Sports Hall – sports facility

Lamezia Terme | Italy
Project
Vittorio Grassi Architects
Client
Municipality of Lamezia Terme
Services Provided
Masterplanning and Architecture
Period
2014 - 2024
Use
Sports and Leisure
Gross Floor Area
8,000 sqm
Land Area
50,000 sqm
Structural, Geotechnical, MEP, Fire Prevention, Safety
Ai Group
Local Architect
Annunziato Santoro

The new Sports Arena, designed as a multifunctional reference center, fits within the field of sports facilities architecture with the aim of attracting visitors from across Calabria and Southern Italy.

Within a total area of 5 hectares, the arena occupies approximately 8,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 3,500 spectators, with the possibility of extending capacity to 4,300 seats during conferences and musical events through the use of the parterre.

The project stems from careful consideration of functionality and spatial efficiency key aspects also central to public architecture competitions ensuring optimal visibility of the playing field for spectators and a clear separation of access flows between athletes and the public.

Particular emphasis was placed on usability and universal accessibility, placing inclusion at the core of the architectural design.

The roof, characterized by a steel lattice structure and a triple translucent membrane composed of 900 Teflon ETFE panels, gives the building a strongly contemporary and recognizable image, aligned with the most advanced standards of sports architecture awarded at both national and international levels.

The shape of the roof promotes natural ventilation and allows for dynamic management of light, both during the day and at night.

The extensive glazed surfaces of the upper ring strengthen the visual relationship between interior and exterior spaces, engaging the public while simultaneously offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

The overall dynamism of the structure is emphasized by stairways and continuous loop circulation paths, designed to ensure rapid spectator flow and maximum safety.

The Sports Arena is thus conceived as an innovative urban hub—a place for gathering and social interaction—capable of combining architectural quality, inclusion, and design ambition, characteristics typical of projects submitted for architecture awards and developed within the framework of public design competitions.