International architecture practice von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) have completed a conversion of Slaski Stadium in Chorzów, Poland, adding the largest translucent polycarbonate roof in Europe to the 50s-era landmark.

The original building dates from 1956, and was design by architect Julian Brzuchowski and engineer Wiktor Pade. It was converted in the 1990s and served as a venue for music events, the Speedway motorcycle World Cup and as the home ground of the Polish national football team until 2007, when a new stadium was built to replace it in Warsaw.

In order to bring Slaski up to date, gmp were appointed to expand the structure to hold 54,500 seats, improve its operational sustainability and upgrade the facilities for international standard track and field competitions. They have also collaborated with landscape architect Biuro Limba to create a cultural and recreational park around the ground.

“An elegant tensile structure has been installed independent of the existing grandstands and ensures that the bright, open-air character of the stadium is largely retained,” said gmp in a design statement.

“It has been erected with 40 restrained reinforced concrete columns at the required height of 37m above the pitch. The structural system is based on the principle of a bicycle wheel rim, with an upper and a lower external compression ring and several spokes in the form of tensile cables attached to the inner rim of the roof.”

The different elements are all unified beneath the lightweight 43,000sq m (462,800sq ft) oval roof.

Local architects RS Architekci and engineering firm PL-Projekt Planungsbüro worked with gmp to deliver the project, and the stadium concept was developed with Schlaich Bergermann Partner.

The first fixture at the new Slaski took place last month, with Poland defeating South Korea 3-2 in a friendly match played in front of 53,129 spectators.

Previous stadium projects delivered by gmp include the dramatic new home of Russian football club FC Krasnodar, which includes a 4,700sq m (50,600sq ft) media screen along the top tier of the bowl.

They are currently redeveloping the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the iconic home of Spanish football club Real Madrid; and in February 2017 they won an international competition to add a retractable roof to Verona’s first century Roman amphitheatre.

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