The municipal stadium in Rybnik will soon undergo a spectacular transformation. The results of the competition for its redevelopment and expansion have just been announced. First Prize was awarded to the MAMGUSTA Architects studio, appreciating the project for its lightness, elegance and consistency in responding to the competition’s challenges. The new stadium will not dominate the city space – on the contrary, its monochromatic, open form is intended to enrich Rybnik’s landscape and emphasise its dynamic transformation.
The Rybnik Stadium: a subtle icon of the city
The architects consciously opted for a design that fits in with the natural qualities of the location, i.e. the surrounding park, forest, lake and terrain. The stadium is intended to impress with a timeless elegance rather than flashiness. With a simple, clear form and consistent design, the facility will be authentic in both appearance and function. The form of the stadium consists of two main blocks: the oval of the stands and the cuboidal office and administration building added to it from the east. The entire structure will be covered with a lightweight roof, giving the impression of levitating above the treetops. The roof structure will be based on spatial trusses, forming an impressive X-shaped pattern on the façade. As a result, the stadium will appear almost ‘woven out of air’, light and dynamic, yet solid.
Harmonious use of the site
The designers have made maximum use of the natural level differences on the plot, so that the stadium will function on two levels: an upper level (for spectators) and a lower level (for players and support staff). The upper level is formed by a wide promenade, from which fans will have access to the stands. The lower level will provide efficient logistics for sports competitions, service entrances and administrative spaces. The stadium’s grandstands will have two levels, accommodating more than 15,000 spectators, with an elegant VIP area, 28 business boxes and a modern media zone. Importantly, the stadium’s traditional function as a speedway arena with the ROW Rybnik track will be retained.
Modernity and respect for tradition
The stadium on the side of Gliwicka Street will receive a representative building with VIP stands, conference rooms and media workstations. On the lake side, meanwhile, there will be an administration block for the sports clubs. Each of the stands, although forming a whole with the facility, has been functionally separated, which will facilitate the phasing of construction. The facility will also benefit from modern LED-based lighting systems, rainwater recovery and renewable energy installations (heat pumps, photovoltaic panels). The metal laths mounted on the outside of the stands will not only provide cover, but, thanks to a system of RGB LEDs, will be able to display messages and animations, giving the stadium a dynamic character. The shaping of the volume was also inspired by a reference to a legend of Silesian architecture – the Spodek in Katowice – through soft forms and a ‘floating’ structure above the ground.
Design: MAMGUSTA Architekci Sp. z o.o.
Team: Sebastian Tabędzki – Designer
Łukasz Lautsch
Adam Krupa
Mateusz Gortat
Karolina Maksymiuk
Natalia Seniuk
Source: SARP Katowice, MAMGUSTA Architects
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Rybnik | Sport | Places, Squares, Parks | whiteMAD on Instagram
The Rybnik stadium now and in the future. Photo: Google Earth and MAMGUSTA Architekci
