gmp's rejuvenation of tired Warsaw National Stadium wins two awards
The Warsaw National Stadium, in light of its resurrection, has been selected to win two architecture prizes. The stadium that has been in a state of disrepair and abandonment since 1988, and with the 2012 UEFA European Football Championships being held in Poland and Ukraine the stadium was in desperate need of being rejuvenated for the event. The new stadium was designed by von Gerkan, Marg and Partners and has been awarded both the prize for: Best Multifunctional Stadium Design and Most Innovative Use of Technology in Stadium Design in the World Stadium Congress Awards 2012.
The stadium uses a series of technological systems, the two most prominent can be found in the grandstand and the roof. The grandstand uses pre-fabricated concrete systems where as the roof uses steel wires formed into a net with textile membranes forming the weather proofing element. The membrane that forms the roof is retractable allowing the stadiums climate to be controlled and change with changing weather conditions.
The exterior facade uses anodised expanding metal sheeting that provides and envelope for the interior thermal shell. These panels will appear see-through or opaque depending on the angle, due to the way the metal is perforated. The red and white colours instil a sense of national pride for the people of Poland and help to give the stadium a national identity.
After the Euro 2012 competition the stadium can be adapted for multifunctional purposes, from sporting events in the stadium itself, and inside highly adaptable spaces that run separately from the sporting facilities.
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