The design work for Vodafone Arena was launched considering all values represented by and the significance of BJK Inönü Stadium, with the idea of building a modern stadium which can satisfy all needs of the day of the present and foreseeable future, which can serve in the name of our country for many years the world scale sporting events hosted by our country.
The stadium is at a very important point in the silhouette of Istanbul, thanks to its location. Therefore, it was sought with priority to preserve the cultural continuity of the city, also emphasizing the existing assets; and the two high towers on the seaside entrenched in the memories of the city and the dwellers of the city forming the most important architectural character of the building and the front partly coated with stone between these towers were preserved.
The renovated grandstand was set back, emphasizing the historical two towers and the wall. A sports museum is built in the space remaining between the historical wall and the renovated grandstand and a cafeteria on the terrace of the museum, bringing together the historical wall to the people.
The rational columns surrounding the renovated grandstand like a veil are interpreted inspired by the special load bearing systems rhythm and materials of BJK Inönü Stadium, hence it was attempted to disclose that the buildings are objects living extending from the past to the future and maintaining the living structures in line with the conditions of the present, stressing that they are important parts of a sustainable progress without erasing the old but carrying it even further their significance and value.
Stadium stands, considering the importance of urban memory, were melted towards the sea front, lowering their levels along the historical tower and wall. So, viewers in the southern stand while watching a sporting event may also enjoy a scenery of Istanbul with a clock tower on its axis.
Stadium’s roof was solved by a cable and membrane translucent structure using a suspension tension system in an attempt to eliminate its impact by melting it inside the historical texture. With this solution, the roof was finished at +34.00 level, lower than the top cover of the existing new uncovered stand which is at +41.50 level.
The proposed stadium project was planned to satisfy the needs of its 38.000 seat capacity in line with UEFA 2016 criteria. These needs include the amenities required by athletes during their preparation, training and matches, the requirements of members of the press for broadcasting at the stands and inside or outside the stadium, the circulation mechanisms to allow spectators to enter the stadium safely and exit securely, and adequate number of venues like toilets and cafés in the stadium and organizing spectators in such a way that their angles of vision do not obstruct each other.
As an overall mass, the building was solved based on an elliptical form. This form was a reiteration of the Inönü Stadium project designed in 1939 and was transformed into a compact mass when carried to the third dimension, free from exaggeration and lavishness. The elliptical form designed in 1939 as previously addressed has targeted a perfect symmetry in the direction of either axis but the addition of the top level of the new Uncovered Stands has impaired this symmetry. The similar form picked in the proposed design reiterates the same idea of perfect symmetry, allowing the elliptical form giving its principal shape to the structure attained through the arc of the ends between the two towers on the preserved front of the existing building.
Heval Zeliha Yüksel Mimar / Architect
