A hybrid building: Soccer pitch, housing, and a shopping mall

"Besides its occasional use for concerts, the stadium, located on the outskirts of Tampere, also serves as the gymnasium for the Tammela neighborhood. This expands its use as an international stadium approved by UEFA for international matches and with a capacity of 8,000 spectators, all with excellent sightlines making it a far cry from the dreaded white elephants: large buildings with very specific uses that disrupt the city's urban fabric."

"Built in 1930, the original stadium was one of the first to be constructed in Finland. The residents wanted to preserve it, but the neighborhood needed to be densified. The solution came from dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. Therefore, it's no surprise that the project's authorship is also a collaborative effort. The City Council and the construction company Pohjola Rakennus joined forces with the Helsinki-based studio JKMM for a project that took a decade to conceive, negotiate, and build."

Tammelan Stadion in Tampere was renovated as a mixed-use facility combining a UEFA-approved stadium with residential buildings, retail, and concealed parking. Five apartment buildings flank a soccer pitch that hides a large parking lot and a shopping mall. The stadium also functions as a neighborhood gymnasium and hosts occasional concerts, while offering excellent sightlines for 8,000 spectators. The project preserves the original 1930 stadium while enabling densification of the Tammela neighborhood. Residents advocated preservation and the solution emerged through dialogue, collaboration, and innovation. The City Council, Pohjola Rakennus, and JKMM collaborated on a decade-long process to conceive, negotiate, and build the hybrid development.

Read at english.elpais.com