A Football Stadium With Fluid Forms Rises Above in China

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Fans head out on game day ready to root for their favorite teams, with all eyes on the pitch, enclosed in a large venue that is separate from its surroundings. The Xi’an International Football Centre in China, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, becomes one with the landscape, with open facades that make passerby and the city itself part of the event experience.

Commissioned by the Chinese Football Association, the 60,000-seat stadium is located in Xi’an’s Fengdong district. The building’s sinuous form is not only distinctive, it also minimizes the impact of various outdoor conditions, like winds from the north that cast a chill, and intense summer heat.

A modern stadium with a large, curved roof and layered exterior sits beside high-rise apartment buildings and greenery.

The fluid forms of the roof, supported by brick red concrete columns, protect the saddle-shaped edifice. With the utilization of digital modeling, the roof was formed to maximize the availability of seating at midfield. It also rises at the center of the main stands, which increases the number of seats with premium views alongside the field.

Large, futuristic building with layered, disc-shaped roofs above green trees, set against a clear blue sky.

A modern, curved building with metallic surfaces is shown at sunset, with high-rise apartments and city infrastructure visible in the background.

A wide concourse surrounds the stadium on the upper level, and a series of shaded south-facing terraces with a host of amenities, from recreation to dining facilities, are available to guests not only during the regular football season but also for cultural events and performances.

Aerial view of a large, modern stadium with a unique wavy roof design, adjacent to a soccer field, surrounded by greenery and city buildings in the background.

People stand on a terrace under a large, modern architectural overhang, with high-rise buildings visible in the background.

A large crowd waves Chinese flags in a packed modern stadium during a sports event, with a clear blue sky visible through the open roof.

Braced by a tensioned cable-net structure, a translucent membrane over the seating bowl protects spectators from inclement weather and the harsh, direct rays of the sun. It still allows significant levels of natural light to reach the surface, which promotes the growth of grass for optimal play on the field.

A packed stadium with fans in red watches a soccer match on a well-lit field, with players actively engaged in play under a large, open circular roof.

A large crowd in a stadium waves Chinese flags while watching a soccer match, with teams playing on the field under bright stadium lights.

Launched with a trio of under-23 Asian Cup qualifier matches in September, the stadium is set to host other professional teams as well as community leagues and youth academies. Xi’an International Football Centre is a place for athletes and visitors of all ages to gather and enjoy a sport that is celebrated around the globe.

People walk outside a large, modern stadium at night; the stadium features curved, illuminated horizontal lines and a wooden overhang.

Crowds gather outside a modern, illuminated stadium at night, with city buildings visible in the background under a dark sky.

A modern building with illuminated horizontal lines at night; several people in red shirts are gathered and playing in the large open plaza in front.

People walk outside a large, modern building with tall columns and illuminated horizontal lines at night.

A large, modern building with curved, illuminated roof lines is shown at night. People walk near the entrance beneath a sign marked “D.” The sky is dark with clouds.

Large modern sports stadium with a unique curved roof, surrounded by green spaces and roads, set against a city skyline at sunset. A sign reads “Xiamen International Football Centre.”.

To learn more about the Xi’an International Football Centre, please visit zaha-hadid.com.

Photography by Hufton + Crow.

Anna Zappia is a New York City-based writer and editor with a passion for textiles, and she can often be found at a fashion exhibit or shopping for more books. Anna writes the Friday Five column, as well as commercial content.



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