Populous unveils 70,000-seat national stadium for Vietnam
Populous has designed Rach Chiec Stadium, a 70,000-seat national stadium in Ho Chi Minh City with a retractable roof and palm-informed facade.
- Section
- Architecture
- Author
- By Elena Vasquez
- Filed
- Length
- 2 min read
Key takeaways
- Rach Chiec Stadium will hold 70,000 seats, roughly 30,000 more than Mỹ Đình National Stadium.
- The stadium forms part of a 200-hectare sports complex masterplanned by Populous, including an 18,000-seat arena.
- It is designed to host '90 per cent of Olympic sports' as part of Vietnam's bid for major events.
Populous has unveiled its design for Rach Chiec Stadium, a 70,000-seat venue on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City that will become Vietnam's national stadium.
When completed, it will be the largest stadium in the country, with around 30,000 more seats than the current record holder, the Mỹ Đình National Stadium.
The stadium will be wrapped in a diamond-patterned facade. According to the studio, the pattern was informed by the shape of Nipa Palms that grow alongside rivers in the area.
A fully retractable roof will cover the stadium, allowing the playing area to be environmentally controlled. The roof will also shield surrounding residential areas from noise.
Rach Chiec Stadium is designed to host team sports such as football, but also "90 per cent of Olympic sports." It forms part of a wider plan to improve the country's sporting facilities, with the aim of hosting major events including the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Cup and potentially a future Olympics.
The stadium will be built within the 200-hectare Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, masterplanned by Populous, which will also include an 18,000-seat arena.
"The stadium and arena design are informed by the masterplan for the entire precinct, providing anchors for a park-like experience, supported by commercial offerings and activations," said Populous senior principal Andrew Tulen.
"We are focusing on making the venues accessible, well connected and flexible to provide a variety of experiences for all demographics."
One of the world's most prolific stadium designers, Populous is currently designing stadiums for the Tampa Bay Rays professional baseball team in the USA and a stand for Wrexham AFC in the UK.
The firm is also renovating the "home of Indian cricket" in Kolkata, Estádio da Luz stadium in Lisbon for Benfica, and the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh.
The imagery is by Populous.
If Vietnam's bid ambitions advance, Rach Chiec Stadium would position Ho Chi Minh City as a candidate venue for a future Olympic Games.
Original: populous.com
