Design revealed for new 63,000-seat Dalian Stadium

A concept by UK-based architects Pattern Design has been announced as the winning scheme for a new 63,000-seat stadium in the north eastern Chinese city of Dalian.

Pattern will serve as the design guardian, peer reviewer and technical architect for the stadium, which will host matches up to the semi-final stage of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup tournament.

The project will be delivered locally by Harbin Institute of Technology and Dalian Architectural Research & Design Institute. Buro Happold has been appointed as the structural; mechanical, electrical and plumbing; and civil engineer.

Pattern has released final design concepts for the venue, although these are set to be changed as the project progresses through to construction. The invitation-only competition was run by Chinese multinational conglomerate Wanda Group, with Pattern having been selected ahead of HPP and HKS.

To be built on a waterfront site in the Ganjingzi area of Dalian, the venue will form part of a wider redevelopment for the area called City Marina Park, which will also include the extension of the metro line and the construction of an undersea tunnel to connect to Central Dalian.

The 17-hectare site consists of reclaimed and industrial land on the waterfront and Pattern considered the ‘unique’ location when developing the design concept. The stadium façade will be made of coloured ETFE to give an impression of sunlight reflecting on the ocean and seashells on the beaches.

The stadium will feature outdoor training pitches that support the youth team of Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang, which will play at the ground after the Asian Cup. The venue will also be fitted with cycle routes and a running track that spirals up the stadium.

Commenting on the award, Pattern Director, Lindsay Johnston stated “we are honoured that our design won the Dalian stadium competition and was selected to host such a prestigious tournament. Following our recent successes of the FIFA World Cup stadia in Qatar, we are excited to be working with the AFC on our first project in China.”

Pattern’s recently delivered projects include Qatar’s Al Rayyan Stadium and Education City Stadium.

Dalian is one of 10 host cities for the 2023 Asian Cup alongside Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Qingdao, Xiamen and Suzhou.

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Images: Pattern Design.