Aarhus
Aarhus Stadium
A new ground-breaking stadium in Aarhus
The new Aarhus Stadium is inspired by its surroundings and club history and has an ambition to become a new catalyst for AGF’s fans and for the city, strengthen the club’s identity and become a new landmark for the national and international football environment.
The stadium is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in collaboration with Sweco and Sweco Architects and Tredje Natur ApS. As an integrated consultant, Sweco has secured the important local anchoring, developed the actual design of the stadium and was responsible for all engineering disciplines.
Aarhus Stadium has been selected as finalist for the World Architecture Festival 2023 in the category ‘Future Projects – Leisure-led Development’.
- Location
- Aarhus
- Developer
- Aarhus Municipality
- Architects
- Zaha Hadid Architects | Sweco Architects | Tredje Natur
- Engineering consultant
- Sweco
- Capacity
- 24.000 seats
Designed for Kongelunden
Aarhus Stadium is inspired by the forest and the large, old trunks that surround the stadium in Kongelunden.
The architectural profile relates closely to its historical context at Stadion Allé, the forest and the church. Characteristic are the white columns, which are inspired by the profiles of the surrounding trees – they stretch up, reach out and cover the areas around the stadium, while at the same time forming a huge crown that embraces the entire stadium.
Columns, lamellas and a transparent extended roof create a further reference to the forest and give an experience of grandeur. The new stadium’s roof has been designed to maximize weather protection and increase comfort levels.
At the same time, the original stadium building with its intense red color and white ornamentation is renovated and preserved in order to cultivate the historic soul and charm that everyone in and around the club associates with Aarhus Stadium.
The winning project’s strong manifestation invites and reaches out to the surroundings and suits the site well. The new Aarhus Stadium is at the same time so distinctive and iconic that it will be remembered as a special stadium for Aarhus.
– from the assessment report
Intense football experience
Since the old Århus Idrætspark was rebuilt over twenty years ago, the football crowd in Aarhus has longed for an intimate and atmospheric stadium without running tracks.
The new modern stadium brings the fans very close to the pitch and allows for an intense backdrop. The new football stadium will have room for up to 24,000 spectators.
In addition, the project creates a multitude of public spaces that can be used 365 days a year as an attraction when there are no matches. In this way the stadium will be a revitalization of the entire stadium area.
From drawings to actual construction
The developer of the new Aarhus Stadium is Aarhus Municipality and the stadium construction is financed by two donations totaling DKK 500 million from Salling Fodene and Lind Invest. In addition, AGF is ready to inject up to DKK 150 million into the project.
The drawn proposal for a new stadium must be qualified during the first half of 2023 in cooperation between Aarhus Municipality, the winning team and AGF. In parallel with that process, the contractor who will be responsible for the construction of the new stadium is found.
In the second half of 2023, construction will be planned in detail, before the demolition of the current stadium gradually begins in 2024. The construction phase will proceed over four stages leading up to the expected inauguration of the city’s new stadium during 2026.
The winning team’s roles and contributions in the project
Zaha Hadid Architects: Lead consultant with responsibility for the overall design
Sweco: Local architectural anchoring and design of the stadium. Also responsible for all engineering disciplines, including wind, acoustics, climate, construction, sustainability, ventilation, plumbing and electricity
Tredje Natur: Landscape
