Saida Municipal Stadium
A Phoenician vessel on the Mediterranean seashore
Project description
The Saida Municipal Stadium is a multipurpose sporting complex that can adapt as a center for cultural and leisure activities. It was a key in getting Lebanon to host the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
The brief
The Lebanese Government aimed to achieve two objectives:
- Building a stadium compliant with international standards to boost Lebanon’s candidacy for hosting the AFC Asian Cup
- Developing a design that integrates the stadium with the city
Our response
- Rethinking the city’s northern entrance and conceiving the stadium as a catalyst integrated within a broader masterplan
- Adopting a subtle architecture that preserved the equilibrium of Saida’s urban fabric while enriching it with a sports component. The design also made sure that sea views were unperturbed for pedestrians walking along the Saida corniche
- Designing a stadium that can be converted for civic events, leading to its frequent use by citizens as a gathering and entertainment spot
- Integrating a submersed wave-breaker protecting the project from 7-meter winter waves
