GEplus arhitekti reuses village bricks for new football stadium in croatia

in 2014 major floods hit eastern croatia causing, among the casualties, catastrophic damage to infrastructure, including football fields and stadiums. croatian football federation together with world (fifa) and european (uefa) football federations, gathered funds for the reconstruction of 5 football fields in the villages of posavski podgajci, drenovci, račinovci, strošinci and gunja. the renovations include the design of GEplus arhitekti of a the new luka sokcevic saljapin stadium in gunja, which, today, represents a crown of the entire reconstruction.

image © marko mihaljević and GEplus arhitekti

GEplus arhitekti were recognized as a team of experts for football infrastructure and selected for the gunja stadium project. the challenge and conceptual focus while designing was on redefining the typology of small football stadiums and integrating modern architecture and design into a rural landscape. the building is located in a green, almost park-like, ambiance which is characterized by linden alley planted on the very edge of the parcel.

image © marko mihaljević and GEplus arhitekti

by designing the stadium to raise out of the field, the designers created a symbiosis of architecture and the environment as well as a symbolic memory of the event created by embankment breakage. the balancing element of the composition is an ‘L-shaped’ canopy with the stadium name inscription in its own monumental character. the visual identity of the building arises from meeting the basic needs for performing the sport and providing the athletes with all the spaces they need. the materials used are chosen in the spirit of this rudimentary functionality which is why natural concrete prevails in both the interior and exterior.

image © marko mihaljević and GEplus arhitekti

the building fits in perfectly with the rural landscape typical of slavonija and gunja village. the most prominent element of stadium’s visual identity stands out in its main facade, made out of bricks similar to those found in local architecture. the bricks’ meaning goes beyond with their monumental value given that the bricks originate from the ruined houses destroyed by the floods. by selecting between 12,000 preserved pieces, the best ones were used for the new stadium’s facade, and the new jewel for the village.

image © marko mihaljević and GEplus arhitekti

image © robert leš

project info:

architecture: GEplus arhitekti

project name: luka sokcevic saljapin stadium in gunja, croatia

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edited by: cristina gomez | designboom