Sports Hall

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

The new Sports Arena, designed as a leading multipurpose center, fits into the landscape of sports facility architecture with the goal of attracting visitors from all over Calabria and Southern Italy.

Set within a total area of 5 hectares, the arena covers an area of approximately 8,000 square meters and can accommodate up to 3,500 spectators, with the capacity to expand to 4,300 seats for conferences and musical events by utilizing the parterre.

The project stems from careful consideration of functionality and spatial efficiency—key aspects also in public architectural competitions—ensuring optimal visibility for the audience toward the playing field and a clear separation of access routes between athletes and spectators.

Great emphasis was placed on the usability of the spaces and universal accessibility, placing the theme of inclusion at the heart of the architectural design.

The roof, featuring a steel truss structure and a triple translucent membrane composed of 900 Teflon ETFE panels, gives the building a distinctly contemporary and recognizable appearance, in line with the most advanced standards of sports architecture recognized at the national and international levels.

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

The large glass surfaces of the upper ring reinforce the visual connection between the interior and exterior, engaging the public while offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

The overall dynamism of the structure is emphasized by staircases and continuous loop pathways, designed to ensure the rapid flow of spectators and maximum safety.

The Sports Arena thus emerges as an innovative urban hub—a place for gathering and socializing—that successfully combines architectural quality, inclusivity, and design ambition, characteristics typical of projects nominated for architectural awards and developed through public competitions.