the remarkable success of our local and national teams.”
The architectural competition for Maksimir Stadium and Svetice Sports Centre is the most significant and extensive undertaking in Zagreb in recent decades.
The aim is to reshape the symbolically and historically powerful site, which is deeply rooted in the identity of Zagreb and Croatian football.
Although the original stadium complex was conceptually powerful, decades of additions and partial renovations have substantially compromised its architectural integrity.
Tomašević added, “Our vision extends beyond the mere construction of new facilities. This area is more than just a hub for sport and recreation; it is a symbolic urban landmark and a defining feature of Zagreb’s identity – the eastern gateway to the city center, situated along one of our most vital urban avenues.
“Such a location demands thoughtful spatial articulation, architectural excellence, and long-term responsible management.
“We envision this site as a multifaceted social and spatial “City of Sport” – an open and inclusive environment for professional athletes, recreational users, fans, and all our fellow citizens. We invite you to contribute to this new chapter of Zagreb’s sports infrastructure and to become a part of its future development.”
The deadline for submitting questions about the competition is 21 April and the deadline for submitting final entries is 24 June via the Croatian national electronic tender system (EOJN RH) and 9 July if submitted outside EOJN RH.
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