Xi’An International Football Center
THE Xi’an The International Football Center is designed as an open urban infrastructure, redefining its conventional role stage within the urban environment. By reducing the perceived scale and introducing a more permeable interface, the project incorporates public activity beyond match day, positioning the stadium as a constantly active element of the city.
The project addresses the limitations of contemporary stadium design, where large-scale venues often function as isolated, event-driven structures with limited involvement in everyday urban life. Instead, the proposal considers the stadium as part of a wider urban system, shaped by the interaction between players, spectators and the surrounding public realm.
a graded canopy mediates between the stadium and its surroundings | all images by Yuanbo Jia & Zhijun Lei
The Stadium as an open platform for citizens
The design introduces the concept of an “open urban stadium”, transforming the building from an internally focused arena into an accessible public platform. This approach is defined by two key strategies: reducing the scale of the building and reintroducing public use.
The lower seating tier is partially embedded below the ground, reducing the overall height and visual impact of the structure. Along the perimeter, commercial volumes are arranged under a continuous canopy, forming an active urban edge that connects the stadium to the surrounding area. Internally, the program is streamlined to core functions, reducing structural depth and contributing to a lighter architectural expression. The facade is articulated through a system of horizontal and vertical elements that break up the overall mass, bringing the scale closer to that of the surrounding urban environment. These interventions support a more gradual transition between the building and the public space. At ground level, the integration of commercial programs and a semi-enclosed outdoor plaza creates a continuous relationship between match day and everyday use. The plaza hosts daily activities while also supporting small-scale events, ensuring consistent activation beyond scheduled matches.
stadium facade
Expanding the atmosphere beyond the stadium
During events, the design allows the stadium experience to extend into the surrounding city. A porous interface at ground level allows audio and visual connections to reach the exterior, while selected areas remain accessible for informal viewing outside the main seating system. Some commercial spaces retain some visual connections to the interior, allowing indirect engagement with the event. The outdoor plaza functions as a fan zone during matches, supporting community gatherings and extending the event atmosphere into the public realm.
Through these strategies, the Xi’an International Football Center functions beyond its role as a sports venue. It acts as a civic platform that accommodates multiple uses over time, integrating football culture into everyday urban life while reducing the spatial and social segregation typically associated with stadium architecture.
vertical and horizontal elements articulate the volume of the stadium
