VUILD Designs Timber Stadium in Fukushima Drawing on Japanese Traditions of Renewal

"VUILD has presented the design for a wooden soccer stadium planned for Fukushima, Japan, as the future home of Fukushima United FC. Commissioned by SportX, the proposal combines community participation, an innovative timber structure, and sustainable strategies, positioning the stadium as both a functional sports venue and a potential symbol of renewal. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Shikinen Sengu, the periodic rebuilding of shrines, the concept introduces three cycles: resources, community, and craftsmanship."

"The design envisions active involvement of local residents in the building process, framing the stadium as a collective act of recovery after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster. Structural components, to be fabricated from locally sourced timber, are conceived for disassembly and reuse. The assembly is planned as a participatory process with club members and residents, echoing festive mikoshi processions and ceremonial timber-raising rituals."

"The stadium is organized into four volumes of less than 3,000 m² each, limited to two stories and a height of 16 meters. The gaps between these volumes would function as entrances, integrating circulation with architectural articulation. Ground-level facilities are planned to include locker rooms, waiting rooms, restrooms, and concessions. The second floor of the main stand is designed to accommodate VIP seating and broadcasting areas, while the back stand would incorporate hotel facilities to support long-term revenue."

The wooden soccer stadium design in Fukushima frames the venue as a community-led, sustainable sports facility and a symbol of renewal. The concept draws on Shikinen Sengu and defines three cycles: resources, community, and craftsmanship. Local residents and club members participate in assembly rituals while structural components are fabricated from locally sourced timber for disassembly and reuse. Reforestation programs and woodworking education aim to pass skills and knowledge to future generations. The stadium is organized into four volumes under 3,000 m² each, limited to two stories and 16 meters, with gaps serving as entrances. Ground-level spaces include locker rooms and concessions; the main stand houses VIP and broadcasting; the back stand integrates hotel facilities. The overall form is generated by circulating a section equivalent to a two-story house to avoid a costly megastructure.

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