SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH TIME : DESIGNING STADIUMS FOR CHANGE

Abstract

Stadiums have one of the shortest lifespans among institutional building types. While many museums are still housed in buildings constructed more than a century ago, it is hard to find any stadium which is half as old. The reasons for this state of affairs are aplenty. Stadium spaces are inward looking and are inflexible to respond to the functional, economic and aesthetic changes which take place with dramatic speed. With new stadium construction demanding intensive inputs of capital and resources in terms of raw materials and energy, it is thus timely in this age of growing awareness of sustainability to investigate how stadiums may be redesigned in order to achieve longevity and reduce wastage of resources associated with premature obsolescence of stadiums. New stadium construction is primarily motivated by economic and political considerations as cities seek financial benefits and media exposure brought about by hosting sporting events. Stadiums are thus conceived more as objects to be admired in images rather than as spaces to be enjoyed by people. This approach is the main reason for the demise of stadiums well before its design lifespan. A new design paradigm, one based on the concept of “cradle-to-cradle” which espouses consideration for the entire life cycle of the building, is in order for stadiums. Premised on the “buildings as layers” theory by Stewart Brand and the main factors (programme, location, architecture, technology) identified to have an impact on long-term viability through case studies of four Olympic stadiums, this paper will seek to discover this new paradigm through a strategic architectural framework for stadium design which is sustainable through time.

The upcoming Singapore Sports Hub will be assessed under this framework for its ability to sustain through time in the hope that it will avoid the fate of demolition faced by its predecessor, the National Stadium.